Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-10-07
CHAPTER V

a good little grill" He led her to tht
edge of the rink and steered her Owe
to a little alcove. Freddy and Ber
nice had arranged plenty of selected
sitting-out places. This one was made
for two, and banked with Christmas
frs.
Presently he came back with a bot
tie of champagne and two glasses
"Here you are, is it Miss Nineteen? p
They drank. They laughed. They
talked. "How did you guess my age p
Ann giggled.
"Your voice, my dear. Your light.
ness. Your exuberance. My own in
tuition" said the unknown.
There was something reminiscent
in that low-pitched, beautifully modu-
lated voice that made her blood race
faster and her heart beat thrillingly.
Ann flirted, enjoying herself great
ly.
And so did he.
Suddenly he stopped and kissed her.
With quick movement she pushed
his mask back from his face
The man was Paul Bradley.
Ann kept her head.
To make herself known to Paul
Bradley directly after he had kissed
her at the masked Ice Carnival would
be dramatic gesture, doubtless, but
fraught with dangerous chances!
Wasn't it his definite policy never
to mix social relations with business?
How much more, would it annoy
hin-nay, antagonize him-to realize
that he had kissed one of the en-
ployees of his own store!
Instead of putting up her stock with
him, professionally or politically speak
ing, it would denote her. He would
think that she had recognized him,
despite mask and domino, from the
beginning and deliberately flirted with
him. Used the vamping tactics that
Brenda Selz, the Gift Shop buyer had
warned her against. Why, he might
be so chagrined that he would even
fire herI
Goodbye, Comparison Shopper!
Adieu, career!
These thoughts flashed through her
mind as, from behind the safety of
her mask, she looked into the hand
some dark eyes of her partner.
But Ann would not have been hu-
man had she not thrilled to the sheer
drama of the situation.
She felt tinglingly alive. And not
from the champagne alone.
"If l could only make him fall in
love with mel" her heart clamored.
Careful Ann! Careful!" her brain
cautioned.
But this chance might never come
again. Couldn't daring and safety
measures be combined?
With swift movement and a gay
laugh she pulled his mask back where
it belonged over the upper part of his
face, telling him that curiosity killed
the cat, and she was sorry for her
boldness! And his!
But Pm dying of curiosity!" he
protested, making as though to re-
move her own mask.
In the nick of time she drew back.
Laughing, she pulled his hands away.
$50 you admit the awful fact that
men and cats are like each other?
Hooray!"
"How so?"
Because a man and a cat will both
fly away from you if you attempt to
hold them too lightly. They can't
stand mauling. But ignore cat-or
a man-and he'll come around fairly
pestering you for attention. Begging
for petting!" concluded Ann positive
ly.
Paul Bradley gave hearty laugh. .
He was amused.
Cant you see Pm sitting up on my
hind legs at this minute?"
"No. That's dogs prerogative. A
dogs always grateful for kind word
or bone. A dogs like woman.
Women snap up compliments oh! so
gratefully, begging for more, but men
are frightfully suspicious of compli-
ments, suspecting the ulterior mo-
tive"
"Where did you learn this marvel
GUS PSYCHOLOGY at our tender age?"
"At the University of Hard Knocks"
she rejoined pertly.
"I don't believe it."
"Now what on earth do you know
about me?" daringly ventured Ann.
"That you are charming and witty,
and I'm sure awfully pretty if only
ou'd take off that absurd mask you're