Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-12-10
~ 80 S9|T79n
+ - 60 zzs$Es IVY We
CHAPTER AZ

O"S@OAi 40 q ESAy AoA &C pldCG.
When it is full of milling, laugh
ing, dancing couples, it is difficult
to find anyone for whom you are
looking, unless you are lucky.
Peaches Pomeroy had thought
she could go right to the elevator
entrance and wait for her bell hop,
the boy whom she had sent for a
box OF aspirin. She had not waited
by the checking room counter, as
promised. for a definite reason:
she did not want to be seen there.
Anybody might drift by and see
her, and so put two and two to-
gether-later.
Her plan was to wait for the
boy, take the aspirin and thank
him, and watch then for the OBJ
perfume time to scream that her
diamond bracelet had been stolen.
She thought it best to wait until
later in the evening, toward the
end of the dance. But-while she
waited at the elevator, she saw her
bell hop run up the stairs and dart
by without seeing her.
She tried to call to him, to fol-
low, but could not see him again.
He had disappeared in the throng.
Two other costumed servants.
spotted at distance, turned out
not to be hers. She went back and
peered down the hall toward the
checkroom, but her boy was not
there.
After few minutes of searching
she gave up. It didn't matter any
way. And besides, someone came
to claim a dance with her. One of
her old crowd. She glanced around
looking for Thornton Holgate, but
he was not in sight. Well, it was
best that she be seen on the floor
constantly now. It was best for her
plan. She would dance and laugh
and be as gay as possible-unti
the right moment to sound her
plotted alarm. She saw no more
Of the bell hop.
DR.. Thornton Holgate had
danced only one dance with his
date. Early in the festivities,
Peaches had disappeared, and he
hadn't been able to find her. He
danced once or twice with other
girls. But then, he had a very def
mite course Of action mapped out
for this evening, and being man
Of his word he meant to carry it
through. He had given his word to
himself.
Therefore, about 1890 O'clock,
he slipped downstairs alone and
made his way to a drug store.
L wish to consider some-ah-
Dice" he told the clerk.
"Hows that?" The clerk hadn't
understood.
"Do-do you have-dice? For
sale? You know-dice?"
"Oh! Sure, sure! Let's see
here's some for 10 cents. And these
much better ones, genuine ivory,
perfect balance, for 40 cents. And
these"
He had a little tray Of them and
Thornton selected some white ones.
It never occurred to him that he
didn't know how to handle them
at all. Didn't know the game.
Never in all his life had Thornton
Holgate shot craps. But he didn't
think of that detail now. He had a
more difficult mission.
Now, Thornton Holgate had
maintained an academic interest in
the American liquor situation. He
had studied prohibition as one
studies naval ornaments, or con-
Servation Of natural resources. or
socialized medicine. He knew that
siquor was a problem. He knew the
III effects of drunkenness. He could
quote statistics about alcohol, and
its effects on the human body and
brain. In short, he was quite IA
miliar with liquor-but he had
never drunk any, certainly never
purchased any, ever.
Moreover, he despised the
thought of drunkenness, as a per-
sonal consideration. He held drlinl,s
in utter contempt. Or sometimes
pity. Liquor was repulsive in everv
sense, to him.
Nevertheless, DR.. Thornton Hol.
gate was thoroughly determined
TO get some first-hand information
about liquor tonight. He had
worked himself up to this de-
termination over a period Of weeks
re mad debated it pro and con with
himself. He had decided that he
should not be a prude, that con-
ceivanly Peaches Pomeroy and her
drinking crowde were right, that
ne must at least learn their side
ence. eAperl-
p. rae had observed before that
ae e@cnes liked to dr1nk-nay. to
Se' orunk-at public dances. So
~ would drink at this one with