The Washington times., 1938-02-02

That day at luncheon at the Mira
dor, for instance, when shed
brought that drip from Harvard
who was going through town on
his way to the Orient.
And the afternoon at the Drake
bar, when she'd dragged along an
awful wet smack she'd met at the
Seashore, who just happened to
blow in on business, and whose
sole claim to fame was that he'd
shaken the hand that shook the
hand of some big shot in Holly
wood Chaplin, maybe, or Will
Hays, or Donald Duck.
NO SIGN OF BRAT
Well. things would be different
this time If he saw her coming
through the door and anybody was
with her. he. Bill Harris. would
slip out through the other en-.
trance and have her PACED to say
that he was unEroidably detained,
and that he'd call her later. HE
wouldn't add hHw much later,
eitherD
Four-twenty-five. No sign of the
brat. Four.twenty-six twenty.
seven. All sorts Of girls came in.
Tall girls, short girls. Pretty girls
with that complacent look that
good looks and good grooming
give. Homely girls, whose hat
lines. hem lines and chassis lines
were all wrong.
It was four-thirty-two when
something small and vivid and
streamlined blew in, a spray of
tiny white orchids nodding gayly
at her throat, a daring little black
hat perched on her yellow curls.
Bill started forward. Then he
stopped. The girl had hesitated
just inside the door and turned
to speak to someone over her
shoulder a tall, distinguished
someone, with a superb cut to
his tweedS, who looked down at
her and smiled. Bill watched just
long enough to see the man hook
his arm through the girls and
start up the carpeted steps to the
lobby. Then he bolted.
PAGE SUZANNE
Back past the theater ticket
desk. into the shelter of a little
writing room, unoccupied at the
moment. There he summoned a
boy.
"Please page Miss Suzanne Bur
ton." he began.
Miss Burton just came into the
lobby, SIR" he began.
Bill froze him with a glance.
"Never mind that" he ordered.
"Just tell her that Mr.. Harris is
terribly sorry to be unable to keep
the engagement for tea. An i'm.
portant business appointment has
detained him. He will telephone
her later"
''YeS. sir" replied the boy, grin
ming, and pocketed the so cents
Bill slipped into his hand. Shall
I find Miss Burton now or
wait a minute?"
Give me one minute to
get to that appointment. Then
tell her" And Bill was gone.
Back in his dingy little room,
the young man sat dejectedly be-
fore his typewriter. Now was the
time to show that wench, he
thought. He'd pound out some
thing that would knock her ears
back. something that would be a
sure-fire sale to one of the class
magazines. He'd prove to her that
he wasn't just dreamer.
Somehow, the inspiration would
not come. He found he was listen
ing for the sound of telephone
in the hall two flights down.
When it rang, he jumped to his
feet. Maybe that was Sue. He
waited.
"HE'g OUT OF TOWN"
He heard the landlady answer.
'No," he heard her say. "Mr.
Monroe amt here. He's out of
town won't be back till next
week"
Bill sat in an agony of doing
nothing until nearly 7 o'clock.
Then he picked up his hat.
Across the street, in the dingy
little restaurant he gave his order
for dinner. He stared gloomily at
the telephone booth in the corner
for full minute. Then he got to
his feet.
"Oh hell" he sighed. "I might
as well put an end to this foolish
ness"
He dialed the Burtons' number
The butler answered.
Yes, Miss Burton was in. Who
was calling, please?
Bill smiled grimly as he gave
his name. Maybe Sue would be so
mad at him she wouldn't come to
the telephone.
All Of a sudden she was there,
her voice golden and glowing.
"Oh Bill" she cried. WAS it
about a job? Did you get it?? Oh.
was so sorry you couldn't make
it for tea! My cousin, Tom Mere
dith, was in town and did so
want you to meet him. He's the
editor Of that magazine in New
York, you know, and I hoped may,
be he'd have something for you "
Bill's heart had turned over
when he heard her voice. Then 1t
sank, down into the pit of his
stomach. He gulped.
"Gee, Sue" he said. I'm aw.
fully sorry. No, I didn't get tho
ioh TS v01lr cousin still hereo"