The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-21
THE CHARACTERS:

THE CHARACIEho:
LINDA AVERY. receptionist at a
New York models agency, starts
to rebuild her romance with
RONALD STAFFORD, her child
hood sweetheart, who has swung
his way to fame on a trumpet,
but
SARAH MARLEY, wealthy CLAM
or girl, is trying to capture Ron
aid for herself.
YESTERDAY: Linda discovers her
rival in the person of Sarah, who
invites her to a party. Arriving
home after meeting with tn e
glamor girl, Linda hears a mans
voice say, "I'll give you half my
kingdom if you'll let me in"
CHAPTER TWO
With the key half way in the lock
of the dark green door that led to
her large Observation-Disclosures
apartment, Linda pausedto inspect
the young man who had told her to
hurry and had asked if she would
let him in for a few minutes.
He was tall, taller than Ronald.
Even at this moment she wonder
ed if she must 60 on forever con-
trasting all men with Ronnie. His
hair was rough, dark and Slightly
unmanageable. His eyes were mer-
ry, yet there was a trace of mock
cry somewhere in them. They were
gray eyes, probing, yet %far-seelng
as though they had looked through
distances. His chin vas stubborn
and his mouth wore a one-sided
grin. Now it broadened.
"Will l do?" he asked. MAY /
come in?"
'tOf course" Why she said it so
casually Linda did not know. May
be because she was lonely. Maybe
because she would not think of
Ronald riding away with a g ir
with golden hair if somebody talk
ed to her.
A strong, tanned hand took the
tumbling key, inserted it and turn
ed it, flung open the door. The
mans other hand drew Linda swift
ly into the room as he closed the
door.
Linda noticed that he stood lis
tening. She heard steps going up
the stairs to the third floor and
looked questioningly at the tall
young man.
He gave a rueful sigh of relief.
I'm safe. But l may have to ask
your hospitality until those steps
come down and the outer d o o r
closes. I won't talk. I'll go out on
the balcony if Pm in the way" His
voice was teasing, though, and he
didn't move toward the balcony.
you'll be soaked if you step
through the window" Linda an
swered, turning on the lamps which
spilled pools of mellow light across
the worn but polished floor with
its gay rugs, over the crowded
bookshelves, the brass and Nailsea
glass and copper candlesticks that
she had brought from home. my
balcony's nice in summer-you 60
down three steps from the window
ledge and sit among trees, looking
into a monastery yard with all the
white skyscrapers peering down on
you. But please sit down."
He did. He admired some prints
on the wall, said that he had seen
a certain mountain in the Andes,
and told her his name was Robert
Barton.
Linda, sitting on a huge hassock,
amber curls tumbling around her
oval face, repeated it, one ear lis
tening for down-coming steps. She
wanted this stranger to go away
so she could think about Ronnie.
Only-she also wanted him to stay
forever sc she need never think
about the young man who h a d
swung to fame on a trumpet.
Robert Barton?" she asked.
Sounds like a producers idea OF
a movie name"
She remembered later that he
WINGED a little. His voice was brief
and casual when he answered,
though.
1--WE never faced a camera.
Electrical engineering's my line.
I'm just back from China"
Gilman" Linda didn't know thai
there was wonderment in her dark
green eyes.
1--WE were building a bridge, but
Bella LANAN-COURT T