The Washington times., 1936-12-31

nght.mlnded. Maybe I'm mis-
taken?"
Dad was so pathetic.
"He's what Berrice wanted, and
she's got him, and you and I'll
have to make the very best of it.
You know, when a man loves a
girl, wonders can be performed"
He kissed her. He understood
her at least, better than he
understood to tell her how much
he appreciated her loyalty, that
she was true-blue, but words did
not come easily to James Della
field. Where his feelings were in
volved, he was inarticulate.
A spot of comfort in the elope'
ment was that. now she was a
married woman. Bernice would
resign her job of cocktail-hostess
in THE Laughing Pig"
X X X
Now the columniSt'S secretary
due to poor telephone connection,
had not caught the given name of
the bride. She had met Ann Della
field once at a party, and had
thought it was Ann who had just
got married. So the youngest
Delafield's name was in the col
umn, in the midnight edition of
the morning tabloid, as the wife of
Freddie Brandon, "well-knoWn
Park Avenue Playboy."
The mistake, of course, was rec.
titled in the breakfast edition Of
the paper, due to Bernice's and
AIMS calls.
But when Ann walked into her
department at the store that morn
ing, Renita Parrish had already
spread the news around that she
was married!
Not I. My sister," explained
Ann.
This was a sorry disappointment
to Renita Parrish. An it was not
alone Renita who had read the
item in the paper. Paul Bradley
had seen it! Gordon Gavin like
wise!
The shock of AIMS supposed
marriage had impelled Gordon to
call up Renita the previous eve
ming.
What about lunching with me
tomorrow? The Golden Eagle at
o'clock, Renita." Lonely and
disheartened, it was comforting to
get her quick response.
Ann Delafield's married. It's
in tonight's paper. Did you see
it, Gordon?" she had quavered,
after long pause.
"Why, mol" He contrived to
sound nonchalant.
ITO m n called Freddie
Brandon. I guess she won't ever
be coming back to work in the
store" Keep the triumph out of
her voice! All! Now she would
have her innings, at last!
II don't know him. To the devil
with him anyway" Gordon said
gruffly.
She thought: "He never really
cared for her! It was only silly
store gossip!"
From the stockroom she Dor.
roWed beautiful gown for lunch.
con.
Gordon had two cocktails on the
table when she arrived. He was
usually abstemious. She wondered
. was it the news of AIMS we'd
ding that had made him want the
Stimulant, or was it to please her
-Renita?
She thought: IT won't tell him
it was false alarm-that it was
her sister, and not Ann who got
married."
He was very nice to Renita dur
ing luncheon. Gay, in fact.
He complimented her on her
gown. Black-a Slinky black with
silver fox collar.
Il ought to look WE'LL" beamed
Renita pridefully, cts expensive,
Gordon. But then I'm getting a
very good salary"
Would that fetch him? Nice to
have a wife who could earn real
money in these times of depres-
sion!
Now Miss Shellfish had seen
Renita'S exit in the gown, and
knowing it was bespoken by GUS
toner. had been much annoyed.
Borrowings were getting to be
much too frequent. She'd have
to put a stop to it.
Twenty minutes later, the GUS
toner came back to see the dress,
saying it would need a couple of
alterations.
Ann, for the love of Pete, dash
over to the Golden Eagle and get
hold of Renita. Tell her to come
right back with that gown she's
borrowed-it was to be kept for q
customer, and she's here. waiting
for it. The gown should never
have gone back to the stockroom.
It's too bad!"
Ito Be Continued