Evening star., 1932-10-30

resented it and she grateful
for it.
And here she was, sitting and looking pretty
but not feeling so and, as usual, waiting for
Carter. Amy Thanet stared at the wavering,
weak flame of the candle on her table she
planned to say: Garter I've been a perfect
fool about you and hopelessly credulous and
I know now you've always trickcd me. But
I've heard about Jane Page and this time you
can't fix tim through, absolutely through"
But she would weaken, she knew it.
Odd that at the Office she could protect Mr..
Harper without the least effort-"Mr. Har-
per's secretary. I'm sorry Mr. Harper can't
speak with you now, he's in conference.-the
sort of thing. But you couldn't protect your
self. she had learned; had to do it
for you
Twenty, thirty. forty, fifty: all around her
sat women in tweeds of angular cut. chewing
doggedly burt disinterestedly. You have to keep
well to do good work. You could feel them
thinking that. You either went to the wall
or anxious strain became fixed light in tired
eyes
new waitress whose feet hurt teetered to-
ward Amy. Your order?" she prompted
I'm waiting for one said Amy
That's the motto for my crest" she reflected
as the girl turned away.
She looked at the watch her slender
wrist. Twenty minutes late now, Carter
Colby; pleasantly dramatic name; years back
-
catch OF breath. Well she'd been a fool.
The door opened and she turned, but it
wasn't Carter, it was only some one tall and
tanned; with clothes obviously Bond Street.
Just moment. Mr.. Withers,' Miss Jones
called as she moved toward him, and Ill find
You a nice place We do seem TO get little
crowded here!"
4 hISS JONES moving her away. Amy
wi saw. All right; let Carter come in to
find her dining with this male whose tan told
of travel and not of New York and an Office.
Miss Jones. with the set smile that hopes to
hypnotic the best from those smiled on was
asking her if she'd mind.
But not at all" said Amy
so sweet of you: if all customers were
like you-Mr. Withers, this way. please Mr.
Withers Miss Thanet-Mr Withers expected
his aunt, Miss Cordelia Withers, you've doubt
less seen her here, Miss Thanet? And she
telephoned she couldn't come asking us to
do the hospitable to her nephew, so if you'll
help me. Miss Thanet? To see he has very
good dinner, you know"
III cut his chicken into little pieces for
him. Amy promised.
His eyes smiled at her as she said this: in
teresting eyes. of course, not like Carter's.
Carters could look you into chills and fever,
lnger on you and say Il love you!"
Amy had fallen first and hard from the
way Carter could look Their initial quarrel
came when she learned he could look at other
women in the same way. Mr. Withers was
not the sort who could broadcast an optic
Il love you!' He looked blunt. 1t was rather
a pleasant change, Amy felt. He drew out a
small chair and sat down. His knee-cap all
but wrecked the table and his skin took on
that violent mahogany shade that means
blush under tan.
Carter would have said synthetically peni-
tent Sorry I'm so frightfully awkward, but
seeing you-"
Mr.. Withers said husky Sorry"
"It's a favor; We need the crude male
touch" she answered.
You'll get it If I'm around" he promised
and he smiled His smile wasn't bit like
Carter's either. 1t was totally devoid of the
wistful appeal and no one seeing it would
have thought of mike and crooner; in
stead, Mr.. Wither's smile suggested the when-
we-were-very-young era with f-eckleS across
a snub nose, missing front tooth and dead
frog in pocket.
I'VE specialize" said Amy, looking at the
menu "in fried chicken
He said, Il feared So
Miss Jones drew near again; Miss Thanet
wanted at the telephone. Miss Thanet
knew where to find it?
1t Carter, of course. He told her
-humana saga she had heard before. 1t
too rottenly vile; he simply couldn't get
away from the office, and would she try to
realize what-missing the chance to see her
was-doing to him?
Given 10-minute dose of it, she would,
she realized, be comforting him.
Back at the table with Mr.. Withers she
pushed aside her soup. Perhaps he, too, could
say emotion-charged, Cant you eat?"
But if he could. he didn't He said instead,
rs there anything in it that shouldn't be?"
She laughed a trifle uDsteadily as she shook
her head then, SOLDERING, she confided by say
ing, My fool of heart, that's breaking, is
in my throat and I can't swallow"
The telephone message?" he asked fatty?
He was detained at the Office she an
sWered
We'll, perhaps he had to work." he sug-