Show Telegram Short Stories Stores S TRICK By William James Brennan Sadie Burns managed to laugh gayly galy enough until she hung up the he receiver then receiver then lost herself in sudden and absorbing thought S So Sri Duncan Beach was brin bringing Ann Ami Dunn to Alices Alice's party tomorrow night Alice had dropped that bit bitof bitof of ot Information as 83 routine detail concealing a threat or perhaps even evena a mild taunt She remembered that Alices Alice's attempt to attract Duncan Beach had not met with outstanding ing ng success But Ann Dunn Dunn well well that was something else again She was al almost almost almost al- al most sure to be clever enough to app appeal l t to D Duncans van Vall it ty ity something which S dic herself had md never nc even tried Besides Ann Dunn seemed possessed of at ar arin 1 instinctive in jn- devastating dc flair for clothes There There- was no doubt no-doubt doubt about it t Ann Dunn could take Duncan Beach in n her cr stride e 1 I she really set ct mind to iL But Wh why should hould Sadie care what of Duncan Beach and Ann Ami Dunn Hadn't she had her chance chanc rry if she had cared That Tha was just the trouble she admitted admitted admitted ad ad- to herself desperately desperate She Shed Shedid Shedid d did d care much more than she would ever want anyone to know A smile flitted across her face her ler eyes ces lighted with sudden hope Of course it was an old trick and anda a simple one Just old and simple enough so that it might work She picked licked up th the tha phone and called Bob Eldred's number Kind and unselfish Bob who had been her stand-by stand for what seemed ages and who joked about his father fath fath- er promising him a partnership In Inthe inthe inthe 1 the clothing store when and if he I sho should ld get married I Hello Bob This is simple Sadie How do I 1 look Worried Bob answered She could imagine him smiling Dont you ever l' get tired tired tired-of of mind r reading ading But I 1 really am in a jam and its it's either cither you OU help mc me out or orits orits orits its it's tho the white flag for me mc Ann Dunn 1 Why Bob how bow ho did you ou find out Are Arc people talking and and acting lad lady She's leading you vou by two lengths and hugging the rail Get it 1 Precisely And that's just where you enter the scene sh she told him Theres a party part t tomorrow morrow night at Alices Call for or me at eight she comman commanded d ed I Listen Sadie The hc part calls for lor fora a villan not a clown Im I'm out Bob objected Oh Bob be a a good sport and dont don't let me down If you OU do though Ill I'll 11 never look ook at the same side of the street youre you're on again There was waa a moments moment's pause Sadie knew that Duncan and Bob were not the best of friends to put putt it t mildly And just in that moment I it t occurred to her that she would lose ose Bobs Bob's friendship if she married Duncan Beach I I This Is positively the last time kid id Ill I'll be there at eight and you have lave your our duds on he ordered in ina ina a tone that she had never he heard him use before S S Sadie surveyed herself hersel In fri the oval mirror on the other side of at the silting sitting sitting sit sit- ting room Her shimmering ice blue satin clung tenaciously to her figure figure figure fig fig- ure in approved fashion She had selected this dress because Duncan had lad always admired it and regret regret- ed that her face had not the classical classical classical clas clas- beauty displayed ed by others pa particularly by Ann Dunn The best she could say of it was that it was wasa a healthy face and reflected her gayety Her wrist wat watch h showed that it was five past eight Bob was usually usually usually ally on time Then she heard his step outside and ran to the door Bob scooped her up and kissed her with neatness and force before she could object Why Vh Bob What on onearth onearth onearth earth are you OU trying to do she asked momentarily stunned I If If Im I'm to arouse the spirit of green eyed jealousy In Duncan Beach I have to rehearse for tor It dont don't I 1 And that's the game isn't it He looked down don on her with amusement Wh Why yes she faltered but not here Then she laughed But you did well J Ive never had any complaints he bragged Duncan Beach did not let down his resistance until his fourth dance with Sadie When can I 1 call Sadie Sadie Sadie Sa Sa- Sa- Sa die His eyes ces were sero pleading with her for or forgiveness She smiled up at him How about Sunday night if youre you're not too busy Ill be there he whispered Then she was riding over o country hills with ith Bob In th the moonlight happy her which over success some some- how didn't seem so important now What was the yank jank for or leaving the party Bob asked Theres always a right moment for ev everything Bob and I picked it for leaving Then she heard herself adding with some surprise Not that it was so important now that I 1 have what I wanted w Bob stopped the car suddenly am and took her in his arms Before she could protest his lips touched hers tenderly soft softly Then desperately and breath In a that shook them both Bob have you pone none gone plain craz crazy tonight Not If taking what I want can be bo called crazy He faced her In the moonlight Im tired of oC carting you jOU around for somebody else's conven conven- lence And as you ou say theres there's al always always al- al ways a right moment for or every every- thing His face ace came closer to hers and somehow she found lound herself waiting anxiously expectantly She had hat heard that real love is where you ou find it but never until now did she he believe it She could feel leel his bre breath lh warm on her cheeks s. s And sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times those moment moments conic cone two or three at a time Bob she murmured murmured murmured mur mur- through parted patted lips Copyright 1936 for lor The Telegram |