The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-03-17


the second time he met her, had
given her to understand that he
was in love with her the third.
Jeff Grant, on the contrary.
talked about steel mills, the news
on the sport page and funny
things that happened at the office.
Mrs. Silvani nodded toward him
and said to Janet one evening,
you're lucky girl to have
young man like that one"
Janet protested. "Oh, but i
isn't like that! We're-we'rc
only friends!!"
The older woman continued
smiling. "Sure, | know! And
you'll make a fine couple, too.
Oh, it's a fine thing to be young!
Times have been hard for us, of
course, but | can remember when
Pat and | took the prize for being
the best dancers at the St. Pat
rick's Day ball. We used to dance
every Saturday evening"
Thinking about it afterward
Janet shrugged. What difference
did it make what Mrs. Silvani
thought so long as Jeff Grant UNI
derstood? There were no senti-
mental notions in jeff Grants
mind. He wasn't that kind.
She was surprised the next eve
ming when he knocked at her door.
Janet opened it and said, Cob
hello. Won't you come in?"
He had stopped at the door to
talk to her once or twice but he
had never entered the apartment.
Now he came inside. Janet drop
ped into a chair and motioned
him toward one.
"Thcre's something | thought
! maybe you'd help me with" Grant
said hesitantly.
"All right. What is it,"
"Well-I wondered if you'd
help me buy a present for a girl"
"What kind of a girl? | mean
what's she like? Do you have any
idea what kind Of present she'd
especially like"
Of course it hadn't been jeal-
ousy that famed up in Janets
heart. That was ridiculous. OF
course it couldn't be anything of
the sort. Why should she care
how many presents Jeff Grant
bought for other girls? What dif-
ference could it make to her?
He answered all her questions
in the negative. She was-well.
Just an ordinary girl. He didn't
know how old she was. About
Janet's age, he thought. He didn't
have any idea what she'd like.
What kind of presents did girls
like? Hadn't Janet any sugges-
tons?
He was so helpless about it that
she laughed. "Why, yes, of course.
could suggest a dozen things. 1t
depends partly on how much you
want to spend. You could get
vanity case or perfume or some
thing for her room. A vase, a
candy box maybe or piece of
pottery. Maybe she'd like hand
bag. I saw some beauties in
Marsh's window today. They
were on sale at S.. Really lovely
| ones-W
"That's an ideaw Grant nod
| ded. "Do you think she'd like a
handbag?"
Janet smiled again. DWELL. of
| course | don't know. I'd like one
of them myself, though"
81 think that's a good hunch,"
jeff announced. "Would you be
willing to go with me to buy il?
Pm pretty dumb at things like
that. I'd probably pick out the
worst in the bunch"
She agreed % meet him at
Marsh's department store next
day at 1915. They could buy the
purse and then have sandwich
| somewhere together. He stayed a
little longer and then departed.
"Twelve-ffteen." he called over
his shoulder as he closed the door.
Don't forget"
At exactly Is minutes past IL
O'Clock the next day Janet enter
ed the main door of Marsh's de-
partment store. Jeff Grant was
there before her.
"Hello," he grinncd. 81 was
wondering what in the world ia
do if you didn't show up. These
places give me the willics. Too
many women around"
He didn't seem in the last I'M
comfortable, though, five minutes
later when they stood before the
lpurse counter. The young woman