Evening star., 1939-11-05

had been set up in addition to the regular
double-decker BE short meeting down.
stairs pretty soon, if you want to come down.
Let me know if you need anything.
In the phone booth in the hall, Joe Busby
diaed the Tau house and asked for Glenda
North. Presently he was listening to her voice
again, after so long time.
Joe! You did come. Oh, how nice.
In his mind he could see her sitting there -
tiny and eager and alive. her slender hands so
quick and deft, her eyes so full of seeing things
YES" he said, II - managed to make It,
guess you're dated up by now:?'
"Oh, I'm sorry. waited. you know. until
YOU wrote you couldn't come. If you had only
advised me.
Il know. didn't know was coming. He
hadn't known he couldn't stay away.
I'm awfully sorry" she said, and she
sounded as if she were. But can't break
the dates with Brent now. So late. III see you
though, won't l? Tonight, of course. Would -
would you like to come over this afternoon:
We're cleaning like mad for tomorrow, but If
YOU don't mind bunch of women around
Two dozen other girls who knew that she
would be with Brent Carter tonight and to-
morrow night and for the game; seeing little
Joe Busby snatching at crumbs, at any little
minute he could have. No, not that way.
"I'll see you tonight guess. he said.
He could have expected the dates to be
with Carter, of course. Brent Carter, tall and
handsome and popular, bright star of the
Dramatic Club, the best dressed man, who
was putting himself through school with after
Moons in the towns best clothing store, who
got fair grades and always seemed to have
money in his pockets, and made it, somehow,
all look very casual and easy.
Joe Busby had never liked him. 1t wasn't
much at first; just that Carter was always
condescending, amusedy contemptuOus ofthe
wav he looked and worked and lived. Then
Carter had accused him of telling the In
structor of class in which they sat together
that he had copied on exams. Joe Busby
hadn't and he said so, but he knew Carter
never had believed him. and it stood between
them after that. The instructor, Psi Chi
too, apparently had given Carter the benefit
of doubt, in the end, and no one else had
ever known about it,
For three years Joe Busby was uncon-
scious of the eight hundred co-eds around him,
but in the fourth year he met Clenda North
and knew that she was the one. In the quiet,
intense way he did everything, he Immediately
fell in love with her, and though he never
spoke of love to her, he saw her all he could.
Thereupon, Brent Carter started dating her
himself, purely at first. Joe was certain, to
show him how easily he could take his girl
away. After that Joe Busby hated him.
Carter was sitting at the desk with Ted
Perry, President. Carter was Secretary and
Treasurer this year. The meeting was con-
cerned with final arrangements for the open
house that night-the orchestra, refresh
ments, decorations - and everyone had some
thing else to do, so they had not drawn out
discussions.
Joe Busby sat there not paying much atten-
ton, trying not to look at Carter, not to
think of him. listening only absently as Perry
said something about cleaning things up If
Carter would give them check, and Carter,
after moment. said something in reply.
But. Brent, Ted Perry said, nine dollars!
thought it was closer to hundred and
fifty" Something in his voice made Joe Busby
turn his head and listen then.
Carter sat up straighter in his chair. There
was" he said Il took the rest
You WHAT" Perry said it softly, but in the
sudden stiffness of the room it sounded loud.