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Show Amy Nair Says Out By JOAN MAMH WNMIMlMtteaMaiBMMMC (Copyright, 111", by the McClure Newspaper Newspa-per syndicate.) Julias Bate couldn't quite decide to Ida own satisfaction whether It was because Ruth ' Clarldge was such an anusttally pretty girt or because she was such an amaslngly clever Illustrator Illus-trator that he was so completely fascinated fas-cinated by her, and that before "she had been on the Mat ot regular contributors con-tributors to the small magaslne ot which he was editor for two weeks he had found pretext to take her' to luncheon two or three times and once to the theater. Perhaps It was neither her cleverness nor her prettl-nets prettl-nets entirely; but mingled with them her delightful naivety and lack of sophistication. For though Ruth had quite obviously "arrived" In her work fehe had In the year that she had lived In the big, grimy city, lost very little of the refreshing candor nnd childlike enthusiasm that characterized her as a country-bred girl. Surely she must have known that she was very pretty n girl like Ruth could not have lived alone In the city so long without having hav-ing been rather wearied with reminders remind-ers of the fact yet When Julius had, rather inanely as he thought later, told her she was the prettiest girl he Sod ever known, she opened her per-ectly per-ectly frank blue eyes wide and said: "I am glad you told me so. I like to be thought pretty and I am glad that you think so." Besides Ruth never flirted. And Julius was Just at the old-young age when he had convinced himself that flirting was a great waste of time. She was In large measure still a mystery to him and so he was doubly pleased when she asked him to "come to supper" In her small apartment where Julius had been Informed she shared quarters with that eminently successful novelist, Amy Nalr. Julius was relieved to know that Amy was not to be present. The supper was set for eight o'clock so that both he and Ruth might dispose of their day's occupation before the little spread. The apartment proved to be Just a well furnished "studio," the details and fine points of which the careful elimination elim-ination of every accessory or ornament orna-ment which was not intrinsically beautiful and the exquisite subordination subordina-tion of tones to the decorative scheme ot the whole Interior was rather lost on Julius. But there was an nlr of repose and seclusion about the large room apparently the living room, eating room and work room combined that nut Julius In an ngrccablo frame rof mind. Ruth responded to his ring and explained-that the "old mammy" who kept house for her and Amy Nalr bad prepurcd the spread and then departed. de-parted. "I thought we could be cozier If we were all alone In the place. Amy won't be back till all hours." Then as she led him Into the studio he got his first glimpse of her dress. It was like nothing be had ever seen before surely not like the dress in which he had first seen her. He could not object to It on the score of Immodesty for the soft folds of fabric clung high at the throat and well down on her wrists. Du could It really be possible? the ample folds of the skirt 'somehow fell down to her feet In two divisions and were caught at both ankles In a neat metallic anklet ank-let Even that was not Immodest but rather more modest, Julius had to admit ad-mit than the street costume of most young women. Ruth saw his scrutiny. "Ob, my dress," she said. "Isn't the color lovely. love-ly. It's read batik from Ceylon. Amy Nalr got It for me. I am glad you like it-Amy Nalr say" "But I'm not quite sure I do," stammered stam-mered JuuBs,.and then aa Ruth stood oft and pivoted on her oriental slipper for his full inspection he honestly admitted ad-mitted that It was extremely becoming becom-ing "only hardly conventional." .There was supper, vand after supper sup-per Ruth carried off the supper tray and brought back the coffee In a Turkish brass outfit that even Julius waa connolseur enough to' admire. From the folds of her remarkable house gown Ruth drew out a little metal cigarette box and ooenlns It deftly with one hand she held It out to her guest. "There are several other, sorts In the large jar on the table," she 'sold. "Personally, I don't care for Turkish." Julius tried to conceul his surprise. He had never even wondered, whether or not Ruth smoked. Other girls with whom he was associated In his editing edit-ing did, but even they had never re; celved him alone In their own apartments apart-ments and then prof erred a .complete assortment of cigarettes. He felt the suspicion of a frown Involuntarily come over his forehead bat he fought it back. s , They talked about everything that chanced Into their heads more as Julius had talked with some keenly olert, clean-minded young boy of his acquaintance; and as they talked Ruth smoked nonchalantly not In the i least languidly. At ten Julius rose to i go. Somewhere In the back of his mind he recalled t,hat be had read I that although women who live alone may receive callers unebnperoned those callers must never remain after ten. Ruth urged blm to stay still as a young boy would have done when be bad not hod enough conversation, father than as a young woman wlsh- v"- |