The Washington times., 1936-12-22

saying words like that to her-sh'
would have been divinely happy
She said a rash thing. Go ant
tell that to Renita Parrish"
Alarmed at his daring, ant
it's probable consequences, bette
quick surgery and be done witt
it,!
$50 she's been making mischief
has she? I thought as much!"
mo. No. Be sensible.
shouldn't have said that, excep
that I knew you were friends, ane
it isn't fair to suddenly give hel
the go-by. It's unkind Of you' Cor
don."
In front of the long mirror, III
swung her round.
"You really think she's anything
to me? If you do, you're crazy
Ann. Don't you know how I Zee
about you?"
CHAPTER XIV.
It was half past five on a Friday
afternoon, and pouring with ram
Bernice Delafield, AIMS Older
sister, was giving big cocktail
party at 1.-The Laughing P1g"-s
hospital benefit-and Ann hae
promised to drop in.
She had changed from the prin
black uniform of the salestorce
into an ultra smart little clare
suit. A relic from thA tag end o:
prosperity, with the French !aoe
in the waistband. On her shiny
brown hair was perched a Snapp1
new hat.
Her face was framed by an enor
nous collar of rose fox fur tina,
the couturiers sometimes referred
to as blue. It was the color OF the
blue grass of Kentucky, or, more
aptly, the mellow brownstone OF
so many old New York houses. and
eminently becoming to the clear
skinned young Ann, who looked
lovely.
So thought the merchandise
manager, Paul Bradley, as he was
about to step into his limousine at
the curb in front of the store.
Ann had exited by the employees
entrance, but turned into the
Avenue in search of a taxicab'
None was in sight.
"Appalling!" thought Ann. my
clothes will be ruined!"
Her eye lit on the shiny black
foreign car.
How lucky some people were!
A man was looking at her, with
a question in his eyes.
Good heavens! It was the mer'
chandise-manager, and she was
leaving the store ahead OF all the
other employees!
He was coming towards her. To
rebuke her? Not possibly to offer
her lift?
But it was so!
Jump in. I'll drive you to
wherever you're going" he said
masterfully. She was so surprised
that she didn't even say thank
you"
But once in the elegantly fitted
interior, she found her voice. "The
nearest subway. Three blocks
west," she said to the chauffeur'S
back.
mo. You'll get drenched. I'll
take you direct"
Between Madison and Park, on
the south side of 54th street. ]
can't remember the number"
Go ahead, Charles" The chauf,
feur closed the glass partition.
They shot up the Avenue, while
the rain beat against the windows
and sWished under the balloon
tires.
This isn't real!" thought Ann
who was perfectly accustomed tc
luxurious cars, but not to her es
cort. It was too amazing! Here
she was, alone with the merchan
dise-manager!
It was essential to say some
thing. Not sit there in this com
fort like a dumb fool.
In her nervousness, the most
banal remark slipped from her
Its a fine day for the ducks"
But not for the cats"
Ha! The Ice Carnival?
He knew it had been she, then?
Remembered her stupid jokes? anC
his reply-"Cats hate having cole
water thrown on them"
She turned to him a perfectly
blank face.
All very well to flirt at a masked
party, but outside of that, better
watch ones step.
Yet her heart sang with excite
ment, and his nearness, and the
fleeting opportunity of getting tc
know him better
That's a remarkably pretty
hat" Gle was human, then? Sht
could see it in the strip of mirror
to the left of him.
"You got it in the store?" He wa!
as nervous as she was, and annoyed
at himself because Of 1t.