The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-13

to earth and realize it the better
off you'll be-"
She glared. IF you're propos-
ing to me again, I must say you're
about as diplomatic as charging
buffalo"
Truth beats diplomacy any day,
Hilda. If you could only see it as
can you'd know that all these
club people and so on that are
making such a fuss over you don't
care whoop about Hilda Dale, the
girl-like I do.
They're only interested in Hilda
Dale, the tennis player-who can
bring them reflected glory to baSk
in-swell their gate receipts, ad-
vertiSe them-So they can cash in.
ONLY A MACHINE
"Why, to them you're only a
tennis racquet, boxful of rubber
balls-and a machine. Yes, that's
ia machine!"
George Burton. You dare"
II dare anything, sweetheart, be-
cause 1 love you-and because I
know you love me. And it's time
we did something about it."
Johnny Rogers Strolled by. He
gave George Burton Supercilious
glance and bent down over Hilda.
Wonderful match, dear" he
felicitated. Your forehand was
unbeatable. How about tonight?"
II won't be busy, Johnny" she
said sweetly. They both gave Bur
ton an offhand glance as if to tell
him wordlessly that he was in the
way.
See you later" George said,
getting up and leaving his entree
untasted.
The girl watched him go in dis
may. George had never done that
sort of thing before. Always been
the good old dependable squire.
She shrugged and smiled.
/ "Walk?" she invited Johnny.
Over by the deserted court they
found a secluded bench behind a
hedge. Johnny was in rare form.
He, too, had won his match that
day.
He was going to win Forest Hills
this year, he said. He hoped to
go after the Wimbledon title again.
Lost it last year owing to his own
damned carelessness. After that,
Auteuil-and then:
ATTRACTIVE TOUR
Bob Ross has a tour mapped
! for me, sweetheart. Well go East
through the Mediterranean, stop
ping off in Athens, then running
over to Cartoon through Suez-
play here and there-Manila-
Hongkong-maybe Shanghai-hit
Japan at the right season.
Never been to Japan, little
Hilda? Marvellous place! Treated
me like I was the Emperor last
time I was there. Then on to
Honolulu and home. NIECE"
TOO absolutely scrumptiouS,
JOHNNY"
Want to go along? You can.
you know"
Me? HoW?"
Say the word. Be Mrs. Johnny
Rogers. Keep it secret if you
want to. Might be better. I'll
wangle it with Ross.
Plenty of gals in foreign parts
that would like to see the great
Hilda Dale on the courts. Make a
mint of dough for everybody. Not
cost us penny. How'S about it?"
How's about it? Just like that.
She glanced at the tall boy beside
her. Read desire, posses6iveness,
mastery in his eyes along with the
insouciant charm, the self-confi-
dent, condescending nonchalance.
/ Something she missed that she
nevtr missed in George. Adora-
ton. Silly. Yes, but girl being
proposed to can stand a bit of
alteration just the same. But
this delightful jaunt round the
world! She felt dizzy.
THINK 1T OVER
Think it over, baby" Johnny
told her.
She got up. "That's just what
want to do" she said-breathed,
rather-and ran away.
She found huge chair in the
committee room. Dark, the room
was. She knew it would be and
that's why she chose it as refuge.
She curled her slim legs under
her and gave herself up to seri-
Gus, miserable contemplation.
Which? Which? "I'll go mad!"
she told herself, and believed it.
Did George really mean it
when he ran away? I'll slap him
for being so fresh, the big, lovable
mugg! Go away from George?
How can -"
The lights came on. Voices of
two men rumbled through the
room. Hilda hunched herself up
farther. But then men weren't
noticing her.
She recognized their voices, two
members of the all-poWerful tennis
committee. ArbiterS of her fate
and the fates Of all the glory-seek-
ing youngsters at the nets.
Dale will go to Essex next
month. Weak draw there last
year. Dale'S hot now. She'll pull
them in. BY the way, rave our
press department build her up"
dale for Essex. Okay. Marble
head is yelling for her already.
Route her right through. BY the
way, Johnny Rogers is getting out
of hand. Wants too much"
THE END
"They get that way" the other
man said. Have to nurse him