The Washington times., 1936-06-29

But a certain innate breeding
halted Elizabeth. The opportunity
would come. She could not
force 1t.
It came-in the burly form Of
the colored porter, unsteady bawl-
ing: First call for lunch. Dining
car rear"
She rose, heading for the res
taurant. The good-looking man
followed. He noted the long,
lissom lines of her 10 years, her
exquisitely shaped ankles, and the
pale gold coil of her hair on the
nape of her white neck. It was
q long time since he had touched
q Woman's hair. While he had
been away, fashions had changed.
Now, he was amazed at himself
for imagining how that hair
would look when loosed about her
shoulders. the ripping cascade
of it.
An attendant placed her at a
table for two. The man seated
himself opposite. So perfectly
timed was this that almost it
seemed an accident.
Because she was nervous. her
voice was curt as she ordered her
luncheon.
The man opposite her picked
up a menu. Elizabeth made a
quick survey of him.
He had a small head, with very
straight black hair-"as black as
a ravens wing" she thought ro-
mantically. Little feathery tufts
of white above each ear lent him
distinction. There were lines
about his eyes that made him
seem older than when seen from
further off. They gave him a
faint air Of dissipation or world
WEAKNESS, which only added to
his attraction. Elizabeth thought.
The waiter moved away. Eliza
beth stared out of the window.
She knew that the man opposite
her was awaiting his opening. An
embarrassed shyness seized her.
Why hadn't she stayed in the
Pullman?
Suddenly the train swerved VIC
lently on a curve, and her hand
bag skidded off the table into
the passage.
The man stopped to pick it up.
He handed it back with a little
bow to her thank you"
She flushed, and hated herself
for flushing. She was a lovely
girl, with a small, slender face
illumined by eyes as darkly blue
as cornflowers. Her skin that had
the texture and color of pale al
mond blossoms had deepened to
bright rose. The man remem-
bered grimly that most of the
women he had known were not
given to blushing. AS he looked
at her there was a Smouldering
CLEAN in his dark eyes that sent
little shivers all along her nerves,
and her body tensed with excite
ment.
Its really surprising that the
trains stay on the tracks at all,
with the new increase in speed"
was what he remarked banally.
isn't it?" she smiled. She had
dimple in her left check that
at the moment made her look ex-
traordinarily childish. Couldn't
be more than II. he thought.
Eighteen years difference in their
ages; though the past two years,
which had been an eternity of
hell, should be discounted.
But I love speed. I wanted to
fly down. But Dad wouldn't let
me" she pouted.
"Is that so? I suppose it would
be too bold of me"-he smiled at
her-''if I said were glad" Afraid
she might take this amiss, he
added quickly: I'm another year
or two Well all be flying. It will
be the principal means of locomo-
ton. The Atlantic crossed in a
few hours. Around the world in
a few days"
''How perfectly gorgeous!" Her
eyes shone. She drew a deep
breath.
He thought, "she's longing for
excitement, for adventure. Fresh
from school and just rarin' to co."
He understood women. From the
time he had been her own age,
they had a fascination for him.
Lovely woman-and money-mak-
ing!
But money-making, of course,
came first,