Evening star., 1941-10-28

as nc BOC up. JuSU OIlC, AC CdACu
to the waiter, who had started away.
He didn't dance as well that time
and he held Clare very tightly. She
tried to loosen his grasp several
times, but each time he looked down
at her and laughed, relaxing his
grip for an instant and then pulling
her close again. Clare knew a brief
moment of fear. thinking Of his
strength and of the intuitional dis
like she had had of him at the very
first; and then she was angry with
herself for all the simplicity and
stupid credence she had had with
him ever since early in the day,
when he had said that they hadn't
got OF to a good start but ought
to remedy that as soon as possible.
I'm seven kinds of a fool" she
told herself. II don't know the man
at all and everything about him sug-
gests the brute and the utter cad.
And I still walk right into his arms
and try to force myself to think he's
decent. :"
Clay Talks Too Much.
They were near their table and
Clay suddenly dropped his arms
from around her and lurched toward
the drink that was in front of his
place. His feet were like leaden
weights that he dragged behind
him, and when he fell into the seat
Clare didn't know for a moment
whether he'd continue to fall all the
way to the floor or be caught by
the cushioned projection. But he
sat up, quite erect, and looked at
her as though wondering why she
continued to stand in the middle of
the floor. She bit her lip and slid
gently into the booth opposite him.
you and I would make a very
good pair" Clay Hanley said slowly,
his tongue thickening with every
word. Il thought so the first time
saw you. I said to myself, Clay,
there is the girl for YOU But I
didn't like you, understand. I
thought you were pretty snooty. I
don't like snooty girls. But you
aren't snooty. not at all. You're a
regular girl. You're the kind of girl
I like. don't like Betty Crowell."
He made a face. II like you, Clare.
could go for you. Do you know
what mean?"
Yes" Glare said. "Yes, I think
do. But don't want to talk about
that now. think We ought to 70
home. We can talk about that to-
morrow"
Nope" Hanley said. Tomorrow
I'm goin' to be very busy. Very, very
busy" He looked at her sharply.
bending toward her across the table
An you'd like to know what I'm
going to be busy on, wouldn't you?
Yes, you would, know. But 1 won't
tell you. It's a secret. I'm going to
be a wealthy man, a very. very
wealthy man."
I'm glad to hear it." Clare said
disgusted. Now come on, I'm going
home. Do you want to take me or
shall I call a cab?"
Clay Hanley's face darkened but he
quickly downed his drink and pulled
himself out of the seat. when I
take girl out, take her home" he
said. Don't you ever think 1 don't"
He took her by the arm, holding her
so tightly 1t hurt, and led her to-
ward the door.
Hanley's car was 4 long, high
powered coupe and he drove it ex-
pertly despite his having drunk too
much, Clare thought that, in a
way, he was lot like Roger. Things
mechanical seemed to be a part of
him; his understanding of a set of
gears or q motor assembly would
always be much keener, much more
personal, than his understanding
Of another person.
Twice on the ride back to the
Calridge estate he reached out sud-
denly, roughly, and seized her arm
and pulled her close to him. Both
times she moved over toward him
and then proceeded quietly to loosen
his grip on her arm and move back
to where she had been. The third
time her anger got the better of her
and she slapped the hand that fas-
tened itself on her arm. At the
same time she exclaimed, "Stop it,
will you, please? I don't like being
mauled."
We'll, WELL" Hanley said, OBJ
viously taken aback. But then he
slowed the car and after a moment
brought it to stop, pulling of onto
the shoulder of the highway. He
shut of the motor and quickly
threw an arm around her. pulling
her to him. 80 you don't like to
be mauled, Ell? Well, we'll"
Glare was furious and she could
feel the blood mounting to her
temples. She wanted to struggle
but she knew 1t would be useless;
resistance to his strength would be
impossible. But she kept her head
down and her chance came when
he bent his head to find her lips.
At that moment when his grip was
made awkward by the lowering Of
his left shoulder she slapped him,
slapped him hard. She felt the sting
Of the slap as her hand hit his
cheekbone, with her fingers cross
ing his eye and barely reaching his
nose. And she felt his grip relax,
and in that moment she wrenched
free and grabbed the door handle,
pushing it open, and leaping out
onto the ground.
| (Copyright, 194I. by Chicago Daily Nsvs)
Continued tomorrow
Glare pays a long overdue social