Evening star., 1934-08-30
CHAPTER XVIII.

~ TANLEY met her at the front
door, visibly impressed by her
~ Il didn't know you knew
Gerald Pryde," he said, re-
spectfully. Hes the one told you
about who couldn't be bothered with
Norine. He's had so many people
ready to lick his boots that he can't
be bothered with anybody. He's q
conceited son of a gun, but the girls
lap it up. They would be ga-ga over
him with any encouragement. Where
did you meet him?"
"At the hospital. I told you he
came there with Norine.
"And he picked you up, huh?"
''He did not. He got some one to
Introduce him and took me to a
dance" Mazda was unable to resist
o demure thrust at Stanley. Since
then I've seen lot Of him. but nat
urally did not think my humble dates
would be of any interest to you"
well, I'll be darned! Why, he is
famous for never looking at girl.
Is he serious, do you think?"
Don't look so hopeful. Of course,
he isn't, and If he were it wouldn't
do him any good. think he is in
sufferable."
MAZDA went of to her room in a
very bad .humor and spent half an
hour thinking of suitable punishments
for Gerald Prydes impertinence, hold
ing imaginary dialogues wherein she
made him crawl. Shortly before din
ner Stanley poked his head in at the
door
Want to go on a party tonight?
I have an invitation for you from
Norine. She is having a bunch over
tonight and wants me to bring you"
II don't believe so, Stanley. l
wouldn't know any one"
"Yes, you would. Gerald Pryde Is
going to be there"
Upon hearing this her first impulse
was to refuse to go; then she thought
st would be soothing to her pride If
she could find some means of snub-
bing him. Several hours in the same
room would provide the opportunity,
she swore to herself.
Tell Norine I'll be delighted" she
said.
Seldom had MAZDA spent so much
thought on her costume. She had
very few dresses, none, she felt. that
was the kind of knockout she needed
for tonight. In desperation she final
iy wandered into her mothers room,
searching for she knew not what that
would transform her dress into some
thing dashing, and in Mrs. Connell's
closet she discovered a dress that
made her doubtful at first, then jubi-
liant 1t was her mothers one French
creation, bought to grace the parties
that had not yet materialized. 1t was
more Maida's style than it was her
mothers; it was a knowing, blase
little dress, but Mazda felt that its
sophistication would be sort Of
armor to her tonight at Norine's
party, and it was enormously becom-
ing.
She felt she had done right to wear
It when she saw Stanley's expression.
why, Mazda, you look stunning
not like yourself at all" was his
brotherly comment.
At the party she adopted a manner
to harmonic with the dress. She
said very little, but smoked a great
deal and gazed around her with a
mildly amused air. At intervals she
would raise her eyes slowly to the face
Of man she wanted to impress, and
after a long trance-hke stare would
permit herself to smile; not her usual
frank grin, but a Turing, promising
smile copied from q foreign movie
star.
She knew she did this well, for she
often amused the girls in Paradise
Alley with an impersonation Of this
same star in question. Norine's crowd,
who were young enough to be i'm
pressed by her world-weary air, were
enthusiastic over her, and Mazda quite
enjoyed herself and her acting, par
ticularly when she caught a glimpse
of Gerald Pryde looking toward her
with bewilderment and bad temper
IN his face.
They began to dance and Mazda was
In the predicament of having to de-
eide between two men who had made
q race to reach her and then asked
her to dance at the same moment,
when the two aspirants were pushed
aside and Gerald Pryde said, Sorry,
this is my dance"
Go on, you chisler! Wen leave 1t
to Mazda"
Certainly. You remember, don't
you, Maida?"
He was voluntarily laying himself
open to a snub. Here was an oppor-
{ tunity absolutely made to order. She
was ashamed of herself in hesitatine
q minute before administering it. She
raised her eyebrows coolly and said,