The Washington times., 1937-01-06


BY a sixth sense, Ann knew 1t
before she saw him. With his air
of definite distinction, making the
boys about her look immature and
dull. she thought, he greeted his
young hostess, and the quick, con-
gratulatory smile he gave her lit
up his handsome face, making it
doubly attractive.
For heavens sake, who is he?
D'you think he'd give me tum-
ble?" an excited debutante asked
Ann.
She did not answer. Her heart
was hammering disconcertingly.
Would he see her? Come over?
She turned her back on the dis
turbing vision in the perfectly fit
ting evening clothes. -.
With shaking hand Ann was
raising a champagne cocktail to
her lips when, over her left
shoulder, Paul Bradley's lean
brown face was reflected in the
long mirror behind the bar.
quite Hallowe'en-ish, isn't it?
You know the old superstition"
His attractive voice was very close,
and his reflection smiled over her
left shoulder.
About seeing a lovers face?
Not a bit appropriate, Mr.. Brad
ley!" Her glass halted in midair.
Keep her hand steady. PoiSe!
She needed it. Oh, why did he
say such a thrilling thing to her if
there was no meaning, no inten-
ton back of it? And had she
been too "on-coming" in her an
swer? But he had asked for it,
hadn't he?
He lifted a brimming glass
from the counter, still looking at
her in the mirror.
why inappropriate? Am I
such an old fossil?" were the
amazing questions he ventured,
under cover of the uproar.
Now Ann had already had one
champagne cocktail and a warm
and reaSsuring heat was creeping
through her veins. 1t gave her
confidence. She turned to him
gaily.
You could be the youngest
man in the world if only you'd
let yourself go little, Mr.. Brad
ley. Don't you know that? Shall
we drink to it?" and she smiled
at him provocatively over the for.
get-me-not leis that was the ex-
act color of her eyes.
Here's to Peter Pan-and
you," he said softly, smiling back
at her. "and here's to the i'm.
pulse I have to carry her off to
the tree-tops! Is that young
enough, Wendy? Let's drink to
it,"
Laughing, they drank their
cocktails.
You look about Is. Do you know
that?"
That's a horribly gawky age!"
Then Sweet Seventeen"
She thought. happily: He's no
adept at compliments, though
he's trying. I'm glad he isn't
smooth and practiced! That
shows he isn't accustomed to
flirting" 1t reaSsured her.
More people arrived. Plenty
OF young men greeted Ann en-
Enthusiastically even tried to date
her in the presence of Paul Brad
ley. She wouldn't have been hui
man had she not been flattered.
Let him see she was popular. A
little competition was excellent.
Presently they were all seated
at a long dinner table, Paul to
her left. They had their backs
to the dance floor. Directly op-
posite them was RoSalind, the
hostess, with a couple of the
bluest-blooded boys in town on
either side Of her. Rosalind had
imbibed considerably, and was in
hilarious spirits. Her eyes danced
mischievously every time they
rested on Ann and her grand
fathers merchandise manager.
To AIMS annoyance, none
other than Captain de Freyn
sat at her other side. She gave
him the back of a resolute
shoulder. Pretended she did not
hear when he asked, suavely:
who's the lucky fellow?" He
repeated his question.
The look she gave him was
Arctic. Whom do you mean?"
The chap with the shoulder
ing black eyes. The one you're
spreading yourself out for" He
grinned unpleasantly.
Il don't happen } appreciate
your special brand of humor."
You don't give me an opportu.
nifty to show it" as he fingered his
toothbrush mustache. in no man.
ner put out. BY the way. how's
Claire, and Carol Ditmar? I've
been so absolutely full-up with en-
gagements that I haven't seen
either of them in the past age"
How deVastating-for them.