The Washington times., 1937-01-07

! I d III. ~ wac L Lila ~ 4ACNAAoAAeAAAS OA4~
handsome silk manufacturer to
whom she gave so many orders.
Why was she dancing with him
when he wasn't in her party?
Wouldn't Rosalind be an gr y?
Was it because having declined
to let him take her to the opera,
she wanted to make it up to him?
Someone was pushing his way
through the packed dancefloor
toward here taking her from
her partner with an: Excuse me!
My turn!"
Dizzily, Ann found herself look
ing up into the face of the mer-
chandise-manager, which wasn't
smiling now, as at the commence
ment of the evening, but looking
rather stern =.
Was her face flushed? Was her
hair untidy? Did she look as
though she had had too much
champagne?
But it was fashionable to be
giddy at these nightclub parties.
Paul was an ogre. "Are you an
ogre, Mr.. Bradley?" she heard her
own voice ask.
"No. But when you're ready,
I think it might be a good idea
to get away from all this. Times
moving along"
Don't you like to dance with
me, Mr.. Bradley?" Lovely how
the champagne gave one such a
freedom from convention, so that
one didn't stick at personal ques-
tlonS. Why shouldn't one find out
what was so vitally important as
his feeling, or lack of feeling,
for her? Weren't inhibitionS anti
quated?
eyes. I do love dancing with
you. You dance beautifully. But
I don't want you to take any more
champagne"
The words cut clearly through
the blissful haze about her. She
Stiffened. Drew away. Let me
get my cloak, please"
He caught her to him, the little
fracas unnoticed by the other
dancers. They moved on.
Il don't want to seem like an
ogre or an old grandfather, he
told her, and now he was smiling.
You know, RoSalind's drinks are
very potent. We've all had plenty.
Time to put on the brakes, little
grill"
The diminutive was heartening.
She heard her own voice saying,
breathlessly: But I don't want to
put on the brakes! I want to be
happy, and I'm terribly happy
dancing with you! I'm-thrilled!"
The music finished. Putting a
strong hand under her elbow, he
piloted her up to Rosalind who, as
she now expressed it, was "glori-
ouSly Shemozzled. Rosalind loud
ly lamented their departure, but in
simulated they might have an even
better time where they were going
attaboy! whoopee!
A big white moon shone over the
East River, made the tall buildings
seem like fairy castles towering
into silvery skies.
1t was part and parcel of to-
nights glamour, thought the
couple who emerged from II Ro-
coco. There was a line of wait
ing taXiS. Paul hailed one. The
cold, keen air pulled Ann together,
loosening little feathery curls
about her face whose pallor was
now whipped to a soft rose.
The taxi started, bowling her
swiftly homeWard.
She thought: "If it were only a
longer drive!" So few, so aching
few, were the occasions that she
and Paul Bradley had had to-
gether!
His mind was a receiving station
for her wish Or the same desire
rose simultaneously in him too.
For when Third Avenue was
reached, ne told the driver to take
turn LnrOuSA CenIrdl HdTk,
round by the reservoir.
She leaned back in the cab, very
near him, her black velvet wrap an
effective background for her
beauty.
He drew out flat gold cigarette
case. Smoker"
Please"
She noted the long fine lines Of
the hand that cupped the lighted
match he offered her. She had
woven dreams about those hands
of his that looked as though they
could be very gentle, though
strongly nodded. And from them,
surreptitiously, she glanced at the
cleanCut face that had strength in
every line of it. A face that one
could trust dear heaven!
'0"a that one could trust, illimit-
ably!
ITO Be Continued
(Copyright, 1885, by King Features
Syndicate. Ine.)