Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-04-10
CHAPTER l

In the center Oh Cne pdckeu udHSe-
floor of that fashionable all-night sup
per club, the Kit Kat, red-haired
girl of sinuous grace-her face up
tilted and her eyes half closed
swayed in the arms of one of New
York's most eligible bachelors.
Darling, isn't it divine?" she
breathed- her lips so close to his that
for a mad moment he had the impulse
to kiss her. Julie went to ones head
like wine-like rich deep burgundy.
Confound that jasmin in her hair
the Intoxicating perfume that was the
emanation of Julie! Hardened bach
elor though he was, and accustomed
to lovely women all his thirty-two
years. never more potently had Henry
Van lyle felt the allure than now
holding Julie in his arms to that throb
bling, sensuous music.
"You are divine" he said in a low
voice-but even as he said it, that
keen mind of his was turning the
thought that the clamor of the senses
was not love-not the kind of calm
foundation on which to build real mar
riage?
"You mean it, Henry? Say it
again!" The soft red lips of Julie
brushed his ear. Her cheek rested
against his. Her body that artists
had raved about was so close to him
that they moved-in so far as one
could move at all on that parked floor
--as one person.
"Henry-!"
"Temptress!"
"You mean it? You find me-a
little -desirable-?" She had tilt
ed back her head again, and her curl
ously green eyes that were deepened
by judicious application of green
shadow paste, held at that moment
all the promise and the lure of primi-
tive Delilah.
you're darn fascinating you
know it, Julie. To others as well as
to me-"
"No-only you'll" She was reckless
now. The stakes were high. "There's
only you, Henry"
"And - and - and -"
A quizzical half smile that was his
guard at moments such as this swept
the tenseness from his cleancut, hand
ONE face as he named three of jules
SWANS at random.
Don't stall. You know I'm crazy
about you, Henry"
Better to speak out. Things had
been dragging on too long. In this
mad whirlpool of town, with every
other woman a Lorelei singing her
particular brand of enchantment to
the male, delay was dangerous.
Beautiful little liar!"
Julie closed her eyes so that Henry
might not glimpse the baked and an
CRY flash that momentarily drove the
allure out of them. Directly behind
her, she heard girl exclaim in mock
ing tone: "Say, George, old dear, get
a load of Julie Trevor making a big
play for Henry!"
Had Henry heard? That little cat
ty beast of Bright Eyes! She was
dancing with George Loomis-Henry's
friend-quiet, reserved chap, good
ten years older than Henry. But Julie
sometimes wondered if George didn't
see a lot more than one gave him
credit for.
Now she wondered if Henry's re-
luctance-or rather dilatoriness in
proposing to her, was in any way due
to Georges influence.
Something must be done soon, for
how could one maintain champagne
tastes on what was practically beer
income? Since the depression, jules
dividends were either non est, or cut
to a minimum. A hint to Henry
would doubtless bear immediate fruit,
financially. He had given her pres
ents, it is true, diamond bracelet on
her birthday, radio set in Chinese
antique, expensive knicknacks and
orchids galore.
But with her mind now set on mar
riage with this eligible, handsome man
it would be foolish to hint at her fl
nancial necessity!
AS though something of her inten-
ton percolated to Henry's mind as
they gyrated there on the dance-flool
of the Kit Kat, Henry suddenly said
Guile, that white gowns the most be-
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