The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-04-24
BY 9y; Me Hxsxso

- 81 @O4
all over the dormitories. You'll go
soft on me and we won't accomplish
a thing" He seemed so perturbed and
certain, that Kenneth feared he might
lose this big chance.
Look, Mr.. Harden, I don't want to
be rude, but the type just doesn't in
terest me. Rolls off my knife, as it
Old Francis paid no attention.
You're too damn nice looking; that's
another thing. She likes EN- big. Your
clothes fit you too well" He stopped
and his eyes ran over Duryea's double
breasted brown sharkskin, the solid
color tie, the custom made oxfords.
"Couidnt you do something to your
7 might grow a beard" Kenneth
How about a nice navy haircut?
How about-Iu tell you; weren't you
ever much heavier or much thinner?
Hayent you got an old suit that doesn't
mo, but I saw a snappy little plaid
number in a window lei Times Square,
the other evening. Seventeen-fifty, with
two pairs of pants"
Instantly Mr.. Harden's problem was
solved. 1.-THE very thing!" he calculated.
Kenneth leaned forward. YOU'RE not
Son, I was never more so. I've lost
a lot Of sleep owe that girl, but I'll
be hanged if I'll lose a big job and a
promising worker. Get that suit and
another like it-worse, if you can find
one-and all the trimmings. And any
little faux pas you can make ct the
Kenneth had gotten up and was
providing about uneasily. "This's been
a lot Of nice clean fun and all that
sort of thing, Mr. Harden, but I don't
think you quite realize what you're
asking me to do"
The boss eyebrows came together
making yourself a little less attractive,
Not at ALL" with some asperity. IT
don't like the idea of assuming I'm 50
devilish attractive that something has
to be done about it! It goes against the
Mr.. Harden had never found himself
in the position of having to modify his
charms, but he could see the younger
mans viewpoint, and tried another
tack.
How about if you classify it as a
l LARK Hoy about doing it just for the
"How's about if you and I just go
It took an hour and 10 minutes.
Tempted by the absurdity. of it and a
very urgent desire to stay in good with
the old man, Kenneth allowed himself
to be persuaded-but the haircut was
out. Definitely"
When Gabrielle walked into the IL
brary the following Sunday evening,
the Mr.. Duryea her father introduced
to her was certainly nothing to write
home about. He was, however, worthy
of a second glance. Milk chocolate
brown crisscrossed with robins egg
blue; patch pockets in p%rofusion and
armpits-the little plaid number far
exceeded Mr.. Harden's widest hopes.
The trimmings were 100 percent. With
them, MI. Duryea appeared to have
taken on a certain gaucherie Of man
ner that suited his employer to a T.
G!abrie1le's .nostrils gave a small, In
voluntary, witch and a shudder passed
tocratic ancestors and finishing schools
stood her in good stead. How do you
do, Mr.. Duryea?" And it really sound
ed as though she wanted to know how
he did.
MI: Duryea, however, was completely
unstrung and showed it. Gabrielle vas
one of those arresting individuals who
sock you in the midriff and throw you
off balance at the first sound of the
gong. Few, indeed, survived to analyZe
her sanely and perceive the fact that
she was really no beauty at all.
Her hair was the color and had the
shiny smooth surface of a band Of
copper. She wore it parted in the mid
die. Her dark eyes and straight, thick,
p~aintbrush eyelashes stood out in
startling contrast to the camellia petal
wh1teness of her skin; and then, just
to surprise you still further, her mouth
was full and wide and wicked looking.
like q small bad boys. Sometimes, In
her favorite white satin, with Grand
mother Harden's emeralds around her
slender patrician throat and her bur-
nished copper head held high, she
would have been frightening almost
II It hadn't been for that bad, bad
mouth. And sometimes, in an old
sweater and stained ski pants, with her
bad, bad mouth she would have been
entirely gamin-if it hadn't been for
her slender patrician throat and the
regal carriage of her burnished-copper
head.
She was quite courteous to MI. Dur
yea that first evening, saw to his bodily
comforts, sat with them both q polite
hour after dinner; but the door Of the
telephone closet In the hall inadvert-
emily swung ajar, and her conversation,
postponing several dinner parties she
had planned to give, was distinctly au-
dible.
nTA/7e