Evening star., 1940-11-10

sh slddered - all of her own volition - and,
hO-pping back in her Pullman seat. continued
frantically transferring the contents of her
pl1rse to her lap.
She took out the wrapper from piece of
SUI gar, the business card of someone who sold
cocker spaniel puppies, and ticket from
Los Angeles to New York with Pullman reser-
va tion attached Further excavation brought
up a lipstick vanity case, small comb, a
partially emptied package of cigarets and
two folders, one nearly full, the other contain
in q lone. limp match. She also discovered
70 cents in change, a chain key ring threaded
TIN rough three keys, receipted hotel bill
And that's when it happened" she thought.
"~Nhen | was standing there talking to the
cashier e.
She held the purse upside down and shook
it - few dry shreds of tobacco and badly
wEinked but unused two-cent stamp fell onto
rtNe other things but that was all There had
been two crisp new fifty-dollar bills in that
pI 1rse this morning.
A tall, blond young man lurched down the
aisle; fell into the seat across from her. He
Looked at the debris in her lap. Spring house.
Cleanngr" he observed. Tonic ignored him.
After little the conductor came through.
pnnching tickets. Tonic gave him hers with
out comment Unlike the majority of train
n1en. he did not look kind. He was a man to
Ehom the most honest explanations would
ST mack of criminal intent.
For some hours, marvels of Californian
scenery including miles of luscious-l looking
Oranges hanging on trees - flowed past the
window. waiter from the diner announced
l1nch. People trooped along the aisle in search
O f food. The blond young man got up, and
some sixth sense told Tonic that he was look
ing at her. She stared fixedly through the
window and he went away. She rose then and
went to the obser walton platform and smoked
a cgaret. Smoking gave her something more
to do than think how hungry she was. She
stayed long time, and finally took another
'garet from the package. Before she had
IN nished it, the young man joined her, sitting
IN the next chair.
Going far?" he asked.
New York" she said briefly
That queer. So am L.
Isn't it! So few people ever go there.
Very blue eyes regarded her with quzzical
amusement. Anyway. that's where I'm 60
ing And wish we made better connections in
Shicago. BY rights l should have taken the
Plane straight through. I've got to be in
New York Friday morning.
Have you?" Tonic said politely.
II have indeed. I'm - er - I'm going to
be married Friday Big church wedding at
high noon, whatever that is. Big wedding
reception afterwards 1t wouldn't do to turn
up late, now would it,"
Il suppose not" Tonic said. Let him bab-
ole on about food and weddings if he must.
She fixed her attention on the scenery.
What about drink" he asked, reaching
For the buzzer
She shook her head. NO, thank you.'
- IL LIGHTED cigaret Look, I'm not trying
10 be obnoxious. But all the other people in
Our Car look like a convention of Ham and
Eggers. Ill bet we're the only ones under
sixty in the lot. What about eating dinner
together tonight"
mo. t-thank you" Her voice got weak.
She felt moisture rising in her mouth and her
eyes She got up. I'm afraid - feel little
Carsick," she said family.
The blond young man sOlicitously escorted
her back to her seat and rang for the porter
to bring her smelling salts and pillow.
Then he departed - presumably to get