The Washington times., 1936-12-25

only yesterday was telling Mr.
Weiss that you sure are the whole
brains of the organization!"
well, that wouldn't make a hi
with him, my dear girl. Don't for
get the owner has his own creative
policy"
The my dear girl" delighted
her. She edged still closer. ThC
scarlet chiffon handkerchief tiec
to her left wrist was on his knee
Couldn't he take the hint, anc
hold her hand?
AS thought in league with
Brenda, the exquisite strains o1
"Parlez Moi d'Armouf" wSpeak
to Me of Love") floated up from
the ballroom. These were the
words that Brenda yearned might
come from the lips of the merchan
dise-manager.
She had a fine voice, a con
tralto. She aired it now. Her eyes
boldly on his face-for it was do
or die!-she trilled throatly:
Speak to me of love that ]
am longing to hear-r-r- . !"
He rose. I'm booked for this
waltz"
That was his answer!
Ann Delafield had reasoned
with Gordon Gavin on the bal,
cony.
You know I do like you aw,
fully, Gordon-I always did, even
when I was Is years old at the
junior holiday dances-but I'm
quite sure there never could be
anything more between us. It's
much better for both of us to real
ize that"
II realize only too WE'LL" he
groaned, that you'd never look
twice at a chap without nickel u
1T isn't that at all. Moneys
got nothing to do with it," she re.
torted. "It's just that we're en-
tirely different, and so we could
never really fall in love with each
other"
Now this logic wasn't quite cor
rect, but the main thing was to
let poor Gordon down easily, for
Ann was eminently kind.
He said quickly, looking at her
with unhappy eyes that carried
some resentment: "IS it because
1 took dinner tonight with Renita
Parrish and brought her to the
dance? Is that it?"
The pleased look that came to
AIMS face was denial enough.
"Renita is gorgeous tonight.
was just thinking how particu-
larly well you two looked together
on the dance floor"
Suppose you're hoping I'll re-
turn the compliment to you about
how you looked with Bradley?
Well, I won't. He's years too old
for you."
Vexed as she was, she burst out
laughing. No point in reasoning
with Gordon!
Presently the strains of per-
feet waltz drifted up to the bal
cony.
Gordon, I'm booked for this
dance. Will you take me down
stairs?"
mot if you're dancing with the
big butter-and-egg mani"
"Oh, there are plenty here who
would fit that description"
"You know darn well whom I
mean"
Come, Gordon, don't be un-
kind. It's rude to keep people
hanging about"
Rude, you say? Well. I see it
in your eye that your next part
ner is Bradley"
Then if you won't come with
me, I'll have to go alone" She
half turned, looked pleadingly at
Gordon. He remained where he
was.
I'VE can have the third dance
together. It's a tango, Gordon" ="
"I don't need your pity"
"Why, you're behaving like a
horrid, spoiled little boy!" She
turned and hurried from the bal
cOny, into salon, ana 0lrecCIy
in front of her saw Paul Bradley
heading for the staircase. She
overlook him.
She smiled up at him. 'Mr.
Bradley, I think this is our waltz. "
She was not to know that
Brenda Selz, ablaze with jealousy
and from the snub that Mr.. Brad
ley had administered, had paused
on her way to the ladies cloak
room (she had made the pretenSe
of going there to get out of an
awkward situation, for she had no
partner) and was watching their
meeting at the top Of the steps.
Ann put light little hand on
Paul's arm.
It stiffened at her touch. Had
she made a tactical mistake? Was
he carrying store etiquette into
the yearly festivity? Quickly she
| removed it.