Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-04
CHAPTER az.
STAGE-DOOR JOHNNY.

S1AIE-DOrOn JIMMY.
| ~LIVE was lacking in finesse
He had never had underhano
dealings with women. To gel
~ in touch with Lou-Lou he
chose the course that was most
direct. Having waited till his wife and
Dicky were settled for the evening, he
slipped into his, coat and hat.
Hearing movements, Santa called
What are you doing, darnng?"
Appointment with friend"
That brought her into the hall on the
run.
What sort of friend?"
sort OF business friend"
That's a Alb. You can't lie like the
truth. Besides"
He glanced back in the act Of escap-
ing:
"You mustn't leave me alone with
Dicky"
Santa, you're a fraud. Being alone
with Dicky ought to be second nature.
AS he bent his steps toward the glare
Of Broadway, he thought furiously
This Dicky business was becoming more
serious than he'd anticipated. More
serious than even Santa imagined.
The rendezvous that he was plan
ming was a strategy Of desperation. He
set himself a problem in arithmetic; II
his marriage had taken nine months to
degenerate to this muddle how many
more months would it require to bust
up completely?
Having reached the theater where
Lou-Lou disported, he bought an or
chestra seat and handed a note to the
clerk in the office.
please have it delivered"
The note read:
My Dear Miss Lou-Lou: Excuse
my familiarity-it's the only name
by which I know you: II you can
spare me few minutes, ! shall be
most grateful. My business Is urgent.
1t concerns a friend of yours-Rich-
ard Oak.
He had written it over as many times
as a schoolboy. his object being to spur
her from mistaking him for a stage
struck Johnny.
He felt furtive. almost wicked-a
young man on the loose. He was doing
no worse than Santa. Nevertheless. as
he sank in his seat, he was thankful
for the darkness.
During the intermission an attendant
ta"oed him on the shoulder.
"At the end Of the performance Miss
room"
He picked up a program and read
Lou-Lou Sandrelle on the list OF
actresses. Sandrelle was as good a
name as any If you had been christened
Smith or Jones.
Miserably self conscious, at the final
lowering Of the curtain he wandered
into the foyer. Every one respectable
was departing.
Il have an appointment with Miss
Sandrelle," he muttered, and was di-
rected to the stage entrance.
Thence he was handed on through
scenery In process of being dismantled,
till he found himself outside a door In
. gloomy passage. With a sinking heart
he tapped.
Come in. Oh, it's you'll"
She grinned like street urchin, only
partially clad and totally unembar-
raised.
81 troubled you, Miss sandrelle-"
IF you're friend Of Dicky's,' she
cut him short, you're friend of mine.
What about him?"
Perching on a stool before the mir
ror, she began to powder her arms and
throat. That done, she Redeemed her
lips. and dabbed her ears with perfume.
Give had never been treated to sights
so intimate by any woman except Santa
you're nice boy" She spoke
again, attempting to put him at his ease.
1--WE date with a beau. That's the
reason I'm squeezing you into my only
spare moment"
SIS your date with Dicky?"
"And II it is?' She glanced across
her cleaning shoulder.
He won't keep It," Give sank his
head. We're companions in misfor-
tune-adrift in the same boat. I hate
to tell you. He's with my wife, and
there he'll stay till I return to break
up the party"
1.-THE big, soft lumpl" was her only
comment.
Give raised his eyes shyly. She was
lovely, collected, entirely undaunted.
With slackened speed she was brushing
her fair hair, which Santa had declared
was tinted.
I'm wondering" he faltered. "why
he couldn't be content with you?"
I'm not his class, dearie" She
smiled at her reflection. you ought
to paste him one on the nose, or. better
still, go home and beat up your wife"
Out Of the question"
She turned In surprise. tapping her
knee impatiently with her brush.
Cant beat I'D your wife, Who's q
better right? What's to prevent you?"
"A thousand reasons"
"It's not done in your set I suppose?"
That's one of them. But there are
heaps of others. love her and there's
nothing she wouldn't do for me. Shed
stake me with her last dollar"
Then why's she messing about with
my beau?"