The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-03
CAST OF

CAST OF CHARACTERS
ANN BROWN-Orphan daughter
of a gambler, alone in an unfrIend
ly city.
PAUL HAYDEN-Stock room boy
with ambition.
STEVE CLAYBOURNE - Veal
thy playboy.
CLARE BROOKS Dime store
counter girl.
IRENE TEMPLE-Society debu'
tante.
YESTERDAY: Ann makes 1t
clear to Paul that she has no IN
tention of marrying him, and they
agree ON a movie date. Later she
meets the other roomers in her new
home of the girls, F1orabelle,
promises to arrange a date for Ann
soon.
CHAPTER x
Clara, said, "This is 0 r place,
Ann. Come in and start living with
me-"
Ann followed her into a small IV-
ing room. Worn carpet, sagglng
chairs, limp curtains, grimy walls
covered with pictures. Evidences
Of CIara's artistic attempts crowd
ed the room. Artificial flowers, bla
family artificial, sprangled from
cheap vases and bowls. The pic
lures were garish and impossible.
Little china dogs and cats a n d
elephants Uttered the tables and
window sills. A cot, covered with
a pseudo-oriental rug, did duty as
a davenport.
Off the living room, was the kit
chen, a small cupboard arrange
ment with doors swung W i d e.
Through a door in another wall,
Ann glimpsed a bedroom. In spite
Of the ~atrocious color combinations,
the place had a honey, pleasant air,
Isn't it nice?" Clara asked proud
~. The furniture belongs to me.
when Ma divorced Pa and married
Dave she gave me the stuff. Pa
didn't want it because he " a 8
marrying Rose and she had swell
things"
It's very nice" Ann agreed.
wondering what her little violet
plant would think of the riotous
atmosphere.
Clara led the way to the bedroom.
AIMS quick eye noticed that the
bed was a good inch thicker than
the n she had left. Clara pulled
back a curtain which hung from q
shelf. This is the closet. See-You
can have half and two drawers in
the dresser. Petty nice diggin's,
don't you think?'
They were interrupted by a quick
knock on the door. It's S a H.
Clara exclaimed, my boy friend
the one I told you about" She open
ed the door to admit a big, loose.
jointed youth who looked most IN,
comfortable in a necktie a n { i'll
fitting suit.
Hi, Sport" Clara greeted him
Come here, Ann, and meet San
Little. Little she laughed. 'Isn't
that a name for him?"
The young man awkwardly hell
out his hand and Ann put hers into
it. His hand was huge, hard as a
table top.
How do you do" she said.
do"
Clara BUSTED into her c 0 a t.
"We're going to the movies. Make
yourself at home, Ann"
Il will"
She watched them as they went
down the stairs. She saw Sam kiss
Clara at the turn. She stood there a
moment thinking Of Clara d n d
Sam. Were they in love? Was that
why they had kissed?
Strangely enough, Ann had never
been kissed. The reason was quite
simple. There had been no opportu-
nifty while she Travelled from one
end Of the country to the other
with Pete, always under the watch
full eye Of her mother. And there
had been no opportunity since.
She thought Of Paul Hayden with
a quickening Of the pulse. Perhaps
he would kiss her some day. But
no, he was afraid Of girls, afraid
that one Of them might marry him.
Ann shifted. He. needn't worry
about her. She heard an inpatient
honk and Neddy and Teddy, n a
definite repeat Of the other, tripped
down the stairs.
Ann went back to the bedroom
She put clean newspapers in the
dresser drawers and carefully plac
ed her few belongings in neat piles
Clara's jumbled toilet articles hat
been moved TO one side and she Sc
out her jars and boxes, comb anc
powder puff. She got the wire hang
ers from her bag and hung up he,
dresses and coats.
A warm feeling of home enve
Hoped her. The girls in the hall ba,
been friendly. 1t was nice to know
that Clara would come in later. Sb,
had a date for the next evening
a date with Paul Hayden. Perhap
life had found her at last.