Evening star., 1935-07-05

laugh" he retorted. "It beats me how
you take up with just anything, Spe'
cially a frill that slapped your face
on rolly coaster. I bet you think
that was cute-you haven't tumbleo
that it was her way of leadin' you on
I know telephone broads-they're
gold-diggin' outfit"
You don't know her"
"An' l don't wanta. Pin that In
your helmet"
Paul started the motor. "Okay
fathead," he said. go on up an
bite y'r nails I've got places to CO."
He grinned maddeningly. Puny
turned away haughtily.
Come on, Bud" he muttered. "He's
nuts"
Paul shot away from the curb. He
gripped the wheel and chuckled as ne
drove
A likable chap, this Machanello
In his second year with Babe Buntons
Orchestra. playing at the Trocadero
during the Summer season and at
the popular Viennese Ball Room down.
town during the Winter, he was very
we'll known among the dancing public
And approved. especially by the OPP
posite sex, because from the youthful
feminine and therefore romantic point
of view he was no strain to the eye
and was further possessed of a really
commendable singing voice. The
opportunities afforded him by TINS
following, needless to say, found no
distant reception.
His mode Of living. In a sense, was
not complicated, yet it sometimes pe-
came that way with dlsconcertlng
suddennesS. With Bud Samuels ana
Puny Gormley, hitherto mentioned,
whose baptismal names were, reSpec-
lively. Leland and Alfred, he shared
divers apartments. Changes In loca-
ton were frequent and were usually
made on urgent request OF the owners
thereof, after the third or fourth
party had been thrown" by the les
sors thereof. A restless trio. this.
Collectors of empty bottles, connois-
seurs of the faminine figure dlVlne,
ravishers of traffic regulations, always
broke, always in debt for new musical
instruments bought in never-ending
search for tone" always in trouble
of some kind-usually girls. Unheed-
ing. irresponsible. But passing musl-
cians-and hospitable hosts far In
excess of their incomes.
Downtown, Paul parked the old car
beneath the pyramided tower OF the
Telephone Building. Having gained
a position commanding the entrance,
he did not leave the car, but sat in
the late afternoon sun, and, at inter-
walls, drew on a cigarette. His attitude
was somewhat tense and the hand he
rested on the steering wheel hovered
nervously near the horn-button.
A group of girls issued from the
uncertainty before the building, turned
quickly at Paul's signal and came
toward him. Young, blond, lissom.
she ran along the sidewalk and climbed
into the roadster with graceful little
hop. She was classic featured with a
typically pure coloring, cleverly en-
hanced. Her blue eyes lighted in
stantly, Enthusiastically, as they fastened
themselves on Paul. Her voice low,
rich.
Darling" she articulated, breath
ing quickly. "Oh, but I'm glad to see
you'll Today was the longest Of
all"
She nestled close to him in the
seat. He seemed in no hurry to start
the motor, holding her hand. his eyes
drinking her in, isolating them from
the clamorous street at their side.
'I'll say it was. honey" he answered
Then. eagerly, Did you tell EN-? Did
you say your little piece?"
She did not reply, but nodded her
head without looking at him. Her
color was high and she trembled
slightly, her eyes masked by their
long lashes. Suddenly she turned and
faced him-although with an obvious
effort. Her gaze was almost an appeal.
Paul" she breathed. paul"
He patted her hand. II know how
you feel. sugar." he murmured, con-
solingly. "It's big step to take. And
tomorrow's the day. But don't worry
We're going to be okay. Everything
is gonna be jake-for always"
The girl slipped hand under his
arm. Her smile. trif1e apologetic,
was dazzling. I'm sorry, darling"
she said. "It's-it's just because I'm
so glad-and-and-"
II know" he repeated. "I feel like
kissin' a policeman, myself. What
do you say we run out to Jerry
Joe's an eat and put tn finishin'
touches to tn arrangements. Right?"
They raced out Prospect avenue
through the growing twilight. The
girls head lay against Paui's shoulder
and, though the arm around her
became numbed in its maintained
position, he was aware of no dis
comfort.
At small cafe, just inside the
park gates, they occupied booth.
The girl ordered coffee, but Paul
dined heartily, attended by two
white-aproned youths who rushed to
and fro betimes, bearing victualS
to other patrons enthroned on the
line of stools at the counter. This
pair, Paul addressed familiarly as
Jerry and Joe, and they were ex-
tremely anticipatory and very defer
ential, their gaze often lingering on
his trim companion.
When the girl went to the phone
to call her roommate the twin res
taurateurs approached Paul.
"Datin' that blond pretty regular,
aintcha, Paul?" inquired Jerry.
"Yeh-about three months" Paul
told him, carelessly.
whats her name, now? I fer
git"
Ina Frederickson. Folks live in
Dallas"
"She's built like nobuddy's busi-
ness" opined Joe, the frank
Listen, men," said Paul. con-
fidingly. "I'll let you in on some
thing. We're to be married tomor-
row."
The brothers stared at him and
then at each other. They became
round-eyed.
mo kiddin'?" they gasped together.
mo kiddin'."
Business men to the eyebrows, they
soon submerged their confusion under
broad smiles and effusive fluctuations.
Fan my brow!" supplicated Jerry.
When the girl returned they were
ohSeuliolISness persOnified A. truly