The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-18
AlIEl\
FICTION
QyllIV''.
No.
O/a3z 6y MEl SERVICE I've.

Aunt Jessie looked as II she
thought Russians little better than
the "Polocks" she disliked SO much,
but after moment or two OF con.
sideration she grudgingly consent
ed. III you'll have Susan home
by half past TO-" she stipulated.
THE house in which the Strinskys
L lived was an old brownstone
on the north side not far from Lin.
coin Park. Ben. who had been In
New York. told Susan the place was
just like Greenwich Village. and
Susan believed him. She was q
little awed at her good fortune In
being introduced to such a charmed
circle.
The main room Of the Strinsky
fiat was shock to her at first. The
walls were painted with splashes Of
red and orange. There was q black
corduroy couch in one corner and
a samovar on a kitchen table that
had been painted blue. About the
room on soiled cushions and on q
few crude chairs were scattered
the guests. Sonya Strinsky, who
was pale. oily.haired girl wearing
lavender smock, admitted them.
She had long, tired, hazel eyes and
her hand was limp. She did not In
the least resemble Susan's notion Of
q Russian princess. The hall smelt
OF cabbage and there was a drift Of
smoke in the room through which
Susan could just perceive the white
blurs Of faces. A gable Of voices
rose. The place seemed intoler-
ably hot. Sonya said to Ben.
you're just in time. They want
to dance and you're to play for
them"
The young man protested but was
dragged to the battered piano In
the corner and Susan left to fend
for herself.
Susan's head began to ache and
she wished she had not. come. She
began to suspect that perhaps she
was not really seeing life. after Ill.
A tat man, Informally attired in
polo shirt and white Stacks, an.
preached and asked her to dance.
She did not even know his name.
Sonya brought In q tin tray with
drinks. Susan frowned over hers
and left 1t untasted. She heard
Ben's low voice, "You don't have to
drink 1t IL you don't want to-"
She turned to him gratefully. He
was looking anxious. No doubt
Aunt Jessie had impressed him with
her views. II wouldn't dare" she
breathed. She looked around her.
The girl who was called Denise, the
flower-faced one with the strange.
red hair. was gesticulating with her
cigaret and squirting through the
little column Of smoke.
It struck Susan for the first time
that Denise was rather out Of place
in this shabby company. Her frock
! was exquisite. her shoes narrow and
delicate and fine. The bracelet on
her narrow wrist looked real and
sparkling in the dim light,
Ben glanced carelessly across the
room. "oh. her!" he said casually.
She's . society girl from Win.
netka or some place. Sonya picked
her up at club. Guess she thinks
she's Summing"
Susan gave Denise an enyious
glance. What strange tastes some
! people had. the girl reflected. This
stranger who might be slipping iced
tea on some veranda high above the
lake chose to spend q sitting sum.
mer evening in the broiling heart
OF the city in stutfy room.
The red-haired girl glanced acroa.
| At Susan as though their thou ehts
for an instant met and clashed
Denise's strangely compelling eyes
set like aquamarines under men.
cned brows. met Susan's with =
look almost proudly disdainful.
Susan felt q fash Of precedence
She shivered q little. Somehow
sne knew that Denise would eros.
her path again.
J Ito Be Continued)