The Washington times., 1937-04-03

Charlie honked again.
Goodbye, honey-don't be too
late"
"Goodbye-T WON'T"
Julie stood on the porch, and
watched them drive away. She
looked at the peeling paint OF the
stairs, at the two signs Julie
Beauty Shoppe," and Circulating
Library" She thought, I hope
Marie's not going to turn out a
snob. She never acted that way
before -.
The car turned the corner at
the avenue, and disappeared from
sight.
And Julie, practical, hard-boiled
Julie, offered up a little prayer:
Please, God-don't let her be too
disappointed. Because she's not
like me-she takes things SO
hard"
CHAPTER w
well, here we are!" Charlie
said. He seemed a little surprised.
Beads of perspiration stood out
on his long upper lip. He hated
driving in traffic. In Hollywood ne
could keep to the back streets and
avoid it, but he only came to Los
Angeles when Julie made him, and
he didn't know any back streets.
He brought the car to the curb.
A doorman opened the door.
Marie looked toward the revolv'
ing doors of the large hotel. She
had only been here once in her
life before. She was conscious OF
the doorman's presence, OF his
cooked hat and gold braid. Be
cause he was holding the door
open for her, she stepped out. Her
knees felt weak. She wanted to
go back home with Charlie. Her
mother was right. The whole idea
was crazy.
Charlie was saying, do you
want me to wait or anything?"
mo, I'll be all right. Thanks,
Charlie-good-by!"
"Good-by," Charlie said. He
pulled his hat forward, squared
his shoulders. Then he swung out,
into the traffic. He was gone.
Marie walked through the swing
ing doors, into the crowded hotel.
Shed started this. She'd have to
see it through. See it through if
it killed her.
OF course, Edward wouldn't be
there. The whole thing was joke.
Or maybe he'd be sitting off in a
corner somewhere, laughing at
her.
Maybe he wouldn't recognize
her. Anyway he couldn't be sure.
All he had was those snaps she
sent him, and they didn't look
much like her. She picked them
out because they made her look
pretty. And he'd never sent her
even one, though she'd asked and
asked.
A man in a dark, striped suit
was coming down the central
stairway. He had a broad, pur-
plish face, and anxious, protrud-
ing eyes. He was thick about the
middle, and there was a stiffness
in his step. He kept his large,
apologize eyes on her, he was
making right for her.
It couldn't be Edward! 1t
COULDN'T BE! He'd never really
described himself, but she knew
he was young and slim.
She half closed her eyes, walked
abruptly toward the newsstand
She'd buy a magazine, and pre-.
tend she'd come in to wait for
someone else-for a girl-She'd
say her name was Miss Smith
no, that's too common-Miss
Smitherson-
And then she saw Edward, com
ing toward her from the other
side. Edward-just as she knew
he'd be. Tall and young and hand
some. There wasn't doubt about
it-she knew it was he, and he
knew her, too.
She said something. She ever
managed to smile. She knew thai
he was saying something. but she
didn't really know what he wa!
saying. He had taken her elbow
and was leading her through the
crowd, out of the door, onto the
street.
She walked with him as a sleep
walker walks. Her lips were smil
ing, but the only thought in he,
head Washes nice he's ter
ribly nice. Even more distinguished
than I thought-just what I've al
ways wanted. but Of course h
won't want me-
They walked and walked. Ate
a while she chatted almost a
lightly as he. She couldn't hav
told what she said moment afte
she said it, or what he said. Blu
with him she floated on down tn
crowded street. waited at corner