The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-20
CHAPTER FORTY.TWO

They had been waiting but few
minutes in the small elegant hotel
salon when the elevator door OPEN
ed and . woman, a little short, q
little square, but softly rounded,
dressed from head to foot in sand,
stepped out. She came forward
smiling. She shook hands with
Jimmie; then turned in her sweet
serene way to Patricia.
II used to watch you always
rushing about at Palm Beach. I
don't suppose you remember me"
II do very WELL" said Patricia.
"Yours Is one Of the last faces I
saw % our train pulled out. You
were standing beside Jack Lau-
renee, and the contrast between his
battered face and yours sent me
away laughing"
They sat down smilingly. But It
was Of Paris and not Palm Beach
that they talked.
They discussed the inevitable
sSbjects-clothes and the shops.
Mrs. BROMLEY said she hadn't
bought much. She wasn't really
crazy about clothes, which WAS .
good thing rs her means were linn
tied. Patricia admitted that she
adored beautiful clothes; b u {
couldn't afford them, and didn't
fret about it. Her eyes rested In
unconscious appraisal on Mrs.
Brownley's very simple but very
eloquent apparel.
The woman noted her glance and
smiled: Il don't care for many
things, or elaborate clothes, but I
always manage to have ono Stun
ming outfit. It is stunning, don't
you think?"
She was 90 charmingly frank,
almost childlike in her gentle
eagerness for approval.
Yes, thought Patricia, can see.
-. She Is charming -. and ~
,conssn. Not = common find in
these days Of masculinely assured
women and boyish girls. -.
They chatted 20 pleasantly, %
inconsequentially. Warren alone
showed embarrassment. The color
came and went in his fair face.
He crossed his legs and dncrossed
them, shifted restlessly in his cor
ner OF the settee he and Patricia
occupied. He grinned At the femi-
nine things about which they
talked. Grinned rather stupidity.
When they were discussing the
laces shown on spring frocks, he
came to his feet % If jerked up
right, and said quite violently:
"I'm catching . train 1t ten
thirty. Goodbye, girls. Maybe III
get back before ! sail. III let you
know"
He didn't offer to shake hands.
They stared aghast % he went
through the lobby and out the
door. Then they looked 1t each
other feminine posturing
stripped from them-a rag reach
ing from them and pinned to the
m n-dragged ruthlessly fro N
them % he went out. They sat
stark naked, before each other.
Mrs. BROMLEY made = feeble
effort. "What do you suppose was
the matter with hint Do you real
~ think he had to catch . train
and had forgotten 1T Or was hs
just bored by our talk Of clothes :"
"No." said Patricia grimly.
He'd got himself and 10 in IN
embarrassing situation, and hs
couldn't stand the gan. That's AL"
Mrs. Brownley's eyes fell befors
, the level gazs Of the girl. Thsrs
was moment Of silence. Then Mrs.
BROMLEY suggested that they 60
for . stroll.
As they went out Patricia won.
dered: What will we talk about :
It would be silly to pretend now.
-. Oh, what . beastly thing for
Jimmie to do.
The Cafe de Paris being ct hand,
they went in. It was full Of Ameri.
cans. They found . table by : win.
dow in = far corner. But they had
nothing to talk about.
"How could be - 80 cruel?" said
Mrs. BROMLEY after the waiter had
brought their order. "And yet,
,he's the hndest man ! ever knew.