The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-03

ask MIN 10 put ner IN q CAD, ana
so make her escape.
On the way, there would be
time for reflection.
A line Of conduct toward Brock
would be thought out. Morning
brought wisdom. But get away
quickly. Suppose Jessica came to
join her husband, recognized her,
and was jealous! Exposure Of
who and what she was would
doubtless follow.
The champagne-colored eyes Of
Harriet Brewster flicked from
Toni to the handsome man be-
yond. This is our dance, Guy
Her eyes caressed him.
"She's mad about him." thought
Toni forlornly, deciding she would
slip quickly to her dressing room,
change, and be off.
AS Guy and Harriet made their
way to the dance floor, a young
man at the table asked Toni 20
dance. She declined, and rose to
leave.
AS she did so, she was trem-
blingly aware that Brock Milbank
stood beside her, Swaying tipsily
as he put a hand on her arm
to stop her.
"ThiSh, Toni, is what you might
call an unexshpected pleashuh."
He grinned. you, in New York,
N all dolled up like plush
horSh."
CHAPTER XVII
She stared at him SpeechleSsly.
The young man who had asked
her to dance stared, too. He whis-
pered to Toni: do you know this
fellow? Or shall I get rid Of him?"
Brooks grin slid off. With the
swift change of mood of the intoxi.
Gated, he became nasty, truculenC.
It'll thank you to mind your own
bushinesh. How dare you in'fere
with Oh frien' of mine! Come, Toni,
I wanna talk to you. Come way
from this blighter-all the blight
ers-" His grip on her arm be.
came viselike.
I'm tired. I'm going home" she
said, hoping to avoid a scene.
Home? Thash a good wordi
You and would've had home to-
gether, If it washn't for Jessica--
blast her!"
Hush" She spoke sharply, be.
cause of her terrible fear. If this
kept up, exposure was imminent.
Get him away from this table,
away from the listening young
man who was a friend of Harriet
BreWster's!
With lift Of the eyebrows, in.
dicating that she herself would
take care of this old acquaintance
who had imbibed too freely, she
guided Brock to the narrow pas.
sage behind the orchestra, for.
tunately deserted at the moment.
What we doing here? Wanna
go back and dance with you, Toni.
But firsht of all kiss!"
A kiss? The final insult!
With her free arm she pushed
him so violently he staggered
against the wall.
How dare you speak to me?"
The cry came from her heart. Use
less to pretend she was not Toni
Goddard. Drunk as he was, he
had recognized her.
why shouldn't I Shpeak to y1u,
considering what we were to each
other?" He was blinking at her
resentfully.
Then not here. Wait for ne.
Well talk outside"
She raced up the stairs to her
dressing room. Was conscious that
his stumbling step were following
her.
Should she send for Niklas?-
she wondered. Have him forclb!y
put out?
But a brawl would lower her
prestige. More, the appearance Of
Brock would convince the night
club owner that she had lied ABOUT
having no acquaintance in ne
city. Thinking her role too risky.
Niklas might renege on the new
apartment, her very job itself!
And it mattered terribly to Toni,
this new life she had made. Not
only for its glamour. its financial
independence. its work that helped
to erase the painful memory Of
Brock, but because of her budding
friendship with Guy HalStead'
Flagg.
Ito Be COntinued)
Copyright. 1887. by King Features
Syndicate. IAs.)