Evening star., 1932-12-09
CHAPTER Al.
THE WOLF SMILES.


THE day following Santa hid within
four walls Each time the tele-
phone tinkled her heart quick
= i ened Like beleaguered city.
she watched for Gives return.
Never had he seemed 50 precious.
On the second day she ventured out,
but took her maid with her. The third
day she went out unaccompanled.
Gradually her alarm subsided.
The fourth day she had o fitting at
Bloomhoff's, that extraordinary 1nstitu-
ton where grand duchesseS and boot
leggers' wives elbowed each other m
their anxiety to be served by the re-
doubtable Bloomhoff himself. As Bloom
hoff left her she raised the curtain TO
return to the show room and the end
less parade of manikins in evening
gowns, negligees, pajamas. On couch
between herself and the elevator bar
ring escape, sat Dicky. He smiled like
the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood." "
Sorry to disappoint you"
Touching her arm affectionately, he
conducted her to the elevator. The
clients of Bloomhoff doubtless imagined
that they were witnessing loves young
dream.
On Fifth avenue she shook herself
free.
Wlidb yOuu
"I can't live without you"
"But how did you know that I would
be at Bloomhoff's?"
Rang up and discovered"
They walked block. She broke the
silence.
what do you imagine you gain by
prosecuting me?"
'That you'll fall for my charm"
"How do you mean fall?"
"That you'll remarry me-"
She took her time in answering.
''Dicky, please believe me. The only
flowers you'll ever receive from me Will
be in a wreath at your funeral"
'Ill rise from my grave" he re-
sponded lightly.
But what do you want?"
sThat you'll lunch with me"
To lunch with him where they could
be seen only by q few people seemed
preferable to courting the publicity Of
the streets. He selected a high-class
speakeasy in the East Fifties. Seated
elbow to elbow on red plush couch.
a table pinning them to the wall, she
tackled him.
Insult me all you like. You'll never
get another chance"
"If we quarrel we shall attract at
tention. That was why I brought you:
Act as though we were pair OF
pals, like any of these other couples.
Take a peep in that mirror opposite.
We don't look so monstrous."
: "I look like young niece on q spree
with her hard-boiled uncle"
That's more In your old style.
You've always laughed at my expense.
Lord, what will do II the day ever
dawns when I'm forbidden to hear you
A pair of cocktails had been placed
before them. She had intended to re-
fuse hers. Changing her mind, she
toasted him.
Heres to our parting"
'May it be false ALARM" he jested.
at isn't. Don't kid yourself"
His face collapsed like childs.
I'D commit suicide II believed you
were through with me-"
But, Dicky. that's not news to you.
I've been through with you for ages"
Maybe. You haven't acted Ike It."
He called for another cocktail. She
prayed that he might call for 20. Mean
while she argued.
gocd?" he questioned.
Can you be more rude than you
have been?" she challenged.
He defeated her by laughing in his
most winning manner.
Lord bless mel It's like old days
In Chicago to sit here fighting"
"You were about to harangue me for
my own good" she logged him.
Don't know that / dare. II offend
you. you'll scooS"
Soups too NICE" she mumbled.
"Then, claiming the privilege OF an
ex-husband, I'll dispense with ORA
peries. After we'd become engaged you
revoked for five minutes in Gives
favor. After we were married you re-
yoked in his favor more disastrously.
You condemn me for my morals; when
it comes to showdown I'm essentially
the more faithful. The choice between
Give and myself has been reopened.
by whom?" She helped herself 70
butter.
"By you when you left your sane
titled sheep, meaning Give, in the VIII
derness to come in search OF this little
lost lamb Dig down to fundamentals.
The trouble with our marriage was
money"
"The trouble with our marriage" she
corrected swiftly, was that you lured
an innocent girl to share your pig
sty of a past and spared with her
because she refused to sink to your
level"
IF I'd possessed money you'd have
stuck with me-" he insisted.
"I might have" She glanced around
the room. Your Willingness to sponge
on me didn't increase my respect for
you"
There's no more danger Of my