Evening star., 1941-10-12

was going to cry. When she got this
mad. she invariably cried. But she
wouldn't - she mustn't - not, at
any rate. until she was safely away.
She saw an elevator and rang the
down button wildly. irnpatiently. The
face of the operator registered polite
CONSERVATION at sight of her But he
took her down. The big, ornate lobby
was not crowded at this hour. never
theless the appearance of bride,
fearful and alone and speeding toward
the door. galvanized to attention
what guests there we're. All eyes CEN
tered on that small, flying figure. Dee
could feel them, those eyes.
Then she was outside. A sort of
concerted gasp went up from the
passers-by, and Dee began to cry in
earnest. She couldn't stand much
more. At the end of the marquee was
the curb and at the curb was a cab.
She stumbled into it, and collapsed in
disconsolate heap in the corner. A
voice penetrated her misery. Where
to, Miss?'"'
''Any place just d-drive around"
They drove around. After awhile
Dee's sobs ceased. She wiped her eyes
on her chiffon hanky and just sat
there, famingly angry - with herself
for being such fool. with the I'm
known young man for treating her in
such an insulting manner, with Mar
eel for getting her into the whole
mess in the first place
Little by little things came back to
her, memories arose to confound her
still more completely. There was the
way she had slapped that man -
there went her job. Oh. undoubtedly!
Wasn't Marcel always saying, The
customer is always right?
i HE bold young man wasn't exactly
a customer, but he had looked pretty
important. He was probably the hus-
band or brother of a customer. There
arose in her consciousness lucid pic
ture of that young mans face, dazed,
astounded, with the dull red imprint of
her hand starting to burn across it.
Dee smiled "a tremulous smile. At
least, she had got that much out of it.
She would have that to remember
while she tramped around looking for
another job.
At the thought, her eye fell, wheth-
er by chance or intuition, on the taxi
meter. She gasped. Two-eighty -
and she didn't have her purse! 1t was
back at the Beachside with the rest
of her clothes. She couldn't go back
there-not yet--not ever! Anyway.
there was only little over dollar
in her purse Tomorrow would be pay
day. Maybe if she told the driver to
take her to Marcel Modes - but no,
that was out! Marcel, when he heard
of this afternoons proceedings, wasn't
going to be in any frame Of mind to
advance her taxi fare.
The meter jumped to $3.50, and
Dee knew that something would
have to be done at once. Hastily she
glanced about. They were bowling
Through park. Leaf1e trees bor-
dered the curving road, and over to
the right Dee could hear the muffled
boom of the waves on stone break
waters. Lincoln Park She was good
seven miles from home, and getting
farther with every tick of the meter.
Shakily she reached out and tapped
on the glass. The driver slowed down
little and slid the partition open.
Dee shivered as the cool breeze struck
her. She could just see the angle of
the drivers jaw. and his ear and the
back Of his cap. He looked rather
young Dee hoped fervently that he
was kindhearted.
He said, "Yes ma'am?" inquiringly.
Dee spoke in a voice she tried to
make firm but that only sounded tear
full. You'd better stop. I'm in an
awful spot"
The cab halted. The driver asked.