The Washington times., 1937-08-04

suit IA, B deck. Neptunia-
sailing next Saturday. Got 1t
right? Well. have the things sent
directly to the boat if they can't
reach me in time at my hotel
here"
The dowdy little woman hurried
off.
Kitty eyed Christabel Lane who
remained at her table. The &C
tress was a cool, charming-looking
woman in apple-green, with huge
hat of delicate straw casting COM
phmentary shadows over her ia
nous features and the smooth
gold Of her hair.
"She's my age-forty if she's a
day" Kitty decided as sh e
watched the other finish her
lunch-"no matter how young she
manages to look on the stage!"
Kitty's heart was doing rat
tat-tat. She drew from her purse
the card Jane Petrie had given
her. on which was written the
number of Roger Petrie's state
room on the Neptunia, Saturday.
1t was, as she knew, Suite IA,
B deck!
Roger and Christabel Lane
rather obvious, their sailing to-
gether-but of course no one
would have to know it until later.
big Banker and Well Known
Actress Elope-Face DeriSion of
World for Love E" Kitty could
imagine the headlines already.
Well, romance in the Forties
was fashionable this year
Kitty put the card back. She
had intended sending Roger a
large basket of fruit as a bon
voyage present. Now she didn't
know exactly what the etiquette
would be
Poor Jane!
QUALIFIED TO ADVISE
Kitty's bright blue eyes spar
kled for a moment. Not a bit
stylish, Jane. Never had been.
Just sweet, nice girl when she
had walked away with the prize
beau at home-handsome Roger
Petrie with his keen dark face
and slim, erect figure. How could
Jane expect to keep him forever
by just adoring him in that quiet
way of hers? Kitty had tried to
give her yelled warnings about
taking things for granted. After
all, Kitty felt she, with her two
divorces and third in the
offing, was qualified to offer ad-
vice on marriage and men.
Poor Jane, Kitty repeated to
herself as Christabel Lane signed
her luncheon check, rose and left
the room. Kitty followed the
actress out, stood hesitating for
q moment-then-
"A cab, please?" she smiled
radiantly at the red and gold
braided doorman, who jumped to
do her bidding
The taxi-driver. dark, blue
jowled individual, reached over
and set the meter, taking in
Kitty's dark haired, striking fig
ure. Perhaps it was a glimpse
of the three-skin silver fox she
wore that accounted for his grim
stare ahead at the heat-reflect-
ing August streets.
Kitty considered -: What
should she say to Jane? How to
begin? She would have to lead up
to it gradually-and be very kind
when she finally told her. OF
course, Jane might know already
perhaps that was why she gave
Kitty that story about staying
home because the children were
going back to boarding school
soon, and she didn't want to miss
their company between camp and
school"
Kitty remembered suddenly
that Jane had been strangely re-
luctant about giving her Rogers
stateroom number-perhapS that
accounted for it. The more Kitty
thought about it, the more she
wondered if Jane was deliberately
letting Roger go-acting like
lady until the very last-it would
be just like her!
MEETS KITTY IN FOYER
The Petrie apartment building
was just east Of Park Avenue
dark brown, with a home-like
lobby and little Swank.
Mrs. Petrie is in, ma'am," the
elevator operator verified by tele-
phone. She says to come right
Up"
Jane came forward to meet
Kitty in the cool dark foyer A
SHIN figure in a white dress.
simple and girlish in cut, she was
somehow like fresh white carna.
ton in an old.faShioned glass
vase.
my dear-I've just had lunch
land it was so hot, and I thought
Of you up here in this nice airy
apartment-and I just thought I'd
run in"-Kitty removed her fur
with quick gestures. Il can't stay
but a moment"
Jane smiled her gentle smile
and picked up the knitting she'd
laid aside. Its a sweater for Ruth
--4blue's her favorite color" she
explained.
Poor Jane! Knitting while
Rome burns" Kitty murmured to
herself pityingly. Out loud, she
said:
1T seems to me every time see
you, you're making or doing some.
thing for the children Jane DO