The Washington times., 1937-01-13

/ IN green OF NlOlCL 1AA-OAAS AAoAN
so tiny that he had to work with
the aid of a magnifying glass.
Mr.. Cripps looked on with IN.
terest. He was with Mr.. Weiss
here, heart and soul.
Swapping q rubber band around
the bills, Mr.. Weiss threw them
across his desk to Pongo: Go to
it, and phone me at the Mt-cnan-
disers' Club no later than one
thirty"
In front of the display cases OF
the Gift Shop, the small, sharp
eyes of Pongo CrippS sought for
his quarry. /
Brenda selz saw him and
turned her back on him. 1t wasn't
in her scheme of things to give
orders to q little tightwad like
Pongo!
He skipped nimbly around to
the other side. will you give me
the pleasure of lunching with
me? My cars outside"
Thanks, but l can't"
Nov, listen, Brenda" He
leaned over the counter, lowering
his voice, though no one was
about. It'll be greatly to your
personal advantage to have a
talk with me. You won't be the
loser. Not by a long shoti"
She looked at him. His left eye
lid o11ivered. as though giving her
a high-Sign.
"All right. I'll come with you,"
she said shortly. make 1t some
inconspicuouS place. And have
your car driven to the corner
on Sixth Avenue by the cigar
store. III meet you there in fif'
teen minutes"
The Fashion Show on the stage
at one end of the Misses Dress
salon started at quarter OF three
that fateful afternoon.
Ann Delafield was there, not in
the capacity of spectator, but as
model for negligeeS and lounging
pajamaS from her own depart
ment, the mannequin she had en-
gagged for the occasion having
taken i'll.
Renita was also present-and so
were many of the executives OF the
store.
! Between change Of garments,
Renita-soon to be Mrs. Gordon
Gavin-had dashed into the dress
ing room, where the models were
assembled, and whispered to Ann
eagerly that she'd solved the under
selling business of that line OF
lingerie buyer at Marcus &c
Pickard's had bought bales and
bales of bankrupt stock!
Brenda Selz was near Paul Brad
ley, towards the rear of the salon.
A dreadful premonition struck
her that he'd maybe seen her slip
that $50 cloiSonne compact from
her showcase into her handbag.
when she had thought no one was
looking, just before leaving for
luncheon with Pongo...
But Shaughnessy was close be-
side her, shadowing her. In order
to escape him and at the same time
dispose of the compact, where
could she turn?
Ann Delafield, in exquisite
pajamaS, was donning a tailored
robe that had a pocket. Quick as
lightning, Brenda slid long fingers
into her handbag, found the COM
pact, hastened to help Ann with
the tying Of the knotted girdle,
at the same time dropping the
compact into the pocket Of the
robe.
Suspecting nothing, Ann walked
out on the stage.
The robe applauded, she re-
moved it, so that the handsome
lounging pajamas might be dis
played. She was at the corner
nearest the outer entrance of the
dressing room, close to Shaugh-
messy who stood beside the screen,
close to the footlights. The robe
flung over her arm, something
hurtled from its pocket, bounced
across those footlights, fell to the
floor of the salon. to be rescued
by Shaughnessy. He gave a quick
glance at it, and nodding to Ann
pleasantly, pocketed the compact.
A moment later, unaware OF
what had happened, Brenda
emerged.
She ran right into Shaughnessy.
She made as though to pass him.
In the semi-darkness by the
screen, he stopped her. you're
wanted in Mr.. WeiSs's office.
Come with me-" he said in a
lowered voice.
Six o'clock in the great depart
ment store.
Brenda was gone-forever-so
far as Paul, or the firm of Bar.
clay & Weiss, were concerned.
There was but one person that
Paul wished to See-he had to
see-to lift this mood of black
depression from him.
How would she greet him?
He found her alone in her de-
partment, putting lacy frailties
into the glaSs-fronted shelves. No
one was within a radius of 80
yards save an old cleaning
woman, vigorously sweeping with
her back to them.
Ann" He drew the slender
figure to him, holding her hands
tightly and looking into her
eyes. Ann, we're going to Paris,
not on a buying trip, but on a
honeymoon-if you'll have me?"
paris in spring-With You!"