Browning chief., 1946-03-29
CHAPTER x

wants " Tain olClulSS Will NAA.
kessler after dinner, and you'll have
to take care of the girl"
Cherry and the two guests were
already beginning to laugh at Dicks
woebegone face. Dick groaned.
"Can she talk?"
II don't know, Dick, but there's
a musical show downtown"
Mother, please! Honestly, l.
what does she look like?"
Elizabeth started to say, "I've
never seen her," when Cherry put
in,
II bet know. Two yellow braids
around her head"
The others joined,
"Maybe you could play some
Wagner records for her."
"What about Faust?"
"Silly, Faust is sung in French"
II bet she's fat and has apple
cheeks"
"she's probably intellectual. Lots
Of refugees are."
"Talk to her about food. They all
like to eat"
II can't talk to her about any,
thing" stormed Dick. Mother,
I've got datel Why can't the boss
tell Mr.. Thingum to leave his daugh-
ter at home? Why do I have to-
and shut up, all of you. I think
you're being unsympathetic and aw-
full"
"Dick, please be a good SPORT"
Elizabeth urged. "This doesn't hap
pen often"
1T does too. You remember that
horrible girl from New York who
was all teeth that had to take out
when her family had dinner here?
But this is worse. A foreigner who
can't even talk except to say Club
glub!"
How do you know she can't talk?
Her father speaks English"
Dick groaned.
"Be nice about it, Dick" pied
Elizabeth. She'll probably have a
very good time if you'll let her. Re-
member she's in strange country,
and most of those refugees have had
some very unpleasant experiences.
Can't you be sorry for them at al?"
"1t's easy to be sorry for refu-
gees" said Dick, "when you don't
have to put up with them"
Torn between a desire to laugh
and tell him he needn't do it, and
a realization that Mr.. Kessler's
daughter must be taken care of
somehow if he and Spratt were to
have chance to talk business, Eliz-
abeth did not answer Immediately.
She was glad to hear the sound of
a key in the front door.
There's the boss" said Cherry,
getting up.
"Now we can eat!" Dick ex-
claimed as though glad to have
something to rejoice about. He got
up to pour cocktail for his father.
Spratt came in and greeted them
all. you've no idea what a COM
Portable picture you make around
the fire." he remarked as Elizabeth
took his coat and Dick gave him a
Martini. "Where's Brian?"
Having dinner with Peter Stern.
Cherry, 60 to the kitchen and tell
them the boss is here"
"What have you been doing?"
asked Spratt. Listening to the ra-
dio?"
mo, what's going on?"
"The same, only worse. All hell's
loose in Russia. Come on upstairs
with me while I get cleaned up" he
invited Elizabeth. CHERRY, tell
them III be ready in fifteen min
utes."
"Wait a minute, boss" exclaimed
Dick. "1've got something impor-
tant to ask you. Do I have to take
that refugee girl on date tomor-
row night?"
"What refugee girl?"
''The one who's coming here to
dinner with her old man. Can't she
possibly"
Spratt drew a long breath and
started to laugh. "I forgot to tell
you. Kessler's daughter" he said,
"is eight years DID,"
The four youngsters gave long 81
multaneous whistles. "Oh joy, oh
rapture unconfined!" sang Dick.
"My life is renewed. l don't have
to! Did you hear, everybody? She's
eight years old! Why didn't you tell
me? What were you doing talking
about Russia when all the time you
knew that girl was eight years old?
Me sitting up here dying and you've
got to bring up Russia!"
Elizabeth got out of the room
ahead of Spratt and ran up the
stairs. He followed her. When he
came into his bedroom he found her
crumpled up in his reading chair.
She was laughing uncontrollably.
-Spratt stood watching her in
amazement. Elizabeth, what in the
world is the matter with your"
For a moment she could not an
sWar With an afforf cho nanahf lox