The Washington times., 1935-11-25

| guile d OH. OllS AlVCACoVSN
in the book. She's got Jeftery
Hackett to take him on. What
about Hackett, Steve; mean, is
he pretty good agent?"
zone of the few important ones
in town." Steve assured her. "Kipp
couldn't do better. How's the book
coming, anyway"
"Pretty slow After he talked
with Francine about it, he decided
to do some of the first chapters
over she thought he wasn't
getting the very most out Of some
of his scenes"
"What did you think?"
IT didn't think. You see, I've
never been allowed to read word
of it. Kipp won't even discuss 1t
with me. Says he couldn't"
WELL" said Steve reasonably,
probably he can't. You shouldn't
mind that, Ann. You see, the
poor devil lives with it all day
and then when you come home at
night he wants to get away from
it not even think about it.
You see," insisted Steve earnestly,
almost too earnestly, that's the
way it is"
YES" said Ann, II expect that's
it," A moment later she added,
frowning a little, Both Francine
and Hackett think he's got some
thing good. You don't think they'd
both be wrong, do you?"
"They shouldn't be; but then,
again, you can't tell. Publishers
are funny bunch, Ann; and they
have the final Say-So. Besides, it's
a poor year to break in anywhere.
They're keeping their lists pretty
short, you know :"
Ann said, "Yes, I suppose so."
Then sNe said: But if it's really
good, Steve ="
Steve smiled at her and said,
"Sure. In that case ="
Later in the evening, Jeffery
Hackett was much more conf.
dent; much more optimistic. He
said: I'm going to let Halliburton
see it first. It ought to be right
down his alley" He said that if
Kipp didn't let it flatten out at
the finish he had written an out
standing novel. tits pretty brutal,
of course, but that's all in it's IA
vor give 'em something to
chew about" He meant the critics,
of course. Even Ann knew that.
CHAPTER II
Slightly before midnight Fran
cine, helping Kipp mix highballs
in the pantry, said: Nov that
I've seen Ann, darling, l under
stand great many things about
you that have puzzled me from
time to time. She is quite lovely,
isn't she? And so very young. :"
Kipp said: She's "a. she's
not a child"
His voice was a little withdrawn.
little defensive. He wished she
wouldn't look at him quite as she
was looking; with such mocking,
sort of contemptuous eyes. It was
almost as If she knew how much
ne loved Ann, how terribly much
he loved her; and found it anus
ing, even a little absurd.
Perhaps Francine sensed his
withdrawal, because suddenly she
said, Cigarette, please" and
lowered her eyes while he lit it
for her. Then she turned her
slim, bare back on him and began
dropping ice cubes into tall
glasses. Above the sharp clatter
this made, she said quite earn
estly: "She is delightful, Kipp. ..
you are very lucky person"
Kipp said, Yes, I think so,' and
stopped feeling irritated. He said
then, because she was being so
very nice about Ann and for a
moment he had thought she
wasn't being: You have a lovely
back, Francine."
She said, ''YeS, you always said
So... and turned back to him.
For a moment they stood mo-
tionleSs, close together in that
small, brightly lighted room. She
was so tall that her eyes were
almost level with his. they were
soft. partly-closed, remembering. ..
ner lips were SOFT, too. and par
tly opened.
So they had stood scores of
times. before sharing a kiss.
So they were standing when
Ann opened the door, saw them,
and closed it again. NoiSelessly.
Much later, Ann lay wide-eyed
and Sleepless beside Kipp.
Men are so cruel when they
are tender. they go to sleep so
quickly and leave you to lie awake
and wonder and wonder.
Ann was wondering if Kipp had
kissed Francine in that bright,
small room.
(TO Be Continued
| Copyright, 1888. by Allens Corliss.