The Washington times., 1935-12-03

arms. You poor little kid q.
you brave, sweet kid!"
She clung to him and lifted
her mouth to be kissed. She said:
Not so brave, darling. just SEN
sible. You finish the book ana
I'll pay the rent; then you'll pay
the rent and I'll give up the
shop. You'll like that, won't you?"
Because he would like it so
much that at the moment it
didn't bear talking about, he
didn't answer her. He simply held
her close and kissed her.
And in the end that is what
they did. Ann paid the rent ana
Kipp went on with his book. And
as the days heightened into weeks
he tried his best to accept the
situation, if not happily, at least
not too reSentfully.
Sometimes he failed pathe-
tically, as for instance, one night
at Francine's when after his see
ond Scotch highball he referred
to himself as a young man with
out any visible signs Of support"
and then grinned wryly and
said: But that isn't quite true,
is it? Because Ann, while small.
is quite definitely visible :"
For a moment Ann looked so
completely stricken that he
promptly cursed himself for saying
it. I'm sorry, darling" his eyes
told her going to her across the
room, "I didn't mean to hurt
you. was simply trying in my
own stupid way to be funny
about something that I don't
think is funny at ALL
She had understood and for
given him but later in the
evening she was coldly resent
full when Francine sought her out
and deliberately returned to the
subject.
You mustn't be morbid. Ann"
she said in her detached, slow
flowing voice, bending her honey
colored head to get light from
AIMS cigarette, about Kipp's
being temporarily broke. He's
bound to land on his feet even
tually; if not with this book, then
with his next"
Ann lifted her smoky-gray eyes
and smiled at her carefully. The
special little smile she always re-
served for Francine, a smile in
which her eyes played no part but
witch was entirely matter of
soft lips, deliberately and very
slightly curved.
She said: But I realize that
perfectly, Francine, and if anyone
is apt to be morbid about the sit
uation, it's Kipp, not me. AS
matter of fact she added lightly,
I'VE are managing very well"
I'm sure you are" Francine in
haled gently, made round red
circle of her mouth and blew
seven slow violet smoke rings into
space. Il worked weeks learning
to do that" she confided earnest
ly, "a man staying at the same
hotel in Reno taught me how. 1t
rained for days on end and there
wasn't much else to do But in
case you should get into a jam"
she continued, coming back caSu-
ally to Ann and Kipp and their
affairs, don't hesitate to come to
me. will you? I could help you
out. perhaps" Her long honey
colored eyes were on the smoke
rings.
A bright wave. of color swept
over AIMS face, quite to that soft
dark bang. She caught her lower.
lip between her teeth and then
released it gently. That's sweet
of you, Francine, awfully sweet.
But I'm quite sure it won't be
necessary"
Francine shrugged, yawn ed
slightly and stretched herself in
dolently.
I'm smoking too damn much"
she remarked Grossly. 80 say
nothing about drinking too many
cocktails. That's the trouble with
New York. you smoke too much,
drink too much and talk too much
E. and don't sleep anywhere
nearly enough"
Later. going home in cab, Ann |
said: Listen, darling, you
wouldn't ever consider borrowing |
money from Francine, would |
you?"
Naturally not"
Ito Be COntinued)