The Wilmington morning star., 1940-11-20
APT

"Oh, talks cheap, sald VIC 81
to Otto. II wonder how many
guys have told me what they're
going to do TOMORROW" She
knew perfectly well that reference
to past affairs with men always IN
furiated him. Nov, let's get this
straight, as 1 said before. l know
something of what you've got on
YOUR mind. You don't tell me a
lot. but that don't latter. l don I
want to know details-its results
that appeal to me. You've got
some sort of a stunt on, and you
reckon there's big money at the
end of it. Maybe you're right
but I know, just naturally, that II
isn't on the level, and if the big
moneys there, the big risk is there
as we'll. You may flop down on it,
II shall not do that. There is no
risk at all-or practically no risk.
1t is safe"
so you say!" she sneered. And
that's another tale I've heard be-
fore. However, that can go for the
moment. l like you, Otto; you're
a good guy and you've been de-
cent with me. And I won't mind
marrying you-so long as you can
cough up the goods. And maybe
wouldn't mind waiting two or
three weeks to see # your game,
whatever it is, comes Off"
His eyes suddenly lighted up.
.Ah! You will do that? You will
promise me-"
She raised her hand to check
him.
Now we're getting to it! I'll
promise nothing, understand-Just
NORTHWESTERN that I'll w a t
two or three weeks to see if you
can deliver the goods-and If you
can, I'll marry you. But l know
what's in the back of your mind
you want me to promise l won't
look at another man until that
three weeks is up! That I'll just sit
down with a pack of patience cards
while you go off on this trip of
yours to God knows where, and to
do God knows what. Well, there's
nothing doing, that's all. You may
be on the level; maybe you are.
This trip of yours may be just
business, or there may be another
woman at the end of it, how do
know? The answer is l don't know,
and l don't care-but I'm not play
ing at nunneries, and that's flat!"
She finished breathlessly-and
the lack of breath was due to more
than the length of the speech or
the force with which she had flung
it at him. For now was the actual
moment, she knew that. He would
make his decision one way or the
other-either to offer to take her
with him, or to leave her behind.
She played her last card with
neat finesse.
That fellow I was talking tc
last night isn't SO bad, anyway.
He's amusing, and he seems to
have plenty of dough-" She turned
to the mirror once more, but this
time she smiled at her reflection
self-complacently, and gently ca
ressed her flame-colored hair.
"Ach!" The ejaculation burst
from him like an explosion, as he
turned on his heel and walked
slowly toward the window once
more, his hands thrust into his
pockets, shoulders hunched, and
headbent in thought. Suddenly he
tut -. gan.
Look you here! Sometimes you
say to me that you would like a
long trip in a plane. How would
you like to come with me, Ell?
Then you will see that here is no
woman at the other end, as you
Say"
Size had to fight hard to keep
any 5ign of triumph from. her man.
ner, and succeeded admirably. In
stead, she laughed, with a sort of
hard carelessness.
Don't get me wrong, sweet one.
I don't care tuppence if there is
another Woman-or twenty women.
don't care if you 60 off and never
come back again-you're not the
only man in the world, and I've
never had to go short of one-or
half a dozen, for that matter-yet.
So don't make any stupid mis-.
takes"
He sensed that he had struck
the wrong note.
Bella LANAN-COURT r