Evening star., 1941-09-14

a minute. Call the Gulf Club. Tell
'em the dinner is off-tell 'em any
! thing"
When Julie had tactfully deliv-
cred the message he blurted: I've
got to get out of here. The gang
will be on me in hordes. I can't
explain-not tonight"
Where will you go?" Julie asked
timidly. She didn't like the look in
his eyes, too blankly dismayed, too
desperate.
Straight to hell" he answered
with terrifying directness. Then,
| shouting for his man, Pink" he
added to Julie. His names Pink
Isn't that laugh?"
Pink came in. He was a stocky
thick -necked man, his round head
covered with pinkish fuzz. He
looked more like a prizefighter than
a gentleman's gentleman Yes, his
name was a laugh-if anything was
a laugh.
Mike said jerkily: Miss Deming
has eloped with handsomer man.
Pink. Can you suggest remedy
for that?"
Whisky is the usual solace, Mr.
Gray" the man answered blandly.
'All right, bring me a whisky
two whiSkieS-maybe TO-" And, out
of the habit of politeness, "WhatIl
you have, Miss Nash?"
Nothing - thank you - whisky
makes my knees funny"
Julie Offers to Help
Mike nodded soberly to Pink.
Orange juice for the lady. We
must keep her knees in mind. And
hurry''-this last a bellow-"I want
to be out of here in 10 minutes"
Julia slipped her orange juice
while Mike tossed off three whis-
kies in rapid succession. Her trou-
bled eyes never left his face. The
drinks wouldn't help. He seldom
touched hard liquor. explaining jok-
ingly that his emotions could do
their own popping up. Now he had
turned to whisky for temporary
escape from which the return would
be ghastly.
When he stood staring into his
empty glass she ventured: why not
come to my apartment. Mr.. Gray?
No one will think of looking for you
there. I have lamb chops and things
in the refrigerator.
Raising his eyes from the glass,
he stared at her as if really seeing
her for the first time. His eyes
warmed just little and he said,
You're good kid, Julie" The
scowl descended again Immediately.
Taking two unopened bottles, he
started for the door. Lets get
going" he said.
1t was a strange evening. The
unheard of presence Of Mr.. Michael
GRAY in jules little apartment
made it strange enough without the
added fact that she was treating
him in the manner reserved for
small wounded boys. That made
it positively unbelievable. He was
dazed. Several times he said, Let's
get this straight" and Julie went
patiently over the story again. so
it's that way" he would say at the
end. pressing his lips into a grim
hard line.
Mikes Rage Blind.
There was an interval OF rage,
murderous in its intensity, when 1t
took all jules resourcefulness to
dissuade him from searching out the
faithless pair. There were long mo-
ments of despairing apathy and
these were the most difficult OF all.
There were bursts of forced, reckless
laughter. Mike refused food and
drank steadily. He cursed and was
fiercely silent. Julie stood by, meet
ing each change of mood. thinking
distractedly; if he'd only cry and
have it over with. At last, sud-
denly and without warning he fell
asleep. One moment he was sitting
stiff1y upright on the mohair sofa,
the next he had crumpled, his head
dropping forward.
Julie pushed him down on the
pillows and carefully lifted his feet.
Now that he had passed out OF the
unhappy picture, she was conscious
of an unholy joy, not too maternal,
in caring for him. For those few
hours he had been hers, utterly de-
pendent on her. She forgot Rita
and Dick Van Vleet. She forgot that
Mike was her employer. She even
forgot that, once the emergency
had passed. he would go out OF her
life as quickly as he had come in.
She only knew that the adored
Mike lay fast asleep on her mohair
sofa. Tucking blanket over his
big shoulders, she yearningly
pressed her cheek to his.
Breakfast was sizzling in the fry
ing pan and gurgling in the perco-
lator next morning when Mike ap-
peared. He had a washed and
brushed but hollow-eyed look. Pass
ing a hand over his unshaven chin,
he grinned shamefacedly.
Good morning, Mr.. Gray" Julie
said cheerfully, placing sliced bread
in the toaster, keeping her eyes
averted.
The Paper Tells All.
Good morning, Julie. Shall I
manage the toaster?"
Please" He caught her hand as
she turned to the stove.
He said. IT apologize, deeply and
profoundly"
Her fingers curled around his
palm. She smiled fleetingly into
his eyes. It didn't mind" she said.
They had, finished breakfast when
she suggested, on bright note of
inspiration, that trip might be the
very thing for him. Sweetly she as
sured him that new scenes and faces
and experiences would be fun, lots
of fun. Didn't he think so?
Ruefully he took sheaf of tickets
from his pocket. Might use one
| of these" he remarked lInSuccess-