Show THE FICTION ION OVER THE COUNTER I CORNER By Richard Hill Wilkinson ALA WAS thinking of Bill when D DALA the young man with the mustache mustache mustache mus mus- tache leaned over her counter Kate Holland olland had said that she had seen Bill and Reba Ellsworth dancing dancing dancing ing at Suttons Kate was a gossip but Bill had been act act- Minute M. M n t e 1 3 ing strangely of Fiction late Youre Miss Scott arent aren't you the young man said Dala glanced up at him and then gave her attention to her switch switch- board Empire Hotel she said into the receiver Mr Ricker Just a moment please She plugged in You must be psychic she said to the young man Or did you inquire of one of the bellboys The young man looked surprised Neither The clerk told me And now youre you're going to tell me I suppose that you just bought this hotel and unless I go out to dinner with you tonight Im I'm fired Youre quick said the young man Its a good line mister but I dont don't like traveling salesmen Besides Besides Besides Be Be- sides Im I'm busy Empire busy Empire Hotel When she looked up again the young man had gone She was a little surprised Usually they didn't give up so easily The telephone was ringing when she turned the hey ley ey In her apartment apartment apartment apart apart- ment door at 6 10 that evening It was Bill of or course Hello she said trying to force casualness Jinto into her tone Remember me said a voice Im the thc man who bought the hotel Like a bad penny Dala Dais said Or didn't you understand me f pry f I Jr f r f sf f 1 yf f fI ff fi i t I Ia a. a i. i s i I 1 Thanks a heap said Dala Ill remember you ou in my prayers Just called to assure you that your job is safe the voice told her heri cheerfully I j I Thanks a heap said Dala Ill remember you in my prayers She hung up Bill didn't call that night No Noone Noone Noone one did Dala spent a lonesome evening She was almost glad the next day when the young man with I Ithe the moustache appeared By the way he grinned Youre supposed to give out information information information I mation arent aren't you She admitted it by nodding at the same time I droning her usual Empire Hotel into the mouthpiece Then what's your name he asked She swung around to face him but somehow decided against the retort that rose to her lips Its Dala she said But calling me Dala wont won't help I Thanks Mines Mine's Johnny ALA was returning from lunch D DALA when she ran into Bill He was in a hurry Or said he was He only stopped for a minute The realization made her kind of sick at heart No matter whether you loved a man or not it was something of a blow to find out he was two timing you She jumped when the young man with the moustache spoke into her ear I die hard he grinned Theres still tonight And J I promise promise promise prom prom- ise to be good Dala looked at him and thought of Bill All AIl right she sighed re re- re- re They had dinner at a restaurant where Dala hadn't eaten before She liked the place and wondered what Johnny did for tor a D living Two nights later Johnny took her herto herto herto to a show and later to a night club It was then she began to wonder about him He regarded her In surprise when she put the question But Ive I've already told you yoa Im I'm the theman theman theman man who bought the Empire I thought you knew She said nothing until they were in the lighted hallway of her apartment apartment apartment apart apart- ment house Now tell me she said looking at him Tell me again He told her and suddenly the floor seemed to give aw away y beneath her She turned but he hc caught her hand What difference does i it make he pleaded I 1 knew you didn't know She put her hand over aver his mouth Dont say it The answer is yes Its It's a terrible shock You see Ive I've just recovered from being made a fool of by one man And now now this this this- This he told her gravely is different Well We'll make It different Shall we I She nodded 0 |