Evening star., 1933-12-17

\ dered snow, she curved OH to the
left. staggering little in the effort
to keep from falling The man followed In
series of graceful S-turns, as eHortless as a
great bird swooping down from the sky.
Linda,s eyes shone with excitement and the
keen wind stung her cheeks into name. Sne
did hope that she could get down TINS Time
without tumble. 1t was an experts hill, sup
posed to be too hard for women even to try.
She felt that she had never in her life gone so
fast Near the foot of the slope some rough
ness in the surface caught at her right ski
She pitched forward, made a valiant effort To
right herself, but leaned too far back. In q
panic she let herself go and ended the slide
in a tangle of sticks ski arms and legs.
But harm seldom comes to those who faH
on unobstructed slopes, and when Linda shook
the snow off she found herself none the worse
She flashed back an answer to her compan-
ions grin he pulled her to her feet
Wasn't better that time, Walter, even II
I did fall?" she asked eagerly.
But there was no need to fall Miss Kings
ley" he answered. "You only fell because you
thought you were going TO-"
She frowned little at that. She didn't
mind his criticizing her, but she wished SO
much that he would call her by her first name
1t was silly of him not to. OF course, he
vas a paid ski instructor at the hotel. and he
night think that he ought to keep his place
IN the tourists, like the Swiss guides. But
,er all he was an American, too. and one oil
:. own sort-she knew that the first time
q met him.
CHE glanced up at him they plowed
- along side by side toward the village. With
his lean, bronzed face and vigorous body he
belonged here in the mountains, yet 1t was
queer that he should have such a job as this
Probably it was partly because of his looks
that Herr Kurtz the proprietor, had engaged
him as chief ski instructor. All of those striv-
ing middle-aged women from New York and
London wanted him as a teacher. Linda was
glad that they didn't monopolize all OF his
time that nearly every day he could find time
SHAH we 90 out again tomorrow" she
asked.
Right" was his prompt answer. Would
after lunch do?"
yes" said Linda, and after a seconds hesi-
tation, "Why don't you have lunch at the
hotel with Aunt Belle and me before we start?'
He gave her quick glance.
Thank you very much. You don't know
how I'd like to. But here in the Alps ski in
structors don't have lunch with the guests
Herr Kuntz wouldn't approve"
But, good gracious" she broke out, "a hotel
keepers function is to please his guests, isn't
it. and if we want you-"
"Well-if you're sure you really want me"
"Of course, we do. Capt. Won Hitler will be
there too, and you can tell him what good
ski-runner you're making of me-"
He frowned and shook his head as If his
decision had suddenly crystallized.
NO" he said, 'it's good Of you to ask me,
but can't accept"
They said no more until they parted at the
door.
AS LINDA sat at the dressing table In her
rather small bed room putting the finishing
touches to her makeup she inspected with sat-
isfaction her blond image in the mirror
Which dress should it be tonight2 A grave
problem with only three when one saw the
same people night after night, women with
dozens of dresses.
Aunt Belle came bustling in. At once the
room seemed even smaller.
Il happened to see Capt. Won Hitler at tea,"
she said "he's dining with us tonight"
"Auntiel How we do progress. Dinner TO-
night and luncheon tomorrow. Won't they all
be jealous?"
Aunt Belle made no answer. In imagination
she was seeing herself in her drawing room at
home my nephew, Graf Won"
The season was at its height. and the lounge
was crowded when they went down to dinner.
Capt Won Hitler came forward to meet them.
q courtly Prussian Of the military caste who
somehow gave the impression Of being on horse
back in a crowd Of pedestrians.
His pursuit of the pretty American had been
Q favorite topic of the tea table gossips for a
fortnight. There were even caustic remarks
10 the effect that times were changed, indeed.
when impecunious naaidens came the
search of wealthy husbands. But such
assertions mostly confined to ladies who
were themselves the promoters Of marriage
able daughters.
Won Hitler looked at Linda as she sat op-
posite him and Aunt Belle noted with satisfac-
ton the ardor of his gaze
For three days you have not skied with me-"
he said. Tomorrow In the afternoon let us
make tour down the slope to ti,e lower valley.