Evening star., 1941-03-30

tween his teeth and tried to run off
with it. Clinging to Ivan and kicking
at Pepper, Isabelle tottered over back
wards and sat down in the tub amid
tangle of dogs and spraying soap suds.
For stunned instant she remained
transfixed, her middle immersed in
water, heels higher than her head, one
arm holding Ivan who was crammed
in beside her and across her. and one
leg upholding Pepper who. still hang
ing on to her slacks, danged with
paws failing the air.
Then Isabelle heard an explosion
of laughter. Her eyes came into focus
to see Wally beside himself with
mirth. and Clifford grinning; the
camera trained on her.
FUr that camera DOWN. she
squealed. Kicking violently, she shook
off Pepper. She didn't have to rid
herself of Ivan. In one twisting des-
perate lunge he broke free and streaked
toward the alley. Pepper after him.
Clifford bit back his grin and hastily
jammed his camera into his pocket.
But Wally kept on laughing.
Isabelle scrambled out of the tub.
Forcing an amused expression to her
features. she wriggled like hula girl
to shake the water out of the seat of
her soapy slacks. The joke was on her,
and she could take joke on herself.
Gracious. she was smiling. wasn't she?
But, after all, there were limits.
Wally didn't have to 60 into Mysteries
practically. She gave him what she
considered ample time to laugh him.
self out. Finally, with an ominous
calm, she told him:
'I'm going to listen to just about
ten seconds more of those outlaws"
Wally went right on laughing.
"And then what you gonna do?'
This is what I'm going to do"
Isabelle darted to the hose, which she
had left spouting on the grass, picked
it up and turned the spray on him.
''Hey!' WaIly's hilarity changed to
an angry below as he backed out of
her range. Il can take a joke" he
spluttered. "But to get a soaking
because You can't
"Now don't start a fight over
nothing" Clifford warned, trying to
suppress his own laughter.
"I'm not starting anything" Wally
brushed at his damp shoulders. "I'm
through"
Isabelle gasped. Why. this was
utter absolute insanity! She had
merely evened the score with him
and now. if you please, Wally was
through! "And what" she inquired
icily. "do you think amp
you're unreasonable" Clifford
said. grinning broadly. He turned to
tell Wally that he was just as TN
reasonable if not more so. but already
Isabelle was expressing her resent
ment that he, as she saw it, was taking
sides with Wally against her.
Il am not aware" she blazed at
him. "that l asked for your opinion"
IHIs. Clifford realized, was no time
or place for a peacemaker. He began
to back away in pretended terror.
II wish you Wonld CO." Isabelle
said, ''this minuter' Inarticulate with
rage, she waved the hose at Wally.
Don't think I'm not going"
Wally said - and went.
Horrifed, Isabelle heard herself cry
ing after him words she knew she
might live to regret: "And you can
get somebody else to pose for your
picture, too!'
"Okayr' He stalked around the
corner of the house. brushing past
Clifford, who gave her last look of
burlesqued fright before he, too, dis
appeared from view.
AS if it we're far off. coming to her
as it did through the blur of her
,-oor I,,bo1lo La,rl Lar ,,,otI>a~