Evening star., 1934-02-10

resemble smears of SCOT, good
looking. He seemed nervous. There
was not much Of his mustache, but he
was tugging at what there was. He
regarded Packy with a CLASSY eye
Hello" said Packy, forcing himself
to a joyous enthusiasm which he was
far from feeling. Here I am"
Il beg your pardon?"
I'm afraid I'm a little late"
u beg your pardon?"
Beatrice said you were expecting
me at quarte'' to five, but I had to
see man about some hair"
"Beatrice?"
LADY Beatrice Bracken."
''She said what?"
THAT you were. -"
Packy broke off. He perceived that
he no longer had the good fortune to
engage his companions attention. He
wondered II the other were always
like this. II so, the task of laying
the foundation Of that beautiful
friendship which Beatrice seemed to
desire so greatly was going to be q
mans size job.
Can We by any chance have got
the wires crossed?" he said. 1T was
the idea, wasn't it, that we should
pile on pot Of tea together?"
Blair Eggleston's eyes suddenly lost
their glassiness He stifened like a
pointing dog. He reached out and
clutched Packy's coat sleeve feverishly
"Ah! There she isl"
Packy, following his gaze, saw that
the elevator had just discharged pas
sengers into the lobby. And among
them, with an unpleasant shock, he
recognized his late clients daughter,
She was heading straight for them.
We'll, it's been great seeing you
again." he said hastily, but I've Just
remembered an important. :"
His attempts to withdraw were
foiled by the fact that Blair Eggleston
apparently unconsciously. was still at
tached to his coat sleeve with limpet
grip.
The girl was quite near now, and
Packy made another unsuccessful at
tempt to release himself.
i really must be. -"
"Jane!" cried Blair Eggleston.
What a time you've been!"
The girl made no reply. Her at
tention was riveted on Packy. You'll
she said.
Up in the senatorial suite, Packy
had not been able quite to satisfy him
self as to the exact color of this girls
eyes. Now they were within a foot
or two of his own, and he saw that
they were blue-a vivid blue, and con-
structed, as far as he could ascertain.
Of molten fire.
"You!" she said.
There was practically no good an
swers to the word "you!" Packy did
not attempt one.
don't know who you are. but it
may interest you to know that you've
probably ruined my whole life"
Packy begged her not to say that.
He also asked her what she meant.
I'll tell you what I mean. Blair
and I are engaged. I went up there
to try to coax father into a good
temper before Blair broke the news
and now you've played this fool trick
and got him madder than a hornet" "
Blair Eggleston seemed bewildered.
II don't understand"
You will" said Jane Opal grinly.
Blair Eggleston's was a face which
even at normal times had always a
certain intellectual pallor. As the
young novelist listened now, this pallor
became more pronounced. His lower
jaw dropped feebly, like a dying lily.
You don't mean that after that
I've got to go and ask your fathers
consent to our marriage?"
"Yes."
"But you say he is extremely upset"
He was tearing up a sheet when !
left" said Jane.
She turned upon Packy with such
whole-hearted ferocity that he jumped
back full foot.
I'm awfully sorry" he said.
Jane asked him what was the good
of being sorry, and for the life of him
he could not tell her. He remained
silent, pensively rubbing the scorched
patch on his cheek where her eyes
had rested.
A good deal of talk now followed in
which he took no share. His COM
panions were discussing the various
points in his character which prevent
ed his achieving ideal perfection. 1t
was principally in order to avoid hear
ing any more of the girl James
penetrating word-portrait that he
buried himself presently In thought.
Listen" he said, taking advantage
Of the fact that girls, no matter how
gifted as critics, cannot go on forever
without stopping to take breath. II