Evening star., 1938-01-28

quit the studio and Is DOrking at
Vtckte Stones advertising agency.
Vtckte Is il, Lore NTH Babe, and she
encourages him. Chris thinks that
Vtchfe ts fnstncere, and tells him so
Dhen they are alone tor moment
at party. Vickie seises her and
kisses her as good -ndtured proof of
his sincerity. Phil and Babe come
into the room, and see them. Babe
turns on her heel and ,Ddlks uway.
CHAPTER XI.
Hills eyes said very obviously
- that he was embarrassed that
he was sorry to have intruded.
Her eyes begged him to un-
derstand. For long time neither of
them spoke. She sat down again in
the chair. and looked at the floor.
Phil walked about the room. played
with a lamp chain, whistled a few
bars tunelessly.
Vickie loved Babe. Surely he must.
Surely only love, and love alone.
could make Vickie Stone come beg
ging for favor. Vickie Stone, the
rampant lion. ardently entreating her
to sanction his courtship Of her sis
ter. 1t was almost amusing.
"Phil-"
"Chris-"
Their words came at the same time
and suddenly they were both laugh
Ing and Phil was kneeling by her
chair, holding her hands. She was
shaking.
Il believe" she gulped, I'm on the
way to being hysterical. It's horrid
feeling" He gave her his handker-
chief and helped wipe her eyes, guild
ing her hand with his
Better? You crazy goop-letting
strange men kiss you like a wanton
female" His voice was low and init
mate. I've often wondered what it
would amount to-knowing a wanton
female. mean. Now I know"
Letting him kiss me?" Chris
wanted 1t clear on this point. Il wasn't
letting him-he just came and did"
Il know that" He laughed. Il
could tell by the expression on your
face. Rather ss If you had bitten into
a strange fruit, expecting to find 1t
sour and found it sweet instead"
Phil"
Now. Chris, there's nothing so
compromising about being found in
such a predicament If Vickie can
only convince Babe of that everything
will be fine" A strange shadow
crossed his face. His eyes were blank.
Chris felt f1eeting thrust Maybe he
didn't want Vickie to convince Babe:
maybe he wanted them to split
wanted this to mark finis to their
relationship. No, no. That wasn't it.
1t must be something else he thought
Of just then.
HE WAS still smiling. You're so
grand. so swell. How could I ever
doubt you?" They both shouted with
laughter at his Victorian words
and glare, but her eyes told differ
ent story. They were tender and low
Ing, and Phil. seeing them, dropped
his own in sudden confusion.
The moment was shattered. He got
UP from the floor and busted his
knees. We'll. guess We ought to co."
he suggested uncomfortably. They'll
be wondering where We are" He led
the way upstairs and Chris followed.
He had slipped away from her again.
Once more she had rammed her head
against the stone wall.
Vickie might have been able to
AUrAv fhriSs nr,iyiNre hut !,
90 fortunate with Babe Thoroughly
hurt. she rode home in silence, flying
up the stairs and into the apartment
before he had chance to try again.
He was completely Inundated. as he
turned to Chris. Say a good word
for me-" he begged.
1t WAS more easily suggested than
accomplished. When Chris got inside
she said to Babe, Il think you ought
to listen to me a moment, Babe"
I'D rather not discuss it." The
words chilled the room. There was
nothing more said, not only then but
in the weeks that followed. Babe was
distantly polite, but the hurt and
angry look did not go away.
Vickie called and called again, but
she would have none of him. The
third time he phoned she refused to
talk to him and hung up before he
had said anything more than a aues-
tioning Hello" She sat at home.
sulking, on the evenings Chris went
out with Phil. refusing to talk to her
when she was at home. She quit the
studio.
FOR almost a month this went on.
Finally Chris. driven by a COM
bined sense of guilt and of being mis-
Judged, cornered Babe In the living
room one night. She pushed her into
. chair and stood over her grimly,
unconsciously adopting a few of
Vickie's tactics.
YOU'RE sitting here until you hear
me out" she declared. "and you'll not
get away until I'm through, even if I
have to sit on you. This foolishness
Of yours is not going on any longer
without an explanation from me. And
you are going to believe what I say
whether you want to or not, because
It Is the truth"
The whole recital of her talk with
Vickie came out, while Babe clamped
both hands over her ears and pre-
tended not to listen.
He Is a determined young man."
Chris concluded, "and when he comes
practically crawling on his knees to
any one for help. you can bank on it
, he's serious. He loves you and you
can be proud of it. It will be only
fair of you to give him an opportu-
nifty to tell you what he told me-"
Babe looked at her. tears in her
eyes.
HE wants to marry you" Chris
smiled. Babe sat upright. Only for
. moment longer did she waver and
then with a sigh she buried her rosy
cheeks in her hands. 1t was long
sigh that terminated with gurgle