Evening star., 1939-06-25

as did the witticisms of her friends.
She had plans to make. She was lit
tie worried about her beaver coat. 1t
was, she remembered, little worn at
the elbows and where she sat down.
But there was that place on Humboldt
Street that was always advertising:
highest prices paid for old fu1s =. Her
gold wristwatch and her topaz ring
were as good as new, of course.
1t was Gene Walton who finally
diverted her attention from these
financial matters. II don't suppose"
he was saying, gloomily. you want to
go to this fool dance tonight
Audrey turned around and stared at
him. They were, at the moment. drlv-
ing home from school. An alarming
thought came into her mind. "You -
you didn't want to take anybody
else?" she demanded.
''Nope - not that you'd care. Not
that you'd care about any old fool
high school dance - specially having
to 60 in an old heap OF junk like
this"
He broke off, scowling at the road
ahead. Her heart filled with great
tenderness.
"Of course" he went on, its kind
of funny thing, but one of the main
reasons / decided to go to Medville
High was just on account of your going
there Otherwise I'd prob'ly have gone
back to my old school the way Id
intended. A school like that. you don't
have lot of girls cumming up the
works. But apparently it's nothing to
you one way or the other to have
people rearranging their whole life -"
Its not your whole life" she
pointed out, practically. You'll be
graduating in a few months anyhow"
He said nothing. He merely looked
bitter. And Audrey realized she had
not been very tactful.
Anyhow" she went on. with great
earnestness, nothing that happens to
me will ever change what feel about
my friends. You ought to know that!
Sure" he said. "Oh, sure! Why.
dancing with Clark Gable some place,
you'll be wishing you we're right back
in good old Medville dancing with me
Oh, sure Here you are" he
added, morosely, pulling up to the
curb. "I'll be round about eight - as
long as you say So"
She got out of the car. He saluted
her briefly and ratified of. She looked
after him for moment with an indul-
gent little smile. Then she turned.
suddenly. and ran into the house.
There was no telegram from MIR.
Evans. She saw that at once. If there
had been a telegram her mother woul
have set it up against the pewter jug.
But her father was there - it was
early for him to be home, and Audrey
knew at once som thing as wrong.
Hello, Dad" she said uncertainty,
did get any - any mall?
mo, | don't think so. Audrey, -
we'll, all l mean is - I'm sorry about
this" So saying. he handed her a
newspaper. 1t was The Mtdsihe Ersr-
ing Record.
we'll, read it yourself. Audrey"
Audrey met his eyes for moment
Then, slowly and carefully. she read
an item prominently displayed on The
Records front page:
"A modern con man calling
himself H. Crawford Evans was
arrested in Helmsville, Illinois,
today, for presenting forged Gre
dentials from the Progressive
Films Co. 1t is alleged that Evans
combed the small towns of the
Middle West, preying on the
screen-struck daughters OF we'll
to-do citizens. Progressive Films
today denied any knowledge"
The lines shifted and blurred before
Audrey's eyes. She lifted her head.
Her mother had come into the room
and was looking at her Darling"