Imperial Valley press., 1936-11-08
"OBSE SESSION"

A glance told him they were mostly North
Americans from the ship just in from New
York. With practiced eye, he classified them
one by one as to degrees of unimportance-.
business men, smattering of tourists, one, man
who might be an artist, two Europeans, OBJ
viously French and German consular officer
he remembered indifferently, probably return
ing from home leave by way of the states.
There were not very many. 1t was the off-season
for tourists in Buenos Aires. With bored
shrug, Jose turned away. In the bar he pur-
chased a pack of cigarettes and, tracing his way
lesurely back into the crowded lobby was about
to start his late afternoon promenade along the
fashionable Gale Florida, when he caught sight
of young woman approaching the desk. She
was obviously an American, but he had no
classification Tor her as he had for the others.
She was beautiful, yes, but he knew many
beautiful American women with varying de-
grees Of intimacy. 1t was not that! But some
thing very disturbing, very real attracted him
to her When she had registered and a boy had
carried her bags to the lift, Jose approached
the desk. He leaned familiarly on the polished
marble, winking slyly at the clerk.
"a than ordinarily attractive guest
Senor" With a nod, he indicated the girl who
was just entering the lift. The clerk bowed
politely hiding smile in his shirt front.
Isl Senor Francisco, most attractive lady,"
He looked at the register. "Senorita Eenore
Justin from New York" He beamed solicitously
Senior Francisco invariably tipped with five peso
notes.
Jose did not completely enjoy his walk that
afternoon. When he had traversed the Gale
Florida to the AUenido de Mayo, he dropped
down into seat at a sidewalk cafe and over an
aperitU tried to find reason why this girl, this
Lenore Justin from New York, disturbed him
He had had scarcely more than glimpse of
her She hadn't once looked his way, but
strangely enough, he couldn't seem to get her
out of his mind 1t was partly, but not altogether
pleasant sensation because he sensed mys~
terry about the motive of his interest. He re-
called his attempt at casual firtatious inquisi-
tiveness with the hotel cerk-nothing new for
the suave bouleuardier. But for once his half
indifferent curiosity had been pose. Jose was
anything but Indifferent. He must find out more
about this girl! He felt as though an invisible
magnet were hanging over him, drawing him
not to the beautiful face or to Lenore Justin, the
woman, but to something beyond and within
that. Jose was not complex person. The re-
action was new and very strange to him. He
finished his drink, and leaving a coin on the
table rose to retrace his steps over the crowded
Florida back to the hotel
sOSE lived at the Plaza because hotel life
u suited him. When his father died three years
before leaving him, the last of the Franciscos
a pretentious villa in Buenos Aires mountain
retreat at Cordoba, and fortune in pampas
lands, Jose had Immediately leased the city
house. moved into the hotel, and divided his
time between Buenos Aires and Cordoba. Sc
ries of hushed scandals involving Senor Fran
cisco had resulted in his memberships at the
clubs lapsing He had resigned from lack of in
terest he said. But men did not like Jose, and
women who succumbed to his dark, sleek hand
someness invariably regretted it. Jose was an
egotistical, selfish and very bored young man.
It was difficult to understand his strange re-
action to Lenore Justin. Oddly enough, 1t was
not a physical reaction. That night when she
came down to dinner, Jose was watching for
her.
Lenore Justin was indeed beautiful woman,
a trif1e older perhaps than he had judged her at
first She was not girl. A mass of wavy golden
hair ewes as blue as the Argentine skies, and
a hauntingly familiar mouth were photographed,
developed and printed in his mind as she swept
by him and into the dining room. A sudden de-
sire to know and talk to this woman possessed
him. He had only wondered about her until now.
Jose obtained a table near her and scarcely
took his eyes from her face, but not once did
she turn her gaze in his direction. She finished
her meal with the customary speed of an Amer
ican rose and left the dining room Jose fol-
lowed, arriving in the lobby just in time to see
her enter the lift He was helpless. His obses-
sion about the woman made him uneasy. He
dropped into a chair and waited-for what he
did not know.
An hour passed before Lenore Justin again
appeared She had changed her gown and was
now dressed in a dark tailored suit. A heavy
veil worn over turban-like hat partially con-
cealed her face. Without leaving her key at the
desk, she slipped unobtrusively out through the
swinging doors. Jose was close behind her She
walked a short distance, then hailed cab,
climbed quickly in and was carried away into
the night.
The leisurely Senor Francisco moved with
amazing alacrity. Not more than few seconds
had elapsed before he was speeding after her
in another cab Ten minutes later they entered
La BoCd, a district of Buenos Aires that
abounds in shady dives cafes that cater to
sailors, questionable men, and ladies even more
questionable Amazement grew within Jose.
What could she want in La Bocd? Women like
Lenore Justin didn't go Summing alone!
They traversed the length of a street Of
gaudy shops and cafes Jose saw the cab he
was trailing pull up before notorious cafe
called Ell Toro. He watched the woman get out,
give some brief order to the driver and then
enter the cafe. Her cab moved few yards
ahead and came to stop. The driver sat idly
at the wheel. She had evidently instructed him
to wait for her Cautioning his own driver to
remain close at hand, Jose left the cab and hur-