Show u un WWW Ir l JL lm n Z 0 2 ir lz l A REFUGE OF PEACE When thc they had finished dinner lInner an and I walked round to Claires Claire's little diggings i I Instead of oC saying night good and antI leavIng leaving leav- leav J I In ing her on the steps Lane looked at nt his watch vatch and said Oh its it's too early to togo togo togo go home home cant 1 t come com up a minute Why Vh certainly answered CI Claire leading the way vaY up to tho the too none staircase e There seemed nothing else to todo todo do 10 or say ny Besides she was too uplifted h by thoughts of or her raise mise which she sho ha had 1 mado made up her healthy young mind to ac nc- copt and deserve and live up to to be anything than thai hospitable After she and Lane were verc seated In the tho only two trustworthy chairs her living room poss possessed and Lano Lane had started a perfecto ho blew out the smoke moke on a along Ion long si sighing hing breath and looked aroun around comfortably Yes Yes nico little place he hc sal said 1 but d deucedly depressing n Isn't It U I mean main all this decrepit furniture and the clothes flying lying on tho the lines hines out back and the creaky t stairs and all alt eh I Well of or course It Isn't fashionable Claire began Perhaps rh a you yon dont don't quite LuItE my situation Mr Lane I tOld you OU I t lived here because beC It was cheap And now even with the raise rale I shall stay on for a while Ive I've fi figured It all In m my mind By careful economy I can save sa 10 lO a week In exactly ten weeks I shall ahab be able to repay the friend back horn homo who loaned me money to cometo cometo come cometo to New York J rhall hahl be ha free freo and clear as R the r rpt real al estate So say finished Claire with a little laugh Lano Lane did dill not laugh lIe He was flicking ashes from rein his hla cl clear cigar ar and studying Its tip with forehead puckered thoughtfully I Slowly he lifted his eyes eye to Claires Claire's face I stu studying It a n. moment Miss Migs Berton youre you're a girl sirl Irl of ot sense cense and he ho said slowly Ive al always always al- al ways wanted to know someone like you You'd make mak the most wonderful pal in iii tho the world world world-do do you OU know It 7 Would Woul I smiled d Claire CI propping propping prop prop- ping her round chin In her palm and returning Lanes Lane's gaze unaffectedly unaffectedly un un- un- un affectedly b and amI calm calmly I thou though h her heart art began to thump What did cud this self assured man of ot the world worM In his hs mind What hat was behind hi his man well look hIs hi frank tiny On the tho Other hand and fr that anything Why Sinister just because w wa forth e he wa was what he 1 pleased 1 rich V. V and nd fr tree e pleased pleased Claire hold haM h her have What I sash leash r Just rust what d doe n s a l man pal when he rn woman woman applies the tery tenn q Ie you'll listen to plied Lane mo mc Ill tell you R He the man went on an A girl who doesn't have with to be fj flattery A girl to man can talk ten without her o Of yawninG Wh d oIvo In tears If It a man Is la i in and mood hateful or ask him A wh why he Is so so a IL If girl sirl In short h be to man what a MAN 1 la Is to toft a 11 a certain It that Is-that keeps ft n. mans man's better I 1 Do you get gat et me mc ton Claire no nodded and limited u e at II Billy which she Ben sensed ed Lane In n to emphasize the pal idea I think I do Jo Par car Very Ven well then why dont don't yo Jou a nice bonfire out of or this mis Junk p patt grip an and move Into a decent c clea cle- era ern house where YOU yon have o le I P esque decay and moro more sanitation I town somewhere in the air and andI where the tl Janitor I does docs tho the d I and you can Coln use your OUr han nd h. and andI to better advantage ad I Why de my roy dear I It if f you had a n. place like that and andI I l lt ct t mo me come once ance in a while of oC II an Ing IriS and sit before th fireplace j in I business clothes instead of oC t tn I lasting formal tO togs 9 and chat with qI or even read a why book If It t I IS that town Id I'd bo be the C happiest man n is 11 h. h A f But Hut I cant can't afford nn I any such BUch I pro protested Claire suddenly II upright lent ht and flinging out her hands hand le lessly hessly sly If U 1 you m mean an i I Lane held up p his hand Dont DonL I groaned Dont say ay alY the usual iti I stuff sture about If Ir you m mean an to Insult I sir sir- sirI I am not Insulting you YO Prove are aro the sensible girl I think I you and and I me to tho the end To b be continued d. d |