The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-25
BEE KEEPS A DATE
CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII Beatrice could scarcely wait until she had cornered Toby Masters in one of the fitting rooms.
 'Mr. Bradley asked me for a datel"
 Toby's eyes flew wide open and her mouth gaped. "EUrekap She looked at Beatrice knowingly. "And you're kinda worked up about 1t, too. Aren't you the gal who said she wouldn't be inter- ested?"
 The store was mobbed with cus- toners, they had to hurry back to the floor. But all through the afternoon Beatrice was happy and excited.
 She wore a Scotch Sale badge, now. She pointed to 1t, once when Mir. Bradley's eye caught hers, and he grinned. At 5:30, when the closing gong sounded through the store, he went over her as she totaled her sales. T don't know where you live" he Whispered.
 "Flatbush." She scribbled the address hastily on the edge of her tally card. He looked at 1t, then she erased 1t. There was a rule in the store that employees must not have dtaes. Grandfather, evil dently, had come to the conclusion that 1t ruined efficiency.
 On the subway, she wondered why she had never been as eager and expectant about her dates with. young men who bore the names of famous families, young men who spent more money in a week probably than MT. Bradley earned in a year.
 She caught Toby's sleeve. "Mr. Bradleyi I don't even know his first namei"
 'Neither do l." said Toby. But I'll ask him as soon as he sticks his nose in the door. By the way, do you want Vera and me to evaporate?"
 "Oh, mol" The idea of enter taining MT. Bradley in the apart- ment alone left her panicky. No, you must stay"
 This is Wednesday" calculated Toby heartlessly. Not likely that he's got much money, so close to pay day. So he won't be taking you out. Are you sure you want us to stick around the whole even- ingp"
 AS soon as they reached home, Toby told Vera the news. She's ] captured the idol of the department Handsome Bradley, six feet two in his stocking feet. Wait till you see him, Vera. He puts Terry definitely in the shade"
 T don't value Terry for his beauty" said Vera. She cupped her chin in her hands and asked dreamily, Shall we hang Japanese lanterns around the place in honor of your floor walker, Bee? Or would 8 little judicious dusting be plenty?"
 "Ill clean up myself Beatrice told her. And if you two will kindly keep the lid on your own particular brand of low humor, I'll appreciate it."
 T can only answer for myself" said Vera. But you know Terry"
 What? Is that egg coming around tonight?" Toby cried.
 "He is."
 Be a sport, Vera" Toby sug- gested. "Take him walking in the park"
 But Terry, who arrived shortly afterward, refused to walk in the park. T want to see this guy,' he insisted. Here I've been working on Bee for days, trying to fix up a date for friend of mine, and she's too highat. Yet this wonder crooks his finer"
 If you tell him that, I'll mur- der you"
 Terry settled himself on the studio couch "You can't object If I merely point out to him that you're a very very tasty dish; miles above my ilk; a user of impeccable diction; an abominable cook, but beautiful?"
 Terry nearly always made Bea- trice uncomfortable, for he had shrewdly discerned too many things about her. She went straight to the point. MT. Bradley possesses Harvard accent to match my own high-brown diction, darling. He, too, is not a tooth- pick addict"
 We guttersnipes enjoy gawping at the upper classes" said Terry. "No, sir, no park for me. stay right herel"
 Beatrice was feverishly comb ing her hair, trying for the dozenth time to make the curls stay put the way they used to, when the doorbell ran. She ran out of the bedroom. Terry, one wisecrack and I slay youl' She went to the door.
 MT. Bradley stood in the hall with his hat in his hand. Come in," Beatrice greeted him. She leaned forward. "Whta's your first name?" she whispered. "Tobys going to say something dreadful the first chance
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