The Washington times., 1938-03-09

When Nlvle deposited her
beside him. he twisted the crS
grinned and asked:
How about stepping out to
night, small, blonde and beauti
ful?"
vivie said severely: Il never &C
out with boys I haven't met so
cially.'
OF course the rebuff was In
tended to be both temporary and
tantalizing. Any girl knows that
a man doesn't respect her if she
falls for his first invitation.
Vivie made plans. The hall
hours bus trip which she had
been making for two years, from
her home in Southport to her job
in Turner'S Jewelry Store, North
port. changed suddenly from dull
routine to a romantic adventure.
She planned to snub the driver
again. but more gently. The third
time he spoke. she would smile to
show him that she was relenting
Then. by the end of the week she
would consent to let him call at
her home on Saturday evening
It was a fine plan for an anna
teur enchantress. but several
things went wrong. First, the bus
driver made no further attempt
at filtration. When Vivie got on
and off. he stared straight ahead.
On the third morning OF this
frozen impaSse. she ventureo a
polite GOOD morning"
NO SOCIAL DECORUM
He answered sternly: Il never
say good morning to girls l
haven't met socially"
The other thing that went
wrong was that WIVES friend,
Grace. got a job at Northport'
too, and began taking the early
bus. Grace was good natureo,
good hearted-but she lacked dig
nifty, She danced and dated with
boys to whom she hadn't been IN.
troduced. Vivie had demonstrated
with her in vain.
When the handsome bus driver
said to Grace: How about step
ping out. pink and lusciouST
Grace said: "Oh. definitely"
She giggled her way back to the
bench where Vivie was sitting
stiffly, pretending not to hear,
and whispered: Isn't he sweetP
Have you looked at him, Vivie?'
Il haven't noticed him" Vivie
snapped.
Grace's Irritation progressed
far more rapidly than the imag'
inary one vivie had mapped for
herself. That night Grace discov.
cred that his name was Jack
Clancy. BY Thursday he had
dated Grace for a Saturday night
dance at his club in Northport.
IT'S formal" Grace hubbled.
'*Whatever shall I wear?"
LENDS HER GOWN
"Your old pink satin will be
good enough for any club Of his,
Vivie said, and then was ashamed
Of her cattineSs
DO please lend me your new
green chiffon" Grace begged
''You haven't a date for Saturday
and III be careful of it,"
WIVES new green chiffon. The
dress she herself had planned tc
wear to dazzle the tickle Clancy
She could think of no excuse for
refusing to loan it to Grace.
The stage, though Vivie did not
realize it, was set for disaster. Mr.
Turner, unwittingly, gave the cue.
Mr.. Turner valued Vivie as an
ernploye, and he trusted her too.
He trusted her so much that he
gave her a valuable diamond ring
to deliver. 1t was an engagement
ring made to order for a debu-
tante and the debutante wanted
her symbol of love by Saturday
evening.
Give it to her in person." Mr..
Turner told Vivie.
Vivie watched him place the
ring in its white satin casket. It
was slim platinum circle with a
dazzling diamond crest. Sh
thought: Il wish some man had
given me that ring" Then she
thought: If Jack Clancy saw me
wearing that ring, it would show
him how little I care about his
taking Grace to a dance tonight
Grace had gone home at noon
No doubt she was already primp
ing herself in WIVES green dress
DROPS DIAMOND IN BOX
When Vivie got on the bus, the
diamond ring was no longer IN itt
satin case. It dangled loosely or
Wives slim left finger, sparkling
enough to attract the eyes of ever
the chilliest bus driver.
Vivie took out her tokens, using
her left hand deliberately awk
wardly. She knew from Jacl
Clancy's sidelong look that he hat
seen the ring. She dropped thu
tokens into the coin box.
Then she gave queak in dis
may. The ring had dropped in
along with the bus tokens.
The bus lurched on. Vivie stooc
there, swaying, staring in horro'
ct the box.
MY ring" she said. Il dropped
It in"
Jack paused at the red light ant
said: "What?"
MY engagement ring It's II
there and I must get 1t out a
once" she cried.
Jack glanced at the glitter o
light among the tokens and coins
That's Just fine" he said sng