The Washington times., 1936-12-24

There was no denying 1t, though
Gordon loathed Paul Bradley.
They danced the encore.
It was the famous waltz from
Naughty Marietta" named
Sweet Mystery of Life"
Cad! if only he himself had
been dancing that exquisite num-
ber with Ann!
Why, in heavens name, had he
come here with Renita Parrish,
who was going to be regular in
cubus!
Oh! to get rid Of her!
It was a good hour before he
was able to get a dance with the
other girl.
She had promised all kinds of
people, which, thought Gordon
snobbishly, was carrying affability
too far. And twice, during that
period, she had danced with the
merchandise manager.
Look here! Let's sit this out!
It's stiflingly hot in here. I've found
a cute little balcony with chairs
in it-Sort of sun porch. I'll get
your wrap" Gordon suggested to
Ann.
"All right" It would be nice to
get breath of air. It was balmy
night for the middle of December,
and there was moon over Broad
way.
They went out on the balcony.
Wrapped in the ermine cloak
with its swirl of white fox fur, Ann
drew long, rapturous breath.
isn't life lovely, Gordon?"
1T IS when you're with me-" he
murmured.
Neither spoke for a while. The
air hummed with the sound of
traffic on Broadway and its side
streets.
In the light of electric signs of
multi-color, AIMS face was radi-
antly pretty.
Ann! Listen! Look at mel" Be-
fore she could stop him, he had
caught her in his arms.
How was he to know that Brenda
Selz had come out on the balcony,
for privacy, for a hope of love-
making with Paul Bradley, and
that they were directly behind him
as he buried his miserable, ardent
young face in AIMS fur collar?
Accompanied by Paul Bradley
at the store dance, nothing could
have pleased Brenda Selz better
than to come upon pretty Ann
Delafield with Gordon Gavin'S
arms about her and his young face
buried in the fur collar of her
evening wrap, there on the Sc
cluded little balcony.
Paul, come away! We're in
truding" Brenda whispered to
Paul.
Knowing the fastidiousness of
the merchandise manager, she
thought: "ThisIl be the finish
of his interest in her!"
The loud hum of traffic down
on Broadway had Silenced their
footsteps. So quickly did they
leave the balcony that they were
unseen by Ann. Nor did they have
the time to see her gently but
firmly remove Gordon's encom-
passing arms, and step back from
him.
Inside the building, Brenda, re-
marking She was somewhat fa-
tlgued and would like a cigarette.
led Paul to a couch behind some
palms.
$50 that was that" She con-
triVed a bright, sympathetic smile
that served two purposes, It re-
moved, she thought. any sugges-
tion of cattiness against her rival. !
Also it displayed her flashing
white teeth.
Paul asked sharply: 'That was
the boy from the Advertising, was
it not?"
Now as Gordon Gavin's face
had been completely hidden in
AIMS collar, this implied that
Paul had been keeping tabs on the
pair all evening, thought Brenda.
Sne shrugged nonchalantly as
ne lit her cigarette for her. and
leaned back on the couch in the
manner of pictures she had seen
IN the newspapers that were can
TONED: Smart Society Woman
at Ball Of the Elite" She didn't
cross her legs because she had
thick ankles. In more vays than
one, Brenda was astute.
oh, we mustn't be too hard m
them-at least not outside of busi.
ness hours. It might be any one
OF a half-dozen fellows She plavs
around with. She's young"
this with an effort at seeming
generosity = you really can't
blame her for flirting"
He gave Brenda a close look.
1T was not my impression that
Miss Delafield is - er - light.
minded. Quite the reverse, In
fact"