The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-01
CHAPTER xxxI1


Curtis invited Ruth and Rollo fol-
the next Wednesday, dinner at the
st. Francis, and dancing :. the St
Francis the place she had gone
with Ruth and Bill. -.
For q moment she thought Of In.
venting an excuse, and not going
"But that's so cowardly," she
thought -"Ill go-Ill see il
through"
Ruth was wildly elated. "This is
better n better. What ! call luck
Usually when you get somebody
with money enough to pay the bill
they're too old to dance without
danger Of dropping dead in their
tracks, and too dyspeptic to cal
anything but bran mullins and cam.
brio tea-ugh!"
She laughed, and showed all hel
perfect white teeth. "Will we sci
'em back something this night? I'll
say we will. What are you going to
wear? The white velvet. Well, you
look like q million in it. No won.
der, Francine's best model. You've
sure got the luck, living with Ma
danes mother, in 50 strong you
can't get fred, and that good look.
ing Barstow crazy about you.
Well all meet at the hotel.
have to buy some new slippers. Did
tell you Rollo gave me six pairs
Of silk stockings yesterday? French
chiffon, $3.50 Q pair. Say, don't
Curtis ever give you anything but
flowers? Just drop him . hint once
in a while good night, you're
slow"
Joan went home to dress.
There was the taste Of ashes, bit.
ter ashes, in her mouth.
Curtis blinked when he had his
first sight Of Ruth, waiting with
Rollo in the lobby Of the big hotel
She floated toward them, Rollo
sparkling with reflected glory
bringing up in the rear. A royal
barge, trailing Z slight, black dory
The fur coat that the late Gillespie
had given her, the close fitting sill.
yer gown, shining with . faint blue
light, the rhinestone head band, the
eight or nine bracelets. she had
thtm all on, every one.
"Now that we're Ill here-let'a
eat!" Rollo suggested, forgetting
that he wasn't the host.
He beamed at Joan through the
thick glasses that lent vision to his
near-sighted eyes. Looking beau.
tiful rs ever. In fac'-in fact
Five whiskeys and sodas on On
empty stomach had left him q little
careful about cons0nants-"I don't
know when I've seen you more
beautiful. Let's drink the same
toast we drank last time we all got
drunk together-Beautiful womeY
-Ow!-who kicked me?"
Nobody kicked you. You're
drunk!" Ruth cried angrily. "You
do make me tired-always tankina
up before the party starts"
Somebody cert'nly did kick me
Come to think Of it, it was you
Recognize the rhinestones in youl
heel-been kicked before-ha!h
Curtis hand found Joan's under
the tablecloth. He covered IL with
his protectingly. "You mustn'i
mind them" that steady, kindly
touch meant, I'M take care Of
you"
But Joan could not meet his gaze
She knew why Ruth had Kicked
Rollo. Warning him to be quiet
Not to speak Of Bill
u was about to say, when I was
stepped on" Rollo continued with
dignity. shat would propose tie
same toast-the same toast"
The same toast that you did On
the night Bill and Ruth and you
and I had dinner here together. .
Joan said clearly. And al 81 ! ma.
den she felt better. Why shouldn'i
wrong? And she wouldn't share
secrets with Ruth, Ruth with ia
: diamond bracelets and fur coats
"ExacIy," Rollo beamed. "Jusi
what ] was going to say. Nov
what WAS that toast"
Ruth leaned back IN her chat,
and looked at Joan long and search.
ingly. the thin, pencilled line Of her
brows family arched into ! cues.
tion-"Why-why-"
Curtis was ordering the dinner
IN elaborate, carefully chosen din.
ner that impressed the waiter En-
Ruth. He did not seem 70 hear, bui
when they left the table TO dance
he asked, "Who is Bill, Joan?"
"A schoof friend Of mine
Rollo knows him too. !. that's ho~
Ruth met him and I came lerl
TO dinner With them"
TheYe-it was out. She'd told
him. TAa1 rant u daaeine. Joa1