Evening star., 1941-09-07

you're got IL dH OUeT IHo
"Just because you're the highest
salaried girl in Santa Rio is no sign
that you are a whiz."
"Oh. but I am whiz." The lime
ades were placed before them and
Julie took an experimental sip
through a straw. Jimmie downed
his drink quickly, from the glass.
Full of Confidence.
"One Of these days I'll quit asking
you to marry me and then how'll
you feel?" he asked.
"I'u manage somehow" This with
airy indifference.
He lighted a cigarette, saying
grudgingly, Yeah, guess So" Side
tracking his wooing, he changed
the subject. You're entering the
swimming meet at Arrowhead, OF
course"
"I am not. never have gone into
a meet and I never will
But you've got it all over those
other gals. If you won"
Il would win easily"
you'd get a round-trip ticket
to the national meet in Miami and
all expenses"
And what would I be when I
got through?-a swimming cham
pion." Deep scorn colored her tone.
The level of her green drink de-
scended as she drew daintily
through the straw.
80 you're too high-hat to be a
swimming champion" he observed
sarcastically. "Ha-that's good"
Finishing her drink. she slid from
the booth. Scowling, Jimmie crossed
to the cashier. The young man still
stood at the counter, chatting with
clerk. Julie passed him as she
strolled to the door. For split sec
ond her eyes met his and she was
conscious of shock The shock was
occasioned by the absence of inter-
est in the young mans eyes. His
expression did not change. His
glance moved on and Julie had the
odd sensation that he had not seen
her at all. She was not particu-
larly vain, nor was she even mildly
concerned with attractive strangers,
but experience had not prepared her
for the visual snubbing.
Julie Still Juvenile.
She stopped at the door, the long,
graceful lines of her body a charm
ing silhouette against the brilliant
afternoon sunshine. Julie was 10,
and, although she considered her
self a woman, there was childlike
quality about her. Mature conf
dence and delicious naivete con-
stantly warred in her personality
one tapping over the other. Honey
colored hair lay close to her proud
little head, smooth like a shining
helmet, breaking into soft curls on
her shoulders. -..:
She was taller than average, her
body 1.-THE and supple. She had the
look and build of a splendid athlete
Her wide, questioning eyes were
those of a child. Her mannerisms
and reactions, even her mental
processes, were juvenile, although
this latter she would have stoutly
denied
In season and out her garb was
typically Californian. Brief skirts
and sweaters, well-tailored slacks-
she had the slim f1atness for slacks
abbreviated shorts and matching
bras, softly knitted anklets and flat
saddle shoes. Julie did not own a
hat. She wore flowers in her hair
waxy gardenias for evening, CHINA
mon carnations or pink dotted lilies
by day.
Jimmie joined her and they
stepped into the street. Any other
town than Santa Rio would have
been hustling and bustling, for ii
was midafternoon of a Saturday
But Santa Rio had its own lazy way
of doing business. A few cars
moved, pedestrians mosied in anc
out of shops, the town taxi driver
mapped in his car. Because the
small city lay on the side of purple
Sierra mountain its streets strag-
gled down to, or up from, the rolling
Pacific, curving and twisting and
bringing up, apt as not, nowhere.
Julie an Orphan.
Julie and her lanky escort turned
off Main street and started up the
slope. Perplexity gathered the boys
face into a frown. He kept glanc.
ing at jules clear, sweet profile.
why don't you come down tt
earth?" he burst out at last. 'It's
crazy for you to have notions and
and stun After .u' you were :