Evening star., 1932-07-31
BABES oAON4Y
: by AME Nxo~

Hail, Hal, old SCOUT" Lee called
and drew the caller through the bijou
foyer into the main room. We're all
about a snort of cold cure before we
start leaping?"
The man chuckled. Don't lure me" 4"
he admonished. Jock Selden is down
in the car gnawing his nails to the
quick, waiting the grand entrance of
the ladies'"
You mean the Selden. That's a
laugh. His mother almost bit Tony'S
head off once because a dress Tony
tried on for her at Simone's wouldn't do
right by Mrs Seldon's figure. She
helped to lose Tony her job. Catty, I'd
say, what? With Tony being no thicker
than a match and Mrs. S. having more
curves than a star base ball pitcher
Hi, Tony, come see who's here"
Tony gave her nose an extra pat of
powder and emerged into the living
room. She was committed to the party
now She must make herself agreeable
likable, as attractive as possible. That
was only fair return for Mr.. Samples
generous hospitality.
Meet the boy friend" Lee was
a-bubble.. Hal, this is Tony. Brookes,
coat and hat. The porter will bring
down the bags. Bags, bags. That re-
minds me, where's my hand bag?"
why bother; you might lose it?'
Sample said How d'you do. Miss
Brookes. I've been hearing things about
you. Mighty sporting of you to join
us-sight unseen"
1T was kind of you to ask me-" This
much was true. 1t was kind of Mr..
Sample TO afford Tony this holiday
sight unseen. She liked his looks. He
would be jolly, with that rotund figure
and that round boyish face, crinkled
with laugh lines.
THE percentage is all ours. Jocks
in luck"
Was it gesture of warning Tony saw
in the mirror over a side table? A warn
ing to Sample from Lee? Jock? Who
was Jock?
Lee injected a hasty, Hal brought
along one of the he guests to save
himself being double vamped I don't
care so much for threesomes myself.
Some one always gets the short cut, and
it's sure to be me-"
Sample protested. Now, now, that
calls for lip salve. If I say you wouldn't
come out on the short cut, I'll be infer
ring that Miss BrookeS-n1ay / make
it Tony for short?-thanks-would be
the short. You've got me in a devil
of hole, Lee"
Then let's get out of it." Lee
swept them out of the apartment and
into the elevator. She fingered a mo-
ment to instruct the grinning maid.
Tony heard the low words IF he
calls, tell him The rest was lost
in the hum of the elevator
Tonys first impression Of Jock Sell
den was that he thought very well Of
himself. Very we'll, indeed. He held
another meter. Antithesis. His eyes
were sullen-the lids dropped. And his
lips, which had been nodded to
strength, had relaxed into careless
smile lf-contemptuouS, half cruel.
Indulgence had gouged deep burrows
from nose to chin line and hung puff
f1ness under his eyes. For all these
ravageS he was impressive. Handsome
in remote aquiline way that held the
attention in surmise, if not in admira-
ton. The advent of ladies in the car
Selden met with bored tolerance. But
Tony felt that underneath his dropped
lids he was taking a careful estimate
of her and of Lee and that the result
was not entirely unfavorable.
Jock Selden was silent so long that
Hal Sample twitted, Whats the row,
Jock. old boy. Steam running low?"
when wasn't it?" selden lifted
deprecating shoulders Il sampled that
rolling supply of yours while you were
upstairs. You should change your
bootlegger."
Come come" Sample said. You
rnust have hcd a bad night. That's
a special order by plane, from Can
ada"
when did you start believing in
fairies?"
4 never stopped. Haven't I just
rounded up two and herded them into
the car?"
Neat" Lee cried. we deny, moth
ing, do we. Tony? Listen, Prince
Charming. this fairy's wings are all
dry. Maybe, if they could be wet down
with some Canada dew"
"Righto.' Sample extracted a tall
silver flask from a compartment under
the seat and brimmed the top, which
was a silver cup. He presented it with
q flourish to Lee. She slipped 1t sagely
then let it trickle down her throat.
First grade" she approved. Right
over the border"
Sample brimmed the cup again and
extended it to Tony.
Tony hoped her smile was bright
and that her refusal carried the i'm
.~~~~