Evening star., 1939-06-18

across the street. He saluted Gene and cast
an appraising eye on the girl from New York.
Then he hurried away before Gene could
introduce him. Gene Redeemed in his deepen
ing shame.
Then. in a new panic, he was straining his
eyes down the block. Two girls were approach
ing in their direction. They looked like Audrey
Reynolds and her best friend, Norma Ramsay.
He gripped his startled companions elbow.
Look he said Look I've got to 60 in
here - I've just this minute thought of some
thing -
She was propelled, sputtering little, into
Cartwrights Department store. clerk came
forward, lifting tired eyelids.
"Yes, Miss"
It's my friend" said Kathryn He wants
something"
Then both the clerk and Kathryn looked
at Gene. But he couldn't think of a single
thing in the world to buy
well -" he said, smiling foolishly. well,
guess it's something that better wait Well,
yes guess it can just as we'll wait till to-
morrow, maybe"
The clerk gave him bleak smile and
turned away "He thinks you're crazy" said I.
Kathryn
Gene said nothing. He followed her out of
the store cautiously. There was no longer any
sign of the girls who looked like Audrey and
Norma - but he still felt trif1e weak.
Kathryn was tugging at him: What on earth
are we going to do no,V?" :.
Il don't know" he admitted Il don't seem
to think of anything"
WELL do you know what think? think
we ought to 60 some place where we could
have NICE cool drink! mean nice glass of
perfectly plain ice water would be all right.
If there's drugstore -
He made an involuntary movement of ter
rified protest For he knew that any or all of
his acquaintance were likely to be in Wilkes.
- the one obvious drugstore and soda foun-
tain on Center Street.
"NoU WHAT" she asked him, rather YEARLY.
''Oh nothing Only don't think drug
store is what you want" He frightened, sud-
denly But now here s place! Here's place
that's got the best hamburgers in this whole
town! And you're probably hungry You could
probably tear right into one of those ham,
burgers, bet!'
Kathryn looked obviously at the grimy fa-
cade of One-Eyed Riley's - Ladies Invited.
mo" she said. with decision. NO. don't
think that looks like nice place at all. don't
want hamburger. want nice cold drink.
Besides i want to buy lipstick." She had
taken the affair into her own hands, She was
peering up and down the street.
There's a place" she cried. There's
Wilkes Soda Fountain
"Oh, no'' he put in, hurriedly. "Oh, no,
people don't go there! don't know why it is
= it funny thing. but =" 1t was no use.
Kathryn was already on her way.
Audrey Reynolds was there. seated with
Norma Ramsay at one of the little round
tables Each of them was having marsh
mallow fudge sundae with pecans. Norma had
already been told all about Gene and the nice
old lady from New York. She had agreed that
not many young men of Gene Watons age
would have been so kind to an elderly stran-
ger They would simply have stood her up.
my dear, said Norma.
YES" Audrey said. But Gene isn't like
that. Gene ="
And even as she fingered. lovingly, over
his name, he was following Kathryn Ormsby [
into Wilkes Norma didn't even see him. She =
was casting speculative eye over the strange
girls clothes. 4
"That hat - - she WhisDered in melan-