Evening star., 1932-11-25
CHAPTER 80.
.Iy csnirs.Iy


DICKY HELPS THINGS"
~ ANITA laughed nervously, keeping
tight hold of Give.
"Clive, darling, you can be pc
~ culiar."
OAK stood UP, attired in full
evening dress, a gardenia In his button
every nicel" Give surveyed him from
head to heel. "And Santa, too, notice,
is dressed to kill"
"But why the hostility, my dear
boy?" Oak stroked his clipped mus
tache. 1--WE were friends when last we
IF you must be angry, scold me, -
Santa pleaded "I sent for him"
"Oh, we'll If you sent for him
"She certainly did" Oak held out his
hand. broke dinner engagement
hence the glad rags. You're a suspicious
bird, Give. Guess took you by sur
prise"
To bridge the awkwardness Give
suggested refreshments.
mo. You continue the entertain
ing, Santa. I'll fetch them"
What to do? How to act? The sit
uation called for strong-arm methods,
only this wasn't the middle ages. Were
he to throw Oak out he would cast
aspersions on Santa. Extreme com
posure was his safest weapon.
AS he set down the tray, he mus
tered a grin.
LET me into your secret"
We're a committee Of two" OAK
helped himself to tumbler, appointed
to do you good"
But what Give wants to know is
dnrf daTl-
ingp" Santa patted the arm of her
chair for her husband TO perch beside
her. "I sent for Dicky because you'd
misunderstood me. wanted him to
corroborate my statements
Give took possession of her hand
that wore his wedding ring.
"It would be q mad world, Santa, II
it we're necessary for your first hus-
band to guarantee your truthfulness
to your second"
She squirmed.
That's how he twists everything.
You tell him, Dicky."
Oak spread out his legs and lay back,
blowing spirals and clasping the tun1-
bier to his white, starched breast.
MY mission, phrased colloquially, Is
to prevent you from cutting on your
nose to spite your face"
otdIb db tAAC bSBaAlAiAAA6, oaAbh AAA
terrupted. "You remember in the thea
ter on my birthday night. when you
found me talking to Dicky? We were
talking about you. He'd heard about
Cross a. Cleasby's failure and wanted
to know whether you were in a new
position OF course, said you weren't
and that you were horribly discouraged
He penciied an address. You know the
rest. You're so ungraciouS about ac-
cepting favors that We both agreed to
keep Dicky's name q secret. Unfortu-
nately, you ylosed out our secret. You
20 on, Dicky"
"There isn't much left" Oak refilled
his tumbler and again relaxed. "Santa's
no longer my wife, but I'm still inter-
ested In her welfare. You'll grant that's
natural I want her to be happy. She
can't be happy while you're dashing
in search Of jobs as distractedly as
chicken without head. I'm offering
YOU a job-a good one. You're incon-
siderate to refuse It. You can have
only one reason: I'm the objection"
In his effort TO keep calm Give GRIM
aced furiously.
'It would seem So"
But why object?" Oak drew himself
together. Surely not because was
once married to her?"
I'm afraid So" Give nodded. Petty
Of me-"
Oak tipped his ash.
Victorian. A man Of your age
has no excuse for being old-fashioned."
That's as Is" Give shrugged his
shoulders Probably I've not had your
opportunities.
Don't be tiresome, darling" Santa
rubbed her head against him. SILLY
pride is the real obstacle"
Give addressed OAK.
We've discovered two explanations
for my conduct, silly pride and that
I'm old-fashioned. your motives are
still hidden. It isn't usual for an ex-
husband to harbor such protective SEN
timerts for his successor"