Evening star., 1941-08-24
UP TO KlLLEN
by Kelley Roos.
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Look here" Ashley said, I'm
business has me all on edge. Find
ing some one here startled me.
Won't you sit? Well have glass of
sherry"
He went into the kitchenette. jeff
winked at me.
Philip called, TITS eally very bad
wine, but I couldn't resist buying it
because of the intriguing bottle
He came back with an intriguing
bottle and three tiny wineglasses.
He smiled at me. "Haila, some
sherry?"
mo, thanks, Philip"
ME, neither" jeff said.
Il don't blame you. It's foul
stuff jeff waved the I o U at
him. Philip chuckled. "Oh, yes!
That silly I o U. It's worthless,
Of course. Just a joke. Carol and
! played two-handed rummy sew
eral times during lunch hour while
we were rehearsing. I invariably
beat her. We played five dollars a
point on paper, OF course
Finally we were playing for thou
sands of dollars point. Poor Carol
lost millions to me. And she would
give me her I o U. 1t was a
private joke between us, you see OF
course. tore the slips up. 1 don't
know how that one managed to be
about. I I know it sounds
silly"
1T sounds awful silly" jeff said
I'm laughing"
Anger famed anew in Philips
face. Are you insinuating that I've
been lying to you? That what I've
said isn't the truth?"
Exactly" jeff said. And stop
sputtering. You see, I happen to
know the truth"
Carol BOrrOwS Dress.
MY apartment had the look of an
overstuffed florist shop when, short
" before 5 O'Clock, jeff and l re-
turned to it. The living room was
filled with roSes-White roses. yellow
roses. red roses. The butterfly table
was spread with my Venetian cloth
and my best silver sparkled in the
light of two tall candles. At two OF
the places were corsages. each boast
ing an orchid, one brown, one pur-
pie. A cake, snowy white and
pyramid, topped everything.
Carol came out of the kitchen
wearing a soft, woolly dress that ]
had bought early in the fall 1t hao
a high neck and g-of-muttor
sleeves and was sort of limpid blue
that made her eyes seem a violet
color and brought out shining gold
en- lights in her hair. Pink spots oi
excitement giowed on her cheeks.
'Haila, may l wear this? Is it al
right? I don't have anything for 6
party and this was hariging in YOU
closet way in the back. I know yol
never wear it
I hadn't worn it because it wa!
the best dress I had ever owned anc
I had been saving it for my Sunday
best, but there wasn't much to bt
done about it in view of Carol:
pleading eyes and the tremulou!
hope in her voice. Surreptitiously.
shot a warning glance at jeff. He
had been with me when I bought it
I said: "Of course it's all right
darling I'd forgotten even had it
And it looks like million dollars or
you!'
1T should jeff said, sotto voce
1T cost damn near that"
I glared at him and changed the
subject before there was any dam.
age done. Where's Steve, Carol?"
Carol frowned. He left just a few
minutes ago. He got wire this
morning from his mother. She!
coming to town and he went to NEE
her train. He'll take her straight tt
his aunt's and come right back"
Bowers Brings Roses.
There was a knock at the dool
and Carol reached it in hop and 6
skip. Clint Bowers stood there ano
We tried to not burst into a roal
when we saw the tremendous bunch
of roses he had brought. He took il
the flower Laden room and he smiled
as he put the roses in Carols arms
I'm not staying" he said. g,
just wanted to add my congratula
tions to your party
Carol took his hand and pulled
him into the room. you've got t.
stay! I won't like my party if vol
DON'T"
Clint demurred, but among u.
we got him settled in a chair, hi:
hat and coat tucked in a closet
and his flowers in a milk bottle.
We sat around making conver.
sation and hoping it was light unit
Carol excused herself and vanished
into the kitchen. A moment later
she was back, balancing a tray Of
long-stemmed glasses and bottle
of champagne that nestled in ar
ice-filled bucket.
Steve said we weren't to wait
for him. jeff, will you do the
honors?"
jeff relieved her of her burden
and With great ceremony popped
cOEnIkl n1O0