Show li I I 1 II InUI II If kU d ff 20 zoo 0 a ali 2 r t f l W VC y o Ii o II i t C. O e. e I Dusk was v s beginning to fall when Claire Jerlon and Dillon Whitney straightened I their tired tire 1 looked nt at e each ch other with weary grins surveyed sur e cd the rooms and said gald In one breath Well good Job hest he hey supplemented supplement supplement- ed e Whitney rubbing an eye c gingerly in rl with Ith the back of ot a l hopelessly sl dirt dirty hand want a n better ca castle tle than this tills You'd loud never ne dream that I bookcase only had hall three feet teet And b bv 1 gosh goh look 1001 at It the file way war that copper bowl cathes tho the light lI ht Claire 1001 looked 11 She smiled d at nt nv ney She smiled at the three legged bookcase with the block sho shoved shod d underneath under under- underneath n neath for fr r a fourth fool foot She dimpled I at the copper bowl At the carefully doctored II chairs tho the table the chest h t tot of ot drawers rawer the tho shelves Rhel s that constituted her kitchenette the grass rasa rU rug rue and the n narrow couch with the In Indian blanket t over O It The gay n ch cheap ap dishes and bright little tins tin she he had bought bou ht at the cent 10 store The Tho curtains cUrt were wore m made mado of splash patterned tt sh cotton toweling towel towel- j III Inc ing Th The picture Whitney had tal Oaken nUen n I his hie hl office wall to hang in a 1 certain space th that thit t clamored for It It Then Claires Claire's smut came back to Whitney as ns h he stood there thoro all dusty tY and tired his face streaked and his blond hair hall w wildly tumbled It became a tremulous smile Anti And before she could coull stop them tears came In her h r eyes e and she sho fumbled d with a n grimy hand In the the- pocket of or her grimy apron for Cor her grimy little handkerchief hand hand- kerchief l Youve ou e been h n so good she he mumbled d swabbing her hor face o on the grimy apron not having ln found tho the han handkerchief tAnd t. t And your friends These These thc these e things and antl and and everything e Well If that aint like lIk a n. woman to co go bawling because people are arC good I declaimed Whitney to tt the th table tahl on which re rested the copper howl bowl When j sho finds s out w worn ern rn to have h a house house- carmine ho gravely ra el a addre the bookcase I suppose she wilt will have hn h hysterics Instantly Claire came can out from rom the thein apron in ron blinking and swallowing lumps Housen what T I said Madam Malam smirked I Whitney Scheduled for tomorrow night at nt eight sharp No guests uc ts admitted ad ad- without a n contribution of oC food drink or household goods Oh I dont don't think Id I'd butter better h besan hegan Claire a n little frightened at at- at she athe she he didn't know what I I have ha almost no friends Friends Friends What do you call caU these eminent persons whose contributions contributions contributions have hn furnished your castle orated Whitney with gusto lIsto Once a n woman has hns given Riven I cn another woman a a. copper bowl 1 1 and a 1 rolling pin and a aman aman man has hns presented her with Ith his favorIto favorite favor favor- Ito ite bookcase o I guess everybody Is 15 friends all rl right ht The Tho party's tomorrow evening he added with emphasis And now wed we'd better beat bent It Its It's Retting getting dark and and the tho gas bas l Isn't turned on yet Ill I'll havo o that attended to tomorrow If H the pas gas as man falls inUs well we'll use candles As the they locked the door and went down dOnn the tho battered old staircase and out to the shabby o old III street Claire felt Cell a n. thrill of daringness ness She felt Cell she Bho was walking a strange e road road for for her Yet what charms it had She won wondered If Ie It had Its dnn dangers dancers ers too She glanced up at nt lIe ll slipped his arm through hers as though In tacit rea reassurance There was a delicious feeling of oC comfort to Claire In that arm She was too weary wenry with the theas days clays as work to analyze anything But she was happy Oh heros hero's s the castle key sal said I Whitney h handing lIng over tho the small object that spelt o m to hun home home r Claire And Just as 1 t she he took look it ti from him someone brushed her albo Too engrossed sell to see us us' us she heard hearda a n girls girl's voice tia say Claire Claim turned turne around only orly to se see Jane Browning slinking a ala la tensing ln finger In cr at IH her r. r as lane Jane hurried by with John Heaves cl caves To He le Continued |