The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-06-19

walk-trade written all over her. But
on second appraisal this young mer-
cenary didn't seem to be waiting for
any one In particular, or If she had
oeen waiting for anyone in particular,
the glass, unabashed and deft, she
piled with the lipstick and then, giving
her bracelets, of which there were three
or o u on either wrist, a good brisk
chain gang rattle, she passed him and
was on her way, hugging the inner side
OF the pavement and walking slowly,
custom of her SolicitouS kind.
As Remington turned back from
watching her, girl No. 2 emerged from
the recess behind the telephone booth
n came toward him, questioning him
with her eyes. She carried a diminutive
suitcase of imitation leather, 81 this
must be his appointed confederate.
Staring at her, Remington exper-
fenced a distinct shock-not of disap-
pointment exactly, but a shock Of some
thing. Neither style Of costume nor
style of manner qualified her for the
role she was to play opposite him. As
any casting director would have put it,
she wasn't the type. She "a far from
being the type, seeing that she wasn't
the brazen kind, in fact, wasn't even
bronze plated. Her garments were cheap
VI P1d111, Glldb WAC CV1AC41L, UuS 11OG
shabby. and there was more, much
more, than a suggestion of good taste
about her wearing of them. She was
no tearing beauty, but then, on the
other hand, nobody could truthfully
call her homely. She had fine smooth
brown hair that was dressed simply and
her eyes were direct, straightfofward
superimposed on that other jolt, it came
to Remington that were it not for
knowing her calling, instinctively he
would have classified her as-well, "de-
cent" was the first word that popped
into his mind and Wholesome" was the
next one. In view of her role, though,
he inwardly catalogued her mice look
phenomenon of it, let the inventory
stand that way.
Recovering from his surprise, he
hailed her interrogatively:
"Miss-?"
Smith will do as well as any other
name, Mr.. Remington" she said, and
smiled a little smile that instantly van
ished. Her speaking voice was good;
he noted that fact, too, and filed it in
his mental reference box.
He took from her the little suitcase
cross street to the hotel which stood
near the center Of the block. They
went in, and he told the clerk he want
ed a quiet double room, and on the
registry slip wrote Mr.. and Mrs. Thorn
as Jackson, Jersey City," A bel-hop re:
lieved Chad of his small burden n
conveyed them as they rode up. eight
into a biggish The bell-hop exc
cuted his bell-hop's customary routine
of fiddling with the window shades, un-
/ derWent then with murmured gratitude
the cross of the palm with silver which
marked the ordained conclusion OF the
hallowed rite, and departed from them.
Obeying his own ritual, Remington
turned the key IN The lock; Until TINS
moment, and except for the opening
interchange, the couple had not
J snapped a syllable.
Excuse me, please, I won't be more
than a minute Of So" his co-conspira.
| tor said now in quite q matter of-fact
way, and picking up her bag she passed
into the bathroom. While she was in
there, Remington, somehow feeling
ashamed not only for himself, but for
his associate in this thing that was part
farce and part tragedy, remembered
additional details Of the routine as
drilled into him by that lawyer yester-
day, and took off his o%vercoat, his coat
and waistcoat, Embossed his tie and
loosened his collar by unbuttoning its
tabs from the front stud. He brought
a flat flask out of a hip pocket and
put it on the dresser and telephoned
room service for a highball setup-ice,
glasses and charged water-for two.
A waiter vas at the door with the
order as Miss Smith came out Of the
bathroom. She was wearing a pajama
outfit with a light robe over it.
Have a drink" he asked her.
mo, thanks all the same. though"
she said.