The Washington times., 1936-12-23
NOW READ ON
RY May CHRIsTIE

manager.
Miss Shellfish informs me
you're doing nicely"
She had a dreadful impulse to
fling back at him: Why! the jolly
old crab!"
But sense of humor didn't seem
to be his strong point. She said
demurely: "That's awfully nice Of
her. She's a kind person. I'm enjoy
ing my work."
"The store dance will be the
eighteenth of December"
"Oh, hadn't heard about It,"
"But you like dancing?"
"I'm mad about it," said Ann.
"It will be given at the same
hotel, as usual"
1T must be quite an undertak-
ing. Who is in charger"
I'VE have a floor committee, but
Miss Selz and I handle the ar.
rangements," he told her.
So? The sultry Brenda?
The car skidded turning into
54th Street off the Avenue, fling
ing Ann against his shoulder. He
put quick arm around her.
"It'S okay. Don't be afraid"
For bliSSful second she Snelled
tweed to which clung the faint
aroma Of tobacco, and was it hair
tonic? A masculine odour that was
fascinating, thought Ann. The car
righted itself.
Here's the place. The one vita
the funny sign"
He tapped on the glass partition,
signalling the chauffeur, who
pulled in to the right. The painted
pink porker grinned down on them
idiotically.
A commissionnaire with q huge
umbrella splashed forward to as
sist Ann.
But Paul Bradley was before
him, helping her out in the rain.
Would you like to come in for
a Httle?" Ann asked obviously,
as the trio stopped in the foyer.
why, I've been here before. "
A curious look came over his face.
It seemed to say: What on earth
are you doing here?"
A vast babel of voices came
from inside.
Then suddenly the door flew
open, and there was Bernice,
radiant in sapphire velvet. Her
eyes widened at sight of Paul
Bradley. She beamed, held out
her hands to him exclaiming:
$50 it's you again! Come on in!
I'm delighted"
Paul Bradley declined Bernice's S
1nvitation-none too agreeably, it
seemed to Ann.
Neither girl had time to ex.
plain to him that it was a hospi.
tai benefit. With a quick mega.
tive, he was out across the side.
walk, into his car, and off.
"Of all the rude creaturesv'
Bernice made a disappointed
face. "Apd we're so darned short
Of men!" She stared at her sis
ter. Hes a handsome devil,
isn't he? I suppose you picked
him up at the Skating Carni,
val?"
"He's our merchandise.mana.
ger" said Ann. She felt resent.
full with both Paul Bradley and
Bernice-for the latter's warm
greeting of him, so familiar, and
at his curt departure.
Also the fact that he imagined
she frequented such places as
"The Laughing Pig" annoyed her
Why hadn't she told him in the
car that she was going to a char.
ity affair?
"a what-did-you-call-him?" Ber.
nice asked sharply.
"A merchandise-manager. In
our store"
"Ho! A shopman?" with in.
credulous disdain. "He seemed
a cut above that, to me-" and
giving Ann no time to argue. she
pushed back into the restaurant
and the crowd.
Ann followed, paid her two
dollars entrance at the secre
tary's desk, was greeted by innu
merable friends.
well named a barnyard, isn't
it?" came the mocking voice OF
Claire, the eternal cigarette dang.
ling.
Dumb clucks" said Captain de
Freyn.
GOOD God! Nothing dumb
about 'em! Raucous!'-from
Freddy.
It was the usual New York
party of its kind, becoming more
and more hectic by the minute
Bernice's gown was repeatedly
baptized by jerky hands. until
as Freddy wittily remarked-one
had only to wiring it out to have
a brand-new cocktail he would
name "blue velvet" or "sweet
sapphire!"
HP$,,rIa,,eH y tho,,nak An~ SHaa.-