Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-08-08

belle He pronounced the word in two
syllables
He half expected Nina to pop out
of the elevator when he rang for it.
But, save for the elevator boy. it
was empty.
He went to the telegraph desk and
wrote out telegram. The girl looked
up inquiringly when she reached the
words Nina unseena." She read it
with a rising infection, which he
brought down with a glare.
He found Jim Pollard at the door
of the club and Jim explained that
since his wife was out of town he had
brought along a rich widow who was
prospective customer; and she had
brought along her cousin, Bertha, as
a companion for Arthur. Arthur was
taken aback a bit.
Il thought this was mems club"
/ Jim's prospective customer was
widowish-very; but her cousin, Ber-
tina. was one of those old girls who
are always brought along"
Jim explained: Our host is a little
late but that's to be expected. Nina's
! always late. She's his fiancee-a sort
of divorce-fiancee. really. When Joe
Spencer divorced her, he named poor
/ Sheldon. They have got to wait a
while before Nina can re-marry, but
it's case of love at second sight. Or
,, is it third? Usedn't you and Nina to
be-oh, gosh, were you!"
Arthur felt suddenly as if he were
back in that elevator taking that drop
whose beginning and ending were so
close together. Even Jim noted how
white he got, and then how red and
saved him from collapse by leading
him aside to say:
BY the way, Nina called me up and
asked me to tell you that Sheldon is
terribly jealous, and it's just as well
he doesn't learn that you and she
were lovers years ago. Nina trusts you
not to remind him."
She can trust me-" said Arthur
with as much certainty as he had
ever felt about anything in his life.
When Sheldon Brown and Nina ap-
peared at the end of the corridor
Arthur had time to wonder how he
could ever have been so infatuated
with such a woman. OF course, he had
not met vi then. Evidently they were
still purveying blonditude in bottles
He wished vi could see Nina now.
That is. he wished it and he didn't
wish it.
When Jim presented Mr.. Todd" 10
Mrs. Spencer" both bowed as if they
had never seen each other before, and
hadn't missed much. Brown excused
himself to order the dinner while the
others went into the cocktail lounge.
On the way Nina sided up to Arthur
and mumbled:
Jim explained things to you, didn't
he Arthur? I hope you understand.
I'm really in love this time. How long
ago it seems since our little puppy
love! I used to call you 'Toddlekins.'
She laughed and glanced at his waist
line You're just the same. except at
the equator. Better watch that or
you'll be a PoddlekinS."
He was about to defend his waist
line even at the expense of his secret,
but he hated her so he did not care
what she thought He was never so
bored and so excited at the same time
as he was all that evening-al that
night, indeed. For they fingered for
ever at the cocktail bar, though they
drank little They went into dinner
and that took another forever. Before
the soup was served Arthur had ex-
planned the great opportunity to pick
up vast amount of air-conditioning
stock for a song. and Brown had
consented to 60 to New York with
him the next noon and put up his
share on sight of the goods. This was
wonderful. The meeting might as well
have ended at once, but Brown said:
you come to New York, Nina. 1t
will give us a chance to see the shows
with Mr.. Todd as chaperon.'
For once Nina declined an invita-
ton Arthur almost loved her for it
with that special love We feel for
people who get out of our way and
stay out.
Sheldon pleaded desperately: Bring
| along your mother, then"
Still Nina refused and her stub