The Washington times., 1935-12-12

Then, gradually, her fingers
stiffened about it, her eyes widen
ed, focused on it bewilderedly, re-
fused to tear themselves away
from it. 1t was a check made out
to Kipp. 1t was signed in Fran
cine'S familiar, rapid handwriting
with Francine's name. The amount
was five hundred dollars. The date
was that day. And it was on
Kipp'S dresser. With his things.
1t was his check.
In the bathroom Kipp was half
singing, half humming a song
they had danced to the winter be-
fore. 1t had something to do
with the fact that someone was
playing with fire and they knew
they'd get burned but what could
they do? Ann had always thought
it a particularly silly song -.
Slowly her fingers relaxed. The
thin slip of pink paper drifted out
of them and back onto the dresser
She stood for moment staring at
it as though it fascinated her. as
though she could never stop star
ing at it: then she did stop and
turned away and went across the
room to the window and pushed
back the curtains and stood gaZ-
ing out and down into a court
yard 1t was a small, not par
ticularly attractive courtyard al
though some attempt had been
made to make it so. 1t had tree
that now in late August was
parched and diSpirited-looking. 1t
had some flagstoneS and square
of thin grass and some iron seats
painted green. 1t had a fountain
in which water trickled languidly.
Ann stared down at the foun-
tain and at the tree and at the
thin patch of grass. And all she
saw was Francines eyes, lazily
smiling at her :. Francine'S dark
red mouth slightly parted over
those amazingly white and even
teeth.
Behind her, in the bathroom,
Kipp continued to sing that silly
song. After a while he broke off
in the middle of note and the
bathroom door opened and he
stood in it, tying the belt of the
dreSsing-goWn about his waist. His
hair was wet and shining from
his shower and he had just finish
ed shaving. Even from where Ann
stood he smelled pleasantly OF
Yardley's shaving cream. She
knew that he would walk across
the room and put his arms around
her and that when he did they
would be hard and poSSeSsive, that
his cheek when he laid it against
hers would be cool and smooth.
He did; and they were.
Then with a little broken sound
that wasn't articulate enough to
be either a word or sob she
wrenched herself free of him and
stood with her back pressed
against the curtains at the win
dow.
Kipp said: Whats the idea.
darling? Don't you want to be
kissed?"
His eyes we're slightly bewilder-
ed, his arms sought to embrace
her again.
She eluded them. She said:
No, I don't" Then she said,
spacing her words carefully, look
ing stedily over his shoulder: II
doubt if I shall want to be. by
you. for some time
Kipp dropped his arms and
stared at her. "Snap out of it,
Ann, you're not being funny"
I'm not trying to be funny.
How could you do it, Kipp? When
you had promised. -"
Kipp said: Promised what? For
heavens sake, Ann. be coherent,
won't you? What in thunder are
you driving at, anyway? Stop
beating around the bush and tell
me-"
Ann brought her eyes back to
him coldly. II don't have to tell
you. You know. And I'm glad
your boat is sailing at midnight
lit can't sail too soon to suit
me-"
Kipp said: Have you gone COM
pletely crazy, Ann? Do you realize
what you are saying?"
Ann said: Perfectly" She
walked across the room to her
closet and found small red hat
and shimmering red raincoat.
Without stopping to put them on
she went out of the room, her
high. slim heels clicking sharply
against the polished floor.
| Copyright, 1884, by Allene Corllss. Dis
trbuted by King Features Syndicate, ,Inc)