Evening star., 1938-01-20
A Wdn 6etween Them
.Mc1delMde, Nexzer

.WcAd@A
7ns story thus far: Christine
Sherman. advertising manager for
large cosmetic concern, liues ,Diths
her 1S-year-old sister, Babe, ,Uho
studies art under the famous An
toine. Minna Emerson invites Chris
and Babe to party, Chris to be
iDith Minna's cousin, Phil Emerson,
and Babe to be ,Uith her regular
escort, John Stanton, With Dhon1
she is in lope. Phil strikes John at
the party 1DHen he and Chris find
John drunk and n,olesting Minnd.
Johns affair With Minna is re-
pealed as OF long standing, and
Babe breaks OF NTH him. Her work
suffers and Antoine, diuining the
cause, promptly showers his otD1,
heartfelt attentions on her. He is
old and beDhiskered, but Babe finds
hin, interesting On the night when
Babe goes to dinner ,Dith Antoine
Chris is inuited out by her boss. Mr..
Bascon1be. for Dhom she has
Uorkef for seven years. His sudden
interest in Chris is accounted TOR by
the change that has come oUer her
since meeting Phil.
CHAPTER Nv.
TT WAS an evening long to be re-
membered by them both. Babe
went into ecstacties over An
4 tones apartment, telling Chris
about it later. The queer statuettes
the unfinished paintings, the ragged
furniture were all fitting to his artistic
soul He talked most of the evening
about his boyhood and gave her little
potted plant to take home for herself
and delicately painted fan for Chris
Babe was charmed. she was flattered
and particularly impressed that Ole
Mattress Face should go to 50 much
trouble for her.
And Chris was impressed, too, with
Ernest Boscombe. She knew him as
a kind but impersonal business execu-
tive. Tonight she had found in him
q delightful. gracious host, who
stopped at nothing in putting the bes,
In food and entertainment before her
She was delighted. They dined at q
quiet, spacious restaurant; they went
to the theater. Finally, he drove
her home, and leaving said, If you
want to sleep late tomorrow after ali
this dissipation, it's quite all right"
Life drifted on pleasantly. Spring
came and the last OF snow and ice
melted away. The air grew fresh and
warm. and Chris opened all the win
dows in her private Office to the brisk
breeze. Through the open door she
could hear Mr. Boscombe dictate tx
the secretary or talk with client; Il
was pleasant and friendly.
May was almost at an end. On q
Sunday evening, when spring was sc
closely merged with summer that the
air was heavy and sticky. Phil took
Chris for a ride in his newly acquired
car. Their relationship was still or
the impersonal basis with which il
had started. No word of love was
spoken; he touched her only to heir
her across streets. In some way they
seemed to have reached a mutual un-
derstanding that friendship would suf-
flee.
Rather cheap number" he ad-
mitted, but his voice was proud as he
added, Listen to her pur. Just like
. nice tabby cat
ST like cats sajd rhris
80 do I. We have one at home. But
personally I prefer Pickles
"Pickles?" This sounded like
strange nonsense.
Sure. That's our dog. Pickles
Nice little fellow"
He gave her q side glance. she
seemed to be dreaming a littls.
Pickles." she repeated slowly I'VE
were sitting in front Of q fireplace and
I was eating a pickle and then-and
then" She turned to him suddenly
Phil. You know it's queer Johnny
never did anything to you about that"
HE TURNED the car up a side road
what?"
About that push you gave him at
Minna's party. It's not like Johnnie
to take something like that as a gen.
tleman. An eye for an eye and tooth
Tor tooth. You smash me on the
nose and I return the compliment.
That's Johnnie"
I shouldn't worry about it if were
you. Maybe he's taking boxing lessons
drst 80 he can give me a good smash. I"
The car chose this moment to cough
and sputter, to choke and then drift
to a stop. Chris looked at Phil with
q Wry smile pulling the corner Of her
mouth. Phil cleared his throat. Nov"
he said. I'VE have something really
worthwhile to worry about"
In vain he wiggled and pushed and
pulled. The storm of the afternoon
had decided to return, meanwhile, and
lightning that had been distant was
getting closer. A few raindrops pat
tered experimentally on the roof of
the car.
wouldn't 1t be romantic If we got
Hooded out here?" Chris said thought
fully. "Or If We got struck by light
ning?" as flash Illuminated the coun-
tryside.
Phil crawled back into the car.
Maybe you think that's funny, but I
don't. There's something broken much
too technical for you to understand and
We will have to backtrack on foot to
that farm house we passed while ago
and see II they have q phone"
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