The Washington times., 1936-12-26

his cigarette, blew a ring Of smoke
into the air, watched it circle.
The silence was prolonged. II
became embarrassing to Ann.
what do you see in the smoke?
You look so absolutely intent" she
smiled at him.
Secrets"
"Ha! That's your long suit, is
it not?"
what do you mean?"
"That you don't want anybody
to know your real mind" she ven
tured.
He suggested: Getting to know
mems minds is somewhat Of a
hobby of yours? Not SOP"
What makes you imagine such
a thing?"
Because, firstly, I have eyes in
my head. And secondly, psychol,
ogy has always been rather hobby
of mine"
Puzzled, she caught her under
lip in her teeth.
you don't mean, do you, that
you consider I'm some sort Of a
horrible scalp-hunter?"
He melted a little. He smiled p:
LA Belle Dame Sans Merci," he
murmured.
"That's a terribly Ieft-handed
compliment. Doesn't verse of it
run "A rag and bone and
hank of hair, they called her The
Woman Who Didn't Care"
"'But the fool he called her his
Lady Fair" he supplemented.
There was a glow in his eyes,
turned full upon her now, whether
with accusation or ardor she had
no notion.
Always this queer clash between
them when they were alone. What
had she done? If he disapproved
of her, why had he sought her as
partner?
With all her heart she wished
she had the intuition to tune in on
his happy moods, not the morose
ones.
And yet-between them vibrated
an emotion that was far removed
from cool indifference. Just to be
near him stirred her strangely.
Had you any particular fool,
So-called, in mind, Mr.. Bradley?"
He blew another ring of SNAKE,
ruminatively. THE night the fool
first met her she was masked and
wore a domino, but the hank of
hair'-she has very pretty hair, by
the Way-Was visible"
The Ice Carnival?
Said Ann: "As Alice-in.Wonder.
land remarked, this grows curl
ouser and curiouSer!'
"You find it so? Isn't it rather
an ordinary experience in your
life?"
What is, Mr.. Bradley?".
"Trophies?"
Her heart thudded.
You were talking of locks of
hair. The gentleman under dis.
cussion didn't go off with trophy
OF that sort, did he?" she inquired
provocatively.
For answer he drew out his
watch to which was attached a
short platinum chain from which
dangled the onyx cat that she had
given him. In the dim light of
their little retreat, the emerald
eyes winked up at them know
ingly.
"D'you remember a certain
young lady informing me that
cats and men had the same quail
ties of character?"
That's always been my opin-
ion. Rub them the right way and
they purr. The wrong way, and
they scratch. AS now!" she added.
mo more than that comes back
to your mind?"
So he wanted to flirt, did he?
Well, meet him on his own ground.
To what occasion are you refer.
ring, Mr.. Bradley?"
"The Skating Carnival"
THAT was the first time you
met the young woman? Are you
sure of it?"
He put his hand on hers. "The
first time that-shall I say?-
registered"
II won't say-'how condescend.
ing' I'll only ask if she-er-re-
Sponded to your mood? Men and
cats, you know, enjoy attention
only when they want it. Other.
wise they're serenely aloof."
"She didn't respond for long.
She left early"
"Too bad. AS determined as
you are, and as fortified with femi
nine psychology, why did you let
her get away from you?"
He narrowed his eyes. half quiz
ztcal, half smiling, moving a little
near the curled young figure on
the divan, and not releasing his
handclasp.
so you don't like laggards-in-
love, do you?"