Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1934-03-02

face.
"Killed somebody n
"Not yet"
run away with all the available as
sets Of a bank?"
mo. not tempted. Poyerty's not my
affliction."
Sniff finished her club sandwich in
silence. In silence watched him eat
until he was satisfied. Then she rang
for Buttons to remove what was
left. %
And now" she said when they had
both lighted cigarettes. this is not a
game Of Twenty Questions. expect
another client shortly. We must get
down to business What is your
troube?"
The man assumed hang dog air.
Watching him intonily. Sniff decided
he might be as much as forty years
old although she had previously judged
him much younger. his expression be-
ing slngularly ingenious
1.-THE trouble is can't bear fat
women he ayerred.
No woman Of her proportions un-
der snch circumstances could have
failed to remember the last time she
had stood on her bathroom scales.
Shifts sense of the ridiculous warning
her against personal application of
the remark. she laughed, assuring her
self that she was not interested in his
likes or dislikes.
"Has your wife put on thirty
pounds?"
ITS not so bad as that" he said
simply, I'm not married-yet." He
paused and looked up at the ceiling,
then with an effort brought his eyes
to meet hers. please try to believe
that I'm not an utter fool when tell
you there's a woman who means to
marry me and I'm shaking in my shoes
for fear some time she'll corner me-"
Sniff took deep breath.
"You proposed to her when? mean
how long ago?"
II never proposed to her. What
kind OF ass do you think l ami"
"Then in the name of all that's
reasonable, if you're not engaged why
should you assume that she wants to
marry your"
On it all, because she doesT" he
said obstinately. -Four years ago she
bought a place in the country next to
mine. Since then-I can't call my soul
my own. come to New York-the
first person l run into in the lobby OF
my hotel is Mercy. So surprised to
see NEWLY hadn't said was COM
ing? We might have Travelled together.
Such old and dear friends, no one
could take exception to it-and gig
giles, giggles like a school girl Comes
to my table at breakfast time and says
It all over again. Just as If didn't
know her cook is own sister to mine
and that can't wink without their
whole household hearing of 1t. That's
now, I'm speaking of; it's not the first
time it's happened"
Smlf emitted an unladylike whistle.
"My young friend" she said, II think
a retreat is In order. Travel for a
time. The chances are that the lady
will console herself while you are
away and If she doesn't, when you re
turn you can keep things on a footing
of indifference from the beginning"
I've thought of that," he returned.
ITS impossible for me to go away.
Absolutely impossible. For purely per-
sonal reasons. Yet so long as l stay
home, ! can't avoid her. She is my
nearest and only intimate neighbor,
and when it comes to finding necessity
for my advice her fertility of invention
Is staggering. I'll have to keep on
lodging unless you can discover some
escape, and sooner or later know I'll
hurt her feelings. she'll weep on my
shoulder and I'll find myself hooked"
swell, then, If it's Inevitable, why
don't you march up to the altar like
a man? You are very tender Of her
feelings, perhaps you are fonder of her
than you think" Covertly SmIt
"otehcu hihl " see uuW ne LUX TINS
suggestion. His face did not change.
I'm way. am fond of her. She
has been good friend to ME. Only
d-n 1t all. she's fatl I wish you
could see her. Then you'd understand
why no man could fancy himself in
love with her." He made a helpless
gesture.
II will give your case serious
thought. Now you must 60" Sniff
rang bell, Buttons appeared and at
once opened the door into the elevator
lobby.
Your fee-and when shall I come
agalnf'
"You can pay me when I've solved
your difficulty. Come day after tomor-
row at"
He had picked up his hat ana coat,
now he paused on the threshold to In
terrupt before Sniff had named an
hour.
sri come to lunch-the same time"
and added with an lmpish CLEAN in his
eyes, 81 love your lunches"
The door closed behind him and
Sniff found herself thinking with sym,
pathy not, strangely enough, OF her
client, but of poor Mercy who was too
fat" for love.
She had minute or two to recover
from her late visitors audacity before
her next client, Pamela Phelps, en-
tered. The girl had written that she
would oql Il two and hoped Smlf
would he a'lg 10 see her alone.
"Nnu'I" y ti'gr to find time for me,
Sniff" Il heat md bestowed a kiss
on Shifts cheek. eAlthough I've really
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