Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-19

w tried again and again to
draw Rita into discussion
OF Carl and Selma. Once he had said:
Must be great to have your emo
tional machinery running on the
same belt the way Carl and the Run
brecker female manage it. Funny, too,
when you think about it. Carts in
telligent and practical and ambitious,
while Selma's mental equipment is
about on par with a two-day-old
kitten. :"
To which Rita had replied,
wouldn't it be amusing if we ran
where?"
And again. later:
For all her ohe-cylinder brain,
Selma's fighter, Rita. Not out in
the open, understand. She takes her
shots from behind trees and around
corners was all set for fireworks
last night. She's got you marked for
a surprise and it may be anything
from a slurring remark in public to a
live tarantula in cigarette case. It's
none of my business, but I'm warning
you. If you must add Carl's scalp to
your collection, take my advice and
sleep with one eye open -
And Rita had said, We've been
driving in one direction quite a long
time, Bill. Didn't you say we were to
meet Lee and Ann at some place
around 1902"
But Rita had no real aversion to
the subject and decided suddenly to
have it out with Bill once and for all.
She liked Bill, but she had no illusions
about him. He was newspaper man,
and newspaper men were VIGOROUSLY
poor and impractical. and--as she had
warned Ann-unreliable Occasion
ally one fought his way to fame and
wealth. but only occasionally. And
Bill, she reflected little sadly, was no
fighter. He had no ambition, no
burning desire to scale the heights.
Rita had found herself wondering
whether Bills insistent warning had
been inspired by simple desire to
save her from possible embarrassing
experience or had grown out of a
strictly selfish motive. One never
knew with Biz. He might, conceiv-
ably, be in lovet with her and never
let her suspect it. He was like that
and because he was like that she
could never completely put him out of
her mind. If he told her this moment
he was hopelessly mad about her
("imagine Bill telling that to any
girl alive!"0 she would not be moved
.. But it would be nice to know.
cts perfectly evident, Bill" she
said at last, that sooner or later I
must tell you Selma Runbrecker sim
ply doesn't exist so far as I'm con-
cerned e. You keep reminding me
what a savage rival she is. Get it
out Of your system, man. AS long
as she stays out of my way, fine. The
day she claims title to Carl Balmer,
though, she had better have the pa
pers to prove it."
Bill had just lighted cigarette but
he threw 1t away. IF you're that far
gone on Carl" he said soberly. there's
no sense in trying to argue with you"
And suppose I'm not gone on Carl
at all? Suppose I find him an inter-
to prevent my going out with him?"
did you," Bill asked drolly, lever
hear of the law of fair play? e.
Washington is full of men. Rita. Why
pick out the only one you've met who
happens to be in love with another
girl?"
Rita's calm was gone in a flash.
Anger was in the sudden tilt of her
head, in her half-closed eyes :. but
she held herself in check. Her voice,
when she spoke, was quiet, controlled.
II sometimes wonder if you men
know the meaning of fair play. Bill"
She was momentarily silent, then eff
you pose as noble exponent of good
craftsmanship, how do you justify
your SNUG attitude toward Ann? You
didn't have to marry her, but you
might at least have given her a good
time"
"Are you really serious, Rita?"
She pretended she had not heard.
"Even before she saw you, Ann was
half in love with you" she said
evenly. "And when she did see you
I'd told her you were" She ges-
tured meaningly. And if she's had
anything from you but a paternal
smile, I failed to see it."
Bill seemed about to reply to this,
but it was only after a prolonged
silence that he said: 1.-THE defense
rests after one remark :. went out
of my way to see that Ann got crack
at Lee Monday. Maybe you know a
bigger fish to throw in her way.
don't"
1t was 5 minutes of when they
entered the Everglades. but the head
waiter assured Bill he knew Mr.. Mon
day well, and that Mr.. Monday had
not put in an appearance there to-
night. And then. while Bill was in
sisting that Lee must have come in
unnoticed. the manager came up and
gave him a sealed envelope.
"a boy brought this three or four
hours ago, Mr.. Hudson he explained.
Bill opened the envelope and read
the note inside. "All right" he said.
"Let's have a table for four. OF in q
corner, If you have one"
When they were seated, he handed
the note to Rita. She read it, thought
fully:
Taking Ann of on little excursion
in q borrowed ship. Probably won't
be back much before 10. Don't drink
the place dry. I'm saving up man
sized thirst. LEE"
Rita looked up. puzzled. Where
do you suppose they've gone, Bill?"
"Chicago-Miami-Paris. maybe. A
Thousand miles Is Just nice sprinting
distance for that boy. And not" he
added, suddenly dropping his voice, ito
change the subject too abruptly. but
our very dumb head waiter is bringing
us company" He pushed his chair
back and rose as Selma Runbrecker
came llD with a furry of frOthv ex-