The Washington times., 1935-12-19

Her mouth was parted little
over her white teeth but she
wasn't smiling. Beneath her half.
closed eyelids. her eyes were still.
CuriouSly detached. Yet intent.
She was listening. Listening to
Kipp's footsteps as he crossed the
room and the small foyer, paused
to collect his hat and sticks and
gloves. and then went on to the
door.
When it clicked shut behind
him, she moved. She got up and
walked over to the white marble
fireplace and stood staring into
the empty CRATE. The half-smoked
cigarette he had flung there had
burned itself out into a narrow
gray ash. There was a cocktail
Shaker half full of Martins on the
mantelpiece. She. carried 1t back
with her to the armchair. When
she had slipped two cocktails, she
lit cigarette. She smoked quietly,
her eyes on the blue rug. Occa-
sionauy she raised them and con-
sidered the room. Her thoughts
were sliding past one another dis
connectedly, yet with a certain
clean-cut precision. She thought
now 1T is a nice room. Those
yellow curtains and the white
marble fireplace we could have
had some pleasant times here -.
I didn't want much from him
I didn't mean that about marry
ing him. "a few weeks and I'd
have been fed up. I've always
wanted what I couldn't have.
until I got it. I'll want him until
I get him. then I won't give a
boot. Then I'll be able to write
again. another second-rate novel.
Never mind. they make me money
lots of money. But I can't
work when I'm like this. It's 60
ing on for months now. ever
since March, really Too damn
long. I thought this trip would
turn the trick but it hasn't. be-
tween Ann and his stupid book. =.
his. stupid book >"
Suddenly she sat absolutely still.
She even seemed to stop breath
ing. Then she laughed. Softly,
triumphantly; and got up from
the armchair and went into the
foyer and picked up the French
phone. She said Get me the
Crillon Hotel in Paris Gilbert
Mason"
She stood tapping the toe of
one black, silk pump against the
polished floor. She was smiling
a little now. a small, secret sort
Of smile that tugged at the corners
Of her mouth. The marks on her
arms were pale pink in a little
while they wouldn't show at all.
She could hear the English op-
orator clearing the lines for Paris.
Could hear the French operator
taking the call.
There was a clicking and hum.
ming in her ear. The English
operator said: Hang on a mo-
ment, please, for your call to
Paris" Presently a mans voice
said: Hello. " and the ope.
rator said: Here's your party ="
Francine said: Hello, Gil.
I've changed my mind. I'm flying
to Paris tomorrow. - After a
slight pause, she said: "No, don't
bother to meet me. III go directly
to the hotel. Until tomorrow
then"
She put the hand phone down
slowly. Picked up a flat, black,
suede purse that lay on a table
with a pair of crumpled gloves
and a small black hat. She
opened the purse and took letter
out of it. She opened the letter
and read it. Then she folded It
and put it back carefully into the
purse That little smile still play
ing about her lips, she went into
the drawing room and began
slowly extinguishing lights. Once
she paused and looked about the
room regretfully. it was a nice
room. so cool and quiet and in
innate. 1t would have been fun
quite lot Of fun. . if things
had worked out differently.
X X
She let Mason kiss her once in
the taxi. She said: You needn't
have met me. -. -
But I wanted to. Paris has
been unbeliavably dull" He
locked at her and smiled.
She thought: He's still good
looking but he's losing his hair,
In another year or two he'll be
definitely middle-aged. He's kept
his waistline though. probably
does a lot of bowling. And he has
a pleasant way of smiling. -"
She said: How did you leave