The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-06-06

lice.
Jim caught Mr.. Sanders eyes.
might as well give in, young fell
ler," he remarked dryly.
"But-" began Jim.
"You don't really want to
leave me, do you, darlying?"
cooed Helen, nibbling at his ear.
'sNo-er-of course not" SIAM
mered Jim, wishing she would
restrain her affectionate gesture
to a private addition.
In the end Jim telephoned the
office and in a not very happy
voice informed Judge Hetchcote
that he would not be back that
afternoon.
Helen had been tickling the
hack of Jimb neck with tiny
moist kisses while he was tele-
phoning. When he hung up the
receiver she pulled him down
upon a love seat by the window
and Guided into his arms.
Jim cast an anguished glance
at the open door into the other
sitting room where her father was
striding up and down chewing
savagely on an unlighted cigar
while he dictated to his secretary.
Bell boys ran in and out with
more kilograms. The telephone
rang constantly. Mr.. Sanders cal
led his New York office, an oil
field in Texas, and once he talk
ed to his London agency as cas-
ually as Jim would have tele-
phoned to the nearest town.
Mr.. Sanders sent downstairs to
the bar for Manhattans. Helen in
sisted on being fed her cocktail
by spoonfuls. The waiter acted
as if he were blind, deaf and
dumb, but Jim felt as if his face
were a three-alarm fire.
Darling" murmured Helen,
"you must get used to having no
privacy. The rich don't"
''I'm not rich,' said Jim.
She snuggled against him.
you're marrying me. Fathers
going to make you vice president
of something" she cried in a bea-
tific voice.
"But-" he began again, only
Helen interrupted.
She was gently nuzz1ing his
Adams, apple which made it diff
ficult for him to speak. '1've g.
got j-job," protested Jim.
Darling, I could never live in
this dull little town." said Miss
Helen Sanders. II can't wait to
take you to Fathers tailor" she
went on dreamily. you'll need
gangs of clothes, evening and
sport togs, and a valet to keep
them straight"
It was relief when his fiancee
jumped up at five and gave him
an affectionate little shove to-
ward the door. II must dress and
it takes me hours" she said.
Mr.. Sanders appeared in the
doorway. Bring your mother and
sister to dinner tonight, Phillips"
he said genially. "And any one
else you like. Dinner at eight,
you know"
Jim's mother and Janet were
at home when he came in, sit
ting rather forlorniy, it seemed
to Jim, IN the kitchen. "AIen't
you early, darling?' faltered
Anne.
Her eyes looked red. Jim felt
conscious-stricken. ''We're all in
vited to dinner with Mr.. Sanders.
At eight" he added, "and I'm
starved, darn it,"
"We're going to be married
right away" he explained stiffly.
"rm to be vice president of some
thing. You know, with a hand-
some salary and no work to do.
It's going to be geo-orgeous." He
made a grimace.
Anne was very white. ''But,
Jim, your job with Judge Hetch-
cotep'
ttShe can't live in this poky
town"
There was painful silence. II
can't go to the dinner party" said
Janet shortly. give a date with
Tony Ryan"
" IS all right about Tony" said
Jim gruffly. 81 was told to bring
along any one I liked"
"He's all in the family anyway"
remarked Janet with a flippant
smile. 81 mean we're engaged"
Anne uttered startled excla-