The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-14


At a little before II o'clock the
call to New York went through
Wrapped in a wooden, squirrel
trimmed housecoat, Mallory tooR
pleasure in making Tod Patrick
hold the wire while she settled
herself in deep comfort il an arm
chair.
Hello. Legree," she eventually
ground out. I feel it my duty
10 tell you that you're licked be-
fore you start. I'm in fine fettle.
I'm strong as an OK. I'm rarin'
to go. I've just had a nourishing
snack that included everything
from a juicy steak to chocolate
cake with icing an inch thick. And
you d better
Tod Patrick's voice cut in. He
sounded bored. Mallory. are you
telephoning me over 1000 miles
to tell me you're still glutton?'
I simply meant that l have
strength to annihilate YOU
Again Patrick interrupted. Why
did you call, Mallory? Not that
I'm anything but delighted to hear
from you. But I thought you were
so angry with me when you left
New York that I'd not be honored
even with hotel advertising
postcard. l didn't dream you
cared SO much. dear"
I'm not calling because ! care
for you-you know perfectly well
why I'm calling you - you ICY
blooded serpent"
1T has been proved that snakes
and such are not cold. And now
let's not talk any more about such
unpleasant things. You m g h t
have nightmares. And since you
went to Mexico to relax you
mustn't have nightmares"
Il am having nightmare, the
girl screamed SO loudly that Prism
cringed and clamped her eyelids.
I'm seeing things, Legree. All
over the town. Posters, billboards
so how can l relax? You're
driving me crazy. and don't you
dare make a sassy remark Her
tone changed to one of pleading.
'Aw, Tod, how could you do it
to me?" +,
Haven't you any sense at all.
Mallory? Right now, Mexico City
is definitely it. It's Paris, the Ri
viera, all the European hot spots
tossed together, to say nothing OF
being Santa Anita. M an alive,
Mallory, they paid two million dol
lars for that new race track. You
don't have to drag out your ration
book for a sirloin steak the size
of a turkey platter Naturally the
town has everyone in it who has
the money to get there. Big spend
ers. a boom. A spree. So, why
shouldn't it be the spot for the
greatest singer of the present day
meaning you, Sweet" he stress
ed in sugary voice.
Don't talk to me as if you
were trying to cheat an eight
year-old brat out of h i S candy
bar"
I'm just trying to talk some
business sense into a 26-year-old
adult"
'Twenty-five!" contradicted the
girl SO loudly that Prism, who
had been applying Strengthening
touches to the living room, again
went through the business Of
cringing and grinding shut her
ears.
Mallory Mallory, darling. -
Again his voice was sweetness
upon sweetness.
Dust rolled from the dry abrupt.
ness Of her words. Yes? WHAT
You've always been every.
where at the peak, darling. All
your appearances have been sue.
cesses, because they were timely
Right now Mexico City is the
timeliest spot and after ALL" he
stressed, in a tone that was die.
tatorial back of i It's gentleness,
you are there, dear. You may
as well work.
He sounds like David" That
was the hateful thought that flash.
ed into the girls mind. But she
couldn't say that to Tod Patrick;
she couldn't bear t h chortling
roars that would follow.
Seems to me, Legree, that you
know lot more about this town
than you let on. You must
Sudden comprehension smote her
Hey. you must have a powerful
lot of cooperation down here
'Uhm! I do know couple Of
American reporters down there
he admitted. AS a matter Of
fact. they'll probably want an in.
terview. Along with the Mexican
press
I'll be looking for your bud.
dies" she retorted dryly. I sup.
pose they drink Scotch like the
rest of their breed"
Mallory. that is no way fol
you to talk about the guys who
have helped put you where vol
are"
You mean you're actually Civ
ing credit to someone beside!
yourself" She gioeIed nastilv