Evening star., 1942-01-02

East. and even though he'd be able
to send back more than enough
money for Mike to live on, still that
wouldn't be as satisfactory as being
with him and living on what he
could make at the garage
At last, with his eyes still directed
toward the road in front of him, he
said. II know Mike would want me
to take it, Patty. And I appreciate
YOUR going to the front like you
have. But the final decision Is mine
and for 10 times the salary and the
opportunities I couldn't leave Mike
at a time like this. He's not well
enough to 60 East with me, ana
couldn't leave him here alone"
He was silent moment, but Patty
raid nothing. Then he added, Any
wav. I want Mike to get back con-
troll of his company. 1t was stolen
from him and whoever stole 1T Is
going to be found out. Right now
that's more important to me than
my own career"
PATTY nodded. II wrote Dad by
return mail and told him you Woulo
not be able to accept now, but l
was sure YOU could some time within
the two months he'd left open. And
vo,1r dad wants you to. Johnny
when 7 told him about Dads letter
he said, Il hope Johnny won't iel
ANYTHING stand In the way OF his
taking that job"
Johnny Is Determined.
~ never saw girl like YOU
Johnny said sincerely. Il feel IKE
a nlnpet being dangled on the emo
of a string with you holding the
other end" ,,
patty laughed and dropped a HAND
m .Johnny's arm. You'd never De
nunpet for anybody, Johnny. but
confess to the string-pulling. IhaI
an old American custom and nooooy
ever got anywhere without SOME
Of it." c,,u
.You never learned that at Clay
bourne School for Women Johnny
said "but I'm sure it's the truth
The trouble is have strings OF my
own-and of Mike's-that nave 10
be pulled right here at home Mix
been given bad name-you Kno"
that. don't you?
PATTY nodded I've gotten pretty
well acquainted with the affair. nv
;nc at Sheila's. I believe l hlnteo
as much this morning" -,
THE gas station and garage VIII
keen us alive long enough to clear
the thing I'D" Johnny went on
"And it's got to be cleared up, !
don't know who framed Mike pu'
have a. hunch and so has he, but
If course. lunches aren't any gooo
hv themselves. We've got to follo"
them up. get hold of the facts, ano
finally prove our claims IN courC
Al that takes time. but in the enc
Mixes name will be clear and he l.
oct hack what belongs to him
PATTY started to say somethlhg
then changed her mind. She f1lppeo
her cigarette over the side OF the
car. watching it's glowing tip SWINE
around behind them in gracelu
orr in the mellow moonnt nlght
Then she leaned over and turned or
the radio. AS she waited tor tne
tubes to warm up she smiled tnlnis
and her pretty young face, so Whlte
and clean in its oval frame OF sot'
red hair. looked sharply intelligent
almost shrevd.
you'll get your facts all rlgnt'
she said softly. And then anythlne
more she was going to say wa:
swallowed up in the dance oano
rhvthm that suddenly sWelled IRON
the dashboard loud-speaker.
A Puzzling Situation.
They followed the Outer drive
along the edge of Lake Michigan
all the way into downtown chicago
riding on the point of a long. SHIN
mering pencil of white that the
moon pointed at them across th'
still water. 1t was a night pecu
liarlv we'll suited for romance. anc
when Johnny looked at the girl be
side him he could have read tnt
expression in her eyes without hal
irving. Every time their glance
met, her red lips parted in SOFT
slow smile. But Johnny, erlnnlnl
quickly, would look back to his driv
inc and remember that If this Wer'
last summer or any of the summer
before that, the girl beside hin
would have been Sheila Morgan
with her long brown legs and slim
bodv and graceful hands and tina
crown of cleaning black hair fran
ing her strong and beautiful face
IT. took two for romance, and he tel
practically alone.
Next day Johnny was at the ga
station and the business he ant
Steve did was brisk, but not brlsi
enough to keep his mind OIL tn.
events of the night before. He still
couldn't figure out why he had give
In to Patty Grayson's not-too-suotl
suggestion that they stop Whll
along the lake shore on the wa
home and listen to the slapping o
the water on the sand.
They had been parked there onl
moment. it seemed. when his arm
were around her, and he recalled
all too wildly the warm pressure Q
her soft lips against his. And n
recalled that, even as he kissed hel
he wondered if every time he kisse
Girl he would feel so unmoved. S
indifferent as he did kissing PATTI
He couldn't believe that If the gil
in his arms had been Sheila h
would have felt that way. The yer
thought of her made his hear
pound, made him feel like crlml
. nal for kissing any one else.
A Formal Greeting.
A short time after he returne
from having lunch with Mike at tn
apartment Sheila drove into tn
station. She was alone IN her ca
and he didn't see her until he hear
her say something and then hear
Steve, who was tending the pump
laugh. Johnny dropped the book
he was working on in the Office an
vame out.
He had to clear his throat {
nervousness before he could manae
to say, Hello, Sheila"
Hello, Johnny. Good luck ]
your new enterprise" Her smi
was extremely formal and utterl