Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-02-16
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CHAPTER THIRTY


ONCE ROMANY made up her
mind to go to Baxter Trees apart
ment, she decided she might as
we'll go Immediately.
In the bedroom she replenished
her makeup and combed her jet
black hair. Cholly was lying on the
bed. She looked up with tear
stained eyes.
Going out, Romey?"
Eyes. For a little while"
You're not-angry with me for
not wanting to talk?"
Mercy, mol" Romany assured
her swiftly. I've just decided to
compromise myself bit"
ITO what?"
I'm going to walk down and see
BaX."
Cholly raised on her elbow, sur
prised.
"Well, whatever put that notion
into your head?"
Romany shrugged.
"Oh, I don't know. He's been act
ing so strangely. don't want him
to think that just because I've had
a lot of luck and he hasn't we can't
be the same friends. He won't call
me up. So I'm going to barge in on
him. He can't any more than throw
me out"
"He WON'T" Cholly smiled. "But
he'll be very much surprised. And
so am I for that matter. He'd prob
ably love to see you. guess he
thinks you're in love with Brent
and that you're out with him most
of the time"
THAT'S what I imagine he
thinks" Romany put on Aunt Cis-
sizes short squirrel jacket and
matching toque. And he's SO
darned proud"
At the door of the apartment
where Baxter lived Romany hest
tated. Then she rang the bell reso-
lutely. The buzzer sounded imme-
diately and she walked up four
flights before she heard BaX's
"hello."
The writer stepped back in as
tonishment when he saw Romany.
Its only me-" Romany called
gaily. 81 vas walking by and I just
decided to drop in and see if you
were still alive"
She saw BaX's face color with
confusion.
"Well, come in," he urged. "This
is quite a little surprise"
Romany saw quickly that it was
a one-room apartment with a pull
man kitchen. On gas burner sat
two cooking pots, and the odor of
coffee filled the small place. BaX
pushed a chair toward Romany.
BE seated, Miss Halle" He man.
aged to summon an almost natural
grin. "And may have the furs? ?"
She slid out of the squirrel jack
ct. The cold November air had
brought out the pink in her olive
cheeks and her green eyes sparkled
with good health and we'll being.
you're looking SWELL" Bax
opened a small closet and placed
the wrap on a hanger. Then he
came back and sat down opposite
his visitor. Work seems to be
agreeing with you"
The coffee boiled over and BaX
leaped to take it from the stove.
AZ can offer you a bean and a
cup of coffee" he said then I'M
certainly. 81 thought wouldn't go
out this evening for dinner. Pm
working on a half-hour script"
Romany forced gaiety into her
voice. .... .....
"pll have cup Of coffee with
you. But I've had my dinner"
It wasn't true. She had forgotten
to eat. But she wouldn't take what
might be the last of Bax's food.
"Come to think of it, guess I'll
lust have coffee, too" BaX set the
beans back, turning out the gas.
1T don't seem to be hungry. ate
lunch late"
Romany suspected that there
might be no bread or butter and
that Bax didn't want her to know.
She swallowed painfully If he were
only the sort she could offer to loan
money to! But if he were, like
Terry-she wouldn't be there.
Bax put two paper napkins on
the little table in the corner ana