Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-14
CHAPTER w

CHAPTER w
Merle retreated two steps, while
wave after wave of hot and cold cur
rent, sharp and bright like laboratory
lighting, played along his spine. He
looked at her as inquisitively as a pup
py for moment and smiled. "Come
in, Mary-Lou," he said.
"I'll go right away if that's all the
glad you are to see mel" She SEEM
ed to be withdrawn into her furs, her
round small face flushed with warmth
after cold.
"Of course I'm glad. But you can't
expect to barge in here after so long
and not give me jolt.
How'd you know where live and
where'd you come from and when?"
"There's such thing as telephone
book, Mr.. Bigbee."
est down, Mary-Lou. I'll jump
into some clothes and be with you in
q minute"
She turned around, her coat half off
her shoulders, and stuck her fists in
to her hips.
"Since when," she demanded, "did
you put on all those airs? I guess
though, it's very healthy sign. l
remember the time when you didn't
bother to get decently dressed when l
called, ever"
A grin enveloped his face. The same
Mary-Lou. He pulled his dressing
gown around him more closely and
plopped after her on slippered feet to
the living room.
"What are you doing in New York
so early in the morning?"
She sank into low modernistic
chair, spread her coat wide, and look
ed him over. "What do you think I'm
here for?" Her eyes twinkled. ITO
buy things. Shopping"
He sat down on his divan and stared
at her.
"Alone ?" he wanted to know.
"Of course not. Aunt Alice came
with me. She's out visiting some old
friends in Hoboken. left her at the
station. She took a taxi though l
could tell by the joyful expression on
the drivers face that it was probably
miles and miles. She's good egg.
She lets me do pretty much as | please
even come up to rich bachelors
apartments and get them out OF bed"
"What'd you come up to buy?" He
lighted cigarette with elaborate in
difference. "A trousseau?"
She laughed. She had the kind Of
feminine face that is not spoiled by
laughter. maybe. But I dropped
by to see whether, by some chance,
you wouldn't take me after ALL"
"I'm glad you didn't forget to let
me know you were in town." he told
her politely, squirming inside.
Suddenly she rose and held out her
hand. "Now I've really got to run,
Merle You look just the same, though
you aren't just the same"
"Why am not the same?" he ask
ed, more composedly.
"For Pete's sake, Merle! I drop
in to say hello and maybe ask you to
buy me breakfast, and you actually
fence with me as if I were some re-
mote stranger. What's come over you
anyway? used to like you because
you were always yourself. You aren't
any MORE"
He knew if he spoke then he'd say
something furious. He was mad.
There was nobody who could make him
as mad as Mary-Lou could. Once up
on a time he'd have let fly with his
temper and there'd have been plenty
of feathers from both of them in the
air. Not any more.
Now he realized how young Mary
Lou really was; how immature. She
was only year and half younger
than he-twenty-one- she acted
like sixteen.
"I'm sorry don't-come up to your
expectations and specifications" he
remarked. 81 was very glad to see
you again, and I'd hoped you would