The Washington times., 1936-03-05

had seen her only that once
when Dicky and I called on Miss
Sinclair. AS the Italian woman
popped out of her door to watch
us go upstairs, I got pretty good
look at her. She was not fat as
many Latins are, but rather large,
tall, deep-breasted, well-built. Her
face was dark without being
Swarthy, with full lips and great
brown eyes. She was wearing a
wine-red wool dress that fitted her
figure quite closely. I suppose one
would say she was striking rather
than beautiful. Dicky thought her
goodlooking, and I know there
were others who said they thought
so too. She frightened me that
day, coming out so suddenly, and
I never could like her.
It may have been the expression
on her face that did not like.
She seemed sullen, unsmiling, Sus-
picious. Her knowing so much
about so many people afterward
may have added to my impression.
Her movements were all quick and
gliding, not jerky; she was full
Of life and energy, would say
from even that brief glimpse Of
her. I know that I have read
about eyes that blazed, but I
never saw any that did until I
looked back at her as she watched
us up the stairs, just nodding at
Comics pleasant. Good after
noon"
It may have been the woman's
unusual personality that en-
tranced me, but at any rate I
worried a lot over her handwrit-
ing. talked to Dicky about it on
the way home Monday afternoon.
"Oh, cut it out" he said. Il
think we have all thought so
much about this darned case that
we are going cuckoo about it.
Let's talk about the dance for a
change"
"All right" answered amiably,
thinking that maybe was giving
myself away. I'm going to knock
your eyes out with a new blue
dress"
"And won't that be somepin'!"
We discussed our crowd and
whom we'd go with the rest of
the way home. But when we got
there, we were dragged back 20
the murder again, for there was a
swell brown coupe in front of the
house and Bruce Lloyd was stand
ing on the porch.
Whats he doing here?" mum
bled Dicky Grossly.
"I don't know. Probably come
to see Dad. Gee, isn't he good
iooking!"
II don't like that guy" growled
Dicky. II wouldn't be at all sur
prised if he bumped her off"
''Dicky!"
''Well, maybe he wouldn't have
the nerve. He looks too perfect to
be even a good murderer"
I climbed over the door of che
car with what dignity I could in
that performance, silently wishing
he would see that it would open
in the future. I Smoothed down
my green skirt, bloused my white
sweater a little more, and patted
my hair before taking out my
books. Then I said very sWeetly,
"Well, I think he's gorgeous!"
I sauntered up the walk as Dicky
ratified away. But I walked a
little too slowly, for Mr.. Lloyd
left the porch and met me on the
walk. He lifted has hat politely
as he passed me, but, of course,
I had never met him. Mother
waited at the door for me and
consoled me by saying that he
was coming for dinner. I imme-
diately rushed upstairs to decide
what to wear. I really didn't
have a decent thing in my whole
closet. I thought I ought to look
sweet and sympathetic and, in
stead, every darned dress I I'could
find was what Dicky would call
"snappy."
Mother called me downstairs to
set the table before I had made
up my mind: I was shocked to
find that she had not changed
her dress at all.
What are you going to wear
tonight, Mother?"
Wear where?"
why, to dinner, of course"
MY dear child, what do I