Evening star., 1939-10-29

dering why she said anything so silly.
Parked around the corner by a
vacant lot. didn't think you'd want
me to advertise my visit - if you
know what mean" His smile, init
mate and possessive. flashed across his
dark face
Now that the first instant of shock
was past she was determined that he
should never suspect her fright. Coldly
she told him: ut might also have
occurred to you that would not want
your visit. You may 60 now
Hey, you can't pull that high-hat
stuff with me-" His surprise changed to
angry comprehension. "I'll put my
fist through this screen and unlock
the door myself"
The telephone bell rang. She turned
her back on him and walked down the
hall to the telephone, her knees quiver-
ing She'd show him! He couldn't
scare her! Hello" She spoke calmly
into the instrument, and listened only
for the sound of Tony's fist through
the screen. A mans voice rasped on
the wire, voice she did not know:
Tell Tony Smith guy just ran into
his car, still got bumpers locked. Tony
can catch him if he comes right over"
Very we'll" She turned toward
Tony and repeated the message.
IT'S gag" he said.
She took deep breath. She walked
to the door, opened it and stepped
back for him to enter.
Il come in and you run out, huh?"
He laughed his contempt for such an
obvious trick
why should run out" She smiled
her contempt for him.
Now he had to 60 to the telephone
She kept the smile steady on her
mouth while he listened He started to
speak, stopped. He put the instrument
down, muttering, Dumb ape; hang
up before guy can find out who he
is" Then he made for the door, Isabelle
forgotten.
The last she saw of him he was
running down the street. Sympathy
for the man who'd run into his car
wavered into her consciousness as she
sank down on the bottom step of the
stairway and buried her face in her
arms. He was gone. He'd been here
and now he was gone. She couldn't
comprehend more than these stark
essentials. She didn't know how long
she sat there, trying to. She didn't
hear the high heels clicking across the
front porch. She heard nothing until
the door banged shut, and she lifted
her head and saw Grace Hoffer's hard
young glance upon her.
Listen" Grace said, when Tony
Smith gets here you don't let him in,
see? I'm Tony's girl, see? And if you
think you -"
Hes been here and gone" Isabelle
spoke YEARLY to the unbelievable
figure standing over her. This wasn't
happening. Things like this didn't
happen to people like her.
You're lying. seen him less'n two
hours ago and he Dragged about COM
ing here" Grace tried to laugh. mo
girl that likes Tony leaves him go so
soon. He amt been here" Grace shook
Isabelle by the shoulder. "Are you
listening to me?'
Yeah, she's listening. Now get out,
Grace" They turned to find Bud
Haines standing inside the door. His
trousers were torn and dirty, his face
spottily discolored and swollen above
his neat, clean coat.
Come on, Grace" Buds express
sion was strange mixture of relent-
lessness and pity for the girl. 'Tony's
waiting outside"
Through the doorway. in the street.
Tony could be seen slumped in the red
leather seat of his car, his hat pulled
down over his eyes. TONY wants you
to 60 riding with him, Grace" Bud
said gently.