Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-05-10

arm, rather Imply. when may
see you again? think have little
windfall tomorrow, an advance on my
new book. I'd like to take you out
then. if you could stand seeing me
again so soon."
"I'd love to-" she said, "for lunch
You know, work nights" She didn't
explain at what.
She telephoned Jake Thurman to
tell him she would be in later with
his seven dollars-and for work, if
any.
"What marvellous baby you are!"
he exploded when he heard her voice.
81 have been trying to reach you. I
have you booked with the same lovely
gentleman for dinner tonight, tomor-
row lunch and dinner. That will be
thirty dollars, sweetheart, nine for
YOU"
! 81 can't take lunch with him." she
said. "Tell him I have another en-
gagement."
"You booked it direct?" His voice
was fretful. "You know that's not
allowed baby"
"Don't call me baby! And I'll make
any engagements I please. If he
wants me for dinner, all right"
Jake Fuhrman's tone was mourn
full but decided: "Then do not bother,
baby, to report again to this service.
I can fill my clients order with an
other lady exactly his type"
There was pause. Belinda felt
the old forces hemming her in. AL
most physically she could feel john
ny's choking grasp on her destiny, and
physically she hated him. She want
ed to strike him, to hurt him, to break
his intolerable streaking spirit. There
was food to be bought. There was
Foggy. And Foggy, stole and often
inscrutable, was capable of terrific
decision. She had said things to Fog
gy-and in her heart she knew that
Foggy had no intention of becoming
lodestone around her neck. There
were outs-she shuddered.
GAIL right, Mr.. Thurman. "I'll be
on the job for lunch tomorrow"
She was little apprehensive be-
cause Foggy wasn't in the apartment
which, Belinda felt, was beginning to
communicate dire gloom, an authen-
tic scent of poverty-gentility in
straits, the bleakest kind.
She left at half past five to go to
Jake Fuhrman's office. Foggy still
wasn't in. Frequently she stayed out
on one errand or another, later than
this. Belinda told herself how silly
apprehension was. But all the way
down to the Gotham Building, she felt
sickish and very tired.
She was so preoccupied that she
almost disregarded the fact that a
woman's voice babe her enter j. G..
Fuhrman's Dinner Companion Service.
And she almost failed to notice The
side door, with screen separating it
from, and hiding, Jake's desk. But
she was galvanized into incredulous
attention when she discovered that the
woman at the desk was Foggy.
"You!" She almost shouted it.
eyes, sweet" said Miss Fogg brisk
ly. Didn't you read the afternoon
papers? Johnny Parkes has bought
the j. G. Thurman Service and already
the publicity has brought us two hun
bred customers. We're going to spe-
cialize in nice but poor girls as COM
panions for college boys in town over
week-ends. I'm in full charge Of book
ing"
ooh. heavens!" said Belinda faint
ly. you've joined with the rest to
prosecute me-" Black whorls rose, but
she fought them down. She must re-
main in possession of her senses be-
cause she had something to decide.
| Foggy was up and with an arm
around her in second. For the first
time in Belinda's memory that long
face like Twenty Grand's was shat
tered by emotion. Belinda, my sweet
don't say that. Don't say that! Come
and we'll leave right this moment.
didn't know you really felt like that;
oh, forgive me, I didn't know!"
The unprecedented outburst of Fog
gy's brought Belinda some measure
of composure.
Suddenly she decided what she want
ed to decide.
"Where is Johnny now?"
"He's at home. He just called. He
was coming by here for you in ar
hour. Come, sweet, let's get out Of
here right now. We can hide where
he'll never find u.s."
NO." she said. "I'm going tt
take a taxi and go see him now"
| Riding among the harlequinade o: