The Ely miner., 1943-12-30

same way when she came home aft
er being away all summer, curling
her feet up under her in front of a
winter night in the country.
He grinned at her and gave her
hand a little squeeze.
What have you been doing all
day?" he asked as soon as he could
get his vocal cords Strengthened out.
The way she got in a car, and the
way she sat in the corner slightly
facing him, with her knees crossed,
as if she didn't care where they
were going or if they went any place
at all, was something he always
waited for.
"I've been sightseeing, and
went to the Country Club for a swim
this afternoon"
''How's the story coming?"
"What story?"
"The story Hawley sent you down
to write"
Anne looked up at him in sur
prise. "Did he tell your"
"No. You did" Pete grinned.
81 was pretty sure of it anyway"
You're a pig, Captain Wilcox" :"
Anne said. "As a matter of fact,
seem to have forgotten all about
it. I'm glad you reminded me. Tell
me about the Falange."
There isn't any. And if there
was, it's been written so many times
it's corny. I'll find you story.
You spend your time at the Country
Club. It's cooler, and pleasanter. I"
"And you used to be so nice,"
Anne said YEARLY.
She hadn't paid any attention to
where they were going until Pete
turned down narrow street lined
with cars, the sidewalks full of peo-
pie standing airnlessly about. She
realized suddenly that she was GO
ing to Mallorquina again. A sharp
unhappy feeling of not wanting to
go there with Pete just then did
something odd to her throat.
you'll like this place." Pete said.
A man on the sidewalk motioned
him to an empty space and opened
the door.
Local touch for that old louise
Hawley of The New York Chroni-
Gle, Miss Haywood" Pete remarked
taking her arm. "You give these
birds nickel and they watch your
car all night. If you don't they cut
your tires, or so. I'm told"
They were back again where she
and Miguel had been with the girl
watching them from across the
street. The table they'd sat at was
empty. Anne passed it quickly and
went to one in the corner under the
towering maiolica vase. She sat
down and glanced around so she
wouldn't have to speak for a mo-
ment. 1t was funny how clear it had
all been-clearer than the present
moment by far. The nostalgia senti-
mental ballad a Mexican girl was
singing with the orchestra height
ened it sharply for her. The room
was pleasantly crowded, gay and
noisy. That seemed to heighten it
too.
Pete looked at her, worried. He'd
thought she would like it, because
he did. And she wasn't herself at
all. He watched her eyes moving
around the room, and saw them
stop, darkening an instant as they
reached the bar. He looked around.
A man in a wrinkled white linen
suit was standing there, his back
to them. In the mirror Pete caught
a glimpse of his face. He had seen
them too, and turned to nod smiling
ly at Anne. His mouth reminded
Pete of a barracuda, thin and cruel
and fishy-white in the hard glare
reflected from the spotlight on the
chanteuse. His eyes were lost be-
hind the thick lenses of his specta-
cles.
That's your friend and shipmate
the eminent plumber, isn't it?" he
remarked.
Sanitary engineer, Captain Will
cox" Anne retorted lightly. Sand
tourist extraordinary"
She slipped her a1mond-favored
daiquiri. "What do we eat?"
"Poella," Pete said. ''It's every
thing they have in the sea with a
shell on it, mixed up with rice and
beans and stuff. And lobster cock
tail. This is the first place I've
ever had all the lobster could eat."
"What about Maine?"
"I've never been to Maine"
Mr.. Taussig had moved around to
the end of the bar and was watch
ing them. Pete could see him re-
fiected in the mirrored pillar under
the clock.
"Tell me about Taussig, Anne"
he said.
81 thought you knew everything
that's what you told me-"
Then she does know some
thing" Pete thought. Maybe it
wasn't Valera after all.
81 saw your friend Miguel at the
meeting last night" he remarked.
He said it casually, to see how she'd
take it, but he hadn't expected her
to take it the way she did.
She looked at him blankly, her
lips parted little, the color re-
ceding from her face. She put her
glass down.
"Miguelat the Falange? Are you
sure, Peter"
''It's not the Falange," he said.
"It's the Sociedad del Amigos del
Estados Unidos."
"But you said last night"
'I was just being funny"
''No, you weren't" she retorted.
The color had come back into her
face in two hot bright spots. "Look,
Pete. You've got to tell me. Do
you think"
ST never Think" Pete said placid
ly. ''I'm in the Army. We're not
allowed to"