Evening star., 1938-11-13
YHAT l can't understand about
" antiques, said Arizona, is why
" neople would prefer a spawned


table or a chair with broken knees, when
there is whole corral-full of perfectly sound
furniture on the seventh floor"
Miss Gail Wombly. head saleswoman of
Spratt newly created Antique Department.
smiled across Arzonas golden head at
Arizonas handsome young husband, Tony
Spratt, heir -presumptive to the great de-
partment store. To say that Miss Wombly
smiled over Arizonas head must be taken in
the fgurative sense, for Arizona Spratt in her
gorgeous golden beauty lowered we'll above
the diminutive red headed expert on antiques.
But Miss Womblys glance contained just
that admixture of patronage and amusement
which had been driving Arizona wild ever
since the antique departments inception.
Moreover, Tony had caught and answered
Miss Wombly's eye with understanding!
ARIZONA my DEAR her husband explained
patiently. Its not the fact of antiques being
imperfect which makes them valuable! It's
their beauty and interest - their association.
Can't you see:?"
Il can understand the association part.
said Arizona slowly. Like Pas old shootin'
irons. They're not up-to-date. but they mean
lot to me- But who have all these things
been associating with"
Arizona waved one big. beautiful hand
around dthedepartment in nacomprehensive ges-
ture and Miss Wombly laughed restrainedly
That would take long time to learn"
she said smoothly, lust as it might take me
long time to understand your sports goods
department. But your clever husband seems
to understand both. I'm sure we could never
have acquired such collection if it hadn't
been for his marvellous taste!'
And" thought Arizona, your marvellous
daily powwows with him - you snake lily!'
Tony seems to like antiques all right"
Her smile as she said it seemed genuine
enough, but she was looking at Gail Womblys
red hair and carefully painted face.
"Arizona.'' said Tony sharply. Walk back
to nv office with me, will you?" And again
there was that look between him and Gail -
as though Arizona were an ignorant child, to
be humored and tolerated by wiser elders.
In the privacy of Tony's office he added
fuel to the fire: why do you act like that
toward Miss Wombly2 Don't you realize
what valuable asset she is? think we are
very lucky to get her"
For a long moment Arizona just sat staring
at him, wretched because everything was not
right between them. Did Tony realize that
he was in danger? Should she tell him how
she felt about this Wombly? When we'll
broken hoss got restless, mebbe the thing to
do was let him run the range spell and he'd
come home mebDe!
Il guess feel sore," she said smiling,
because hate not to know about something
that interests you, like these antiques. don't
even know what you expect to do with the
department now that you've got it.
II expect said Tony solenlnly, TO get
hold of Mr. Elton S. Sprague."
Who's he?"
He is primarily lover of horses" There
was a wicked twinkle in Tony's eye, but
Arizona was Immediately impressed.
Hoses. Any special breed?"
Chinese" said Tony laughing Listen,
nv dearest wild woman Elton S. Sprague is
one of the greatest art collectors in America.
If he buys anything from an art gallery, that
spot is absolutely made. It's going to be my
business to see to it that he breaks precedent
and buys from department store. I'm work
ing on Sprague right now and if l can only
get him over here
But Arizona was no longer listening.
Hoses! This Spague liked hosses - and the
e4 &b,+ bo preferred sOme fancy heathen