Evening star., 1940-02-16

down at her watch. well. miracles
do happen. He's right on time
MY boy friend" Betty told her,
proudly.
The Party Dwindles.
"If you feel that way about him
why don't you marry him?" Clara
queried. still carrying a chip on her
shoulder.
Betty refused to be drawn into an
argument. TONY isn't Paris, you
know, and besides-why, where are
Ronald and Bill?"
They couldn't come" Tony Bar
clay informed them, opening the car
door as they approached. They had
other dates"
Elaine stepped into the rear of
the car, glad that the others hadnt t
been able to come. It wasn't be-
cause she didn't like them. only that
she wanted as few about as possible
After all, it was really supposed to
be her party and that meant only
her close friends. and while Tony
was not close friend he was Betty
boy-friend, fact which admitted
him to the inner circle. But Betty
was not so pleased.
"Of all the nerve!" she stormed,
seated beside Tony. do you think
I let them step all over me at the
last dance just to be turned down
like this?"
Tony laughed deeply. Don't work
yourself up so, honey. After all, you
couldn't expect them to sit around
Just waiting for you to phone"
why not?" I'm the only really
beautiful girl they know. And dom t
call me honey!"
Anger Only Pretended.
Her pretended anger was fooling
no one and Elaine smiled because
she was aware that Betty knew it
wasn't. Faxed anger was just
very small part of her complicated
technique. She had conf1ded this to
them one night. declaring. Men
respect your wishes if you keep them
stepping. And the only way to keep
stepping is to blow up once in a
while"
We'll, what's it to be?" Tony
queried gaily, ignoring the fuming
girl. "Johnnie's, the Tavern, or the
Blue Grass limp"
THE Blue Grass Inn" Clara made
the decision. And we might as well
warn you, this is going to be ex-
pensive.'
Whats the big celebration?"
Clara was amazed. do you mean
that Betty didn't tell you?"
He shook his head. 'The light Of
my life. in her charmingly nutty
way, just told me to meet you at TO-"
Elaine laughed. I'm going to be
married Friday" she told him. This
is to be a celebration"
"Married?" Tony whistled his sur
prise. $50 that's why was dragged
into this affair; you girls want
champagne.
Buckets of it, Betty said, greedily.
The Man Who Pays.
He shook his dark head dolefully.
"And as usual, it's the man who
pays. All, well, marriage is woman's
supreme triumph and q mans
funeral. It's-say! did I make that
up or did some one write it?"
"You made 1t up," Betty told him,
acidly.
And before Tony could think Of .
crushing retort they were at the
Blue Grass Inn.
Elaine glanced curiously about as
Tony stopped few feet from the
door. Never having joined Clara
and Betty on one of their nights
out" this marked her first visit to
the place. Following them out OF the
car she was aware of disappointed,
let-down feeling, for the inn, garish-
ly illuminated, with red neon sign
Pickering above an uninviting door,
impressed her as being cheap. taw-
dry; just an ordinary roadhouse,
hardly the type of place in which to
hold a party of any sort.
She looked askance at the girls,
but they apparently did not share
her opinion of the place, for, laugh
ing gaily, they marched up the steps
and into the restaurant. And once
inside. Elaine was glad she had not
given expression to her thoughts, for
the inn, despite its exterior, was In
deed beautiful restaurant.
A spacious, high-ceilinged room
with many inviting alcoves, it was
tastefully decorated In soft pastel
shades. Seated on q circular dais
was string trio and the waltz they
were playing impaired a honey
touch
Tony in His Element.
Tony Barclay was in his element
now. Handsome, debonair, beaming
impartially upon them all; he led
them to q table in q dimly lighted
corner.
Nov far be It fro mme to urge you
to drink" he said when they had
taken their seats. But If you want
to, well, whatu you have2"
Scotch and soda" Betty ordered
with one Of her swift changes Of
mind.