Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-01-25


{ Chicago Tribuns-NeW York Newn 6Sudlcstl
Incorporated
(ccpyright; 1885, By MarRarst Z. 5angster
part TWO
The PRESENTATION continued to dri
from TOdd's chin. But he didn't minl
it, for he was basking in the sunShin
Of feminine praise-warmer sunshin
than Bella knew in Florida. II wa
long while since he had been praises
for anything except his sobriety ant
goodness.
you make me sound like Vernon
Castle" he grinned.
The instructress shuddered. Dom
mention Vernon Castle" she said. "hea
ancient history. You mustn't put your.
self back In his day-Astaire's the top
Say make you feel like Fred Astaire
$50 you do" answered Todd. Il won
der what Bella would say II she could
see me nowl"
A voice spoke from the doorway. II
was the receptionist, stopping by.
Shed say Alta boyl'" laughed the
receptionist us Bella your wife?"
Todd ceased to one-step. His teacher
said brightly, Time out" and switched
off the record that had supplied their
music. Todd answered:
Eyes, Bella is my wife She's a mar
! Vicious dancer and as pretty" he
paused, searching for q comparison,
las you two" he finished. "But
somehow her prettiness and her dane
ing have done something funny to me.
They've made me sulky and grabbed. I
feel like fifth wheel whenever I'm
supposed to take Bella any place. Fur
thermore, am a fifth WHEEL"
The instructress was going through
pile of records.
Here's a nice rhumba," she said.
mot that, nice is the word to describe
the rhumba, exactly. What's the mat
ter with you, Mr.. Pearson, is a social
inferiority complex. We've cured a good
many of EN-, haven't we, Madge?S
The girl in the doorway nodded
brightly. "I1l say we have" she agreed.
But" all at once she was very seri-
our, don't think that this dancing
in a room with no audience is enough.
You want to, get out with an orchestra
with people watching. It's the only
thing that viii give you confidence"
Todd said, But I've nowhere to go
and nobody to dance with"
The tnStruCtreSS turned on the pas
sionate Spanish record that she had Sc
lected.
GO to that country club you've been
hating" she said, ION Saturday Go
every Saturday while your wife's away.
You won't be scared if she's not
Todd gasped, 'T couldn't" He be-
gan to perspire again.
The instructress said to Madge, You
can beat 1t now, darling. This is busi-
ness"
When the door had closed softly upon
q slender, retreating back, she said,
'sI'U go to some dance place with you
this Friday. Maybe restaurant at tea
time or after dinner. Well do our
practicing in public and you can step
out on Saturday in the home town. o.
she gtggled, I'm not dating you up.
You can pay the studio for my time
you'll darn right have toll Now, don't
act as If you've a poker down your
back. And move from the hip. If you're
going to make personal appearance
The country club dance was in prog
resS-very much in progreSs-when
Todd stepped into the midst OF 1t. He
nodded to the chaperones and Slithered
past them. He ignored the invitation
II an empty cushioned chair He walked
boldly along the edge of the floor to-
ward the stag line Nobody, seeing his
SoldneSs, would have realized that he
vas quaking spiritually. When he cut
n, however, the social inferiority COM
0lex asserted itself. for he chose a
umpy girl In spectacles who was dane
ng With her brother. She had prob
IDLY never been cut In on before and
rOdd's attention put her into a other.
{ covered up from the spectators the
act that he, himself, was In a ditherl
my wffe'S away" he explained to
he girl, land thought I'd look in ON
'ou youngsters. / thought perhaps I'd
earn a few tricks"
The dumpy girl was not a bad dan
er, despite her lack of what-it-takes
land she had the gift of gratitude.
daybe this gratitude was responsible
or her burble Of:
You learn from us, Mr.. Pearson? 4
low you're having flIni"
1t was right. TOdd-suddenly king
{ men-waS having fun, and for the
lrst time In q co0n's age. He gave
he dumpy girl the rush Of her life,
nd when the club beauty went float
led shoulder, of stepping out In Bella,a
bsence-he asked her for a dance, too.
'uriously enough she gave 1t to him.
Il didn't know you were this way,
odd" she said when he claimed her,
his Is rhumba-ean you manage it2"
Todd said, II can rhumba a little.
don't get by give me rain check
" next week"
But though he had his clumsy, pant
lg moment, he got by. III
Thus 1t went through the whole Of
ne evening; up to the time when I
odd, In the locker room, changed his 4
lird melting collar. And then one Of
he sleek young men Of Bella's choice
ccosted him.
well, Todd" he accused, so you've
zen going places and doing things9"