The Wilmington morning star., 1944-01-17

|down here. You are to come with
us to meet other reporters. You
are invited for coffee
A look of stupefaction spread
over Mallory Bakers face. 'Tl
say you do things differently down
here. Imagine reporters playing
host" Then she frowned. But
coffee!;
'Yeh, you're right. But you'll
learn to likt it. I'm Latham, My
pal is Roberts. Shall we go?'
Roberts spoke for the first time.
you'll learn not to mind it, he
means. The coffee. 1 mean"
Latham said, Don't mind him,
Miss Baker. He can't talk, but
he can write. Come on. We have
a taxi waiting"
All right replied the singer.
She took the hat that Prism was
holding for her, a little pouf of
white violets, exactly like the col
lar on the black velvet cocktail
frock. In the mirror the girls
eyes caught the unhappiness on
Armando's face No gentlemen.
let's go in my car. I have my
own driver, you see. A wonder
full, wonderful driver She watch
ed the boys gloom sail away into
a renewed belief that life w a S
worth living.
Prism handed her mistress a
pair of white gloves and an onyx
compact Boy, is you bodyguard-
ed" she whispered complacently.
Roberts sat in front swith Ar
mando: the laxative Latham sat
in back with the singer. His talk
annoyed her. 1t was a continuous
and laudatory discussion of Tod
Patrick. And l can't even let
cut a squawk," complained the girl
10 herself.
She was glad when they reached
t.eir destination, cafe that sur
lrised her by being very large,
instead of a small, colorful one
ike those along the highway. 1t
was about half full and filling rap
dly with couples and groups. APP
parently the coffee hour was i'm
portant.
Mallory had expected to be
showed into a booth with Latham
and Roberts and the Mexican men
10 be served a cup of coffee, to
refuse a eigaret no one ever
learned not to bother to offer her
one-then answer the usual ques-
tons put to her by members Of
the press.
Instead, she was escorted to a
round table, tremendous one,
surrounded by many persons. First
she was introduced to a lovely
Mexican girl.
Our interpreter, said Latham.
quickly, adding in answer to Nal
lory's startled look of inquiry.
'Senores Enciso and Elzonga do
not speak English" Immediately
she was shaking hands with those
two reporters, sombre appearing
men with too much dinity. They
} smiled thinly and sat down again.
| Different from the gay type of
newspaperman she previously had
encountered, she decided quickly
before more introductions.
! With the exception of MANUEL
} ia, the interpreter, Mallory was
, the only girl. The men ranged
from an elderly Army officer to
the young man at her tight. She
let their names rattle in her head,
knowing she could never, remem-
: Der them, and because she was
! puzzled over this odd reception,
she just leaned back and smiled
| md waited.
Coffee was placed before her, a
strong, bitter brew in demi-tasse
cup. In spite of its unfamiliar and
unpleasant taste, Mallory was glao
to drink it. 1t gave her something
10 do while she tried to determine
why all the extra guests were sit,
ting in on the interview. Her stay
in the capital city had been toe
short to teach her that friends Of
friends joined any party that look
ed interesting and became a part
of the conviviality.
While she slipped her caustically
strong coffee, Mallory found her
self grateful 10 Prism for having
insisted on the black velvet dress
Manuelita wore lightweight WOO
dress. just right for the semi-trop
ical afternoon. with smart blacl
hat back of her towering pornpa
idour, Mexican silver jewelry ant
silver fox scarf. Her face, be
meath its heavy powder. was tia
lolive tint SC luminous that il some
times seems more pale than Tx
skin o. blonde. Her lips, oeepl,
scarlet, heightened the raleness
Her eyes were something not easy
to describe: il woulG lee as use
less as trying to describe the beau
ty of the sun. Aud her voice wa!
like deeptoned bell.
Maauelita. begrudged Mallory
was quite a gal She was asking
questions OF the singer nov, trans
latinS those Of the Mexican report
ers into English, receiving Nal
lory's answers, putting those baci
into swift Spanish. Mallory knew
nov; why the Mexican girl wa:
along. Latham and Roberts coule
have handled the TRANSACTIONS, bu
theirs would have been hating
Naturally, Manuelita's Spanish wa:
n not hating. Nor was her English
n The questions were not the in
l. ane How do you like Mexico, Mis-!
b = 49, l. ..l1