Show FICTION CORNER KITTENS HAVE CLAWS by FAITH ELLEN SMITH I 1 UVE VE got to go after them WIs said she mat gat on the upholstered wall seat opened her bag took look out her vanity case and her case the trouble with you youre mousy im what nan asked she tat sat on the stiff hard chair on the other tide gide of the little table and took off her gloves they were white gloves rubbed shabby by repeated clean ings Mou mousy syll I 1 said eald doris mousy girls never g get et anywhere remember what I 1 said that first day we law ralph going up in ir the elevator you said theres the man im going to marry unless hes got a wile wife and ten kids ar apals I 1 studied t died her reflection in the sit r of her vanity her hand long crimson nails gleaming patted this the c crisp r I 1 s p blonde wa waves v es beneath her weeks sm small all hat bat A large best diamond on her fan ger kindled to fiction green and orange flame under the taj J subdued lights of the dining room well he had a wife and one kid but I 1 did it I 1 do you suppose I 1 got him by sitting still and wishing tor for him no nan said 1 I used my head I 1 found out he worked for J 13 simpson I 1 made VS up to the simpson crowd when I 1 me met them ibern in the washroom and took look to calling to tor r that dumb eg egg g 0 ot f an adams girl for lunch I 1 got introduced to him M 1 I remember nan said 1 I worked to get that man it if I 1 I 1 have an apartment on east sixtieth street and Us set et of summer furs that cost fifteen hundred dollars and my own car and a house in the country next fall when ralph gets his promotion now about this MW an she said Z at r man said nan color of newly open wild rose flooded her face her childishly honest brown eyes were starry how should I 1 know what man I 1 seen you since I 1 had you to the wedding six months ago A girl attractive to men and shows some initiative might be married in six months but of course youre the kind that will drag along waiting tor for him to wake up and know youre on earth until he marries somebody else you be so bad at that if you took a little pains with yourself and got some gome decent clothes nan who had started to slip off the coat of her suit buttoned it again the lining she remembered bad ad ripped a little on the shoulder and be a good bet tor for tome some man who wanted a sensible ec economical ono mical wife that mind ho housework use work thank you nan said you would I 1 never could learn to boll water li but ut the way you used to cook and scrub and fuss around when we lived together I 1 well its lucky I 1 had what it takes to get a fellow that can afford a servant but ol of course im younger ila than you are eleven months nan said softly just a baby really ralph always calls me babe did I 1 tell you hes in line for the vice presidency Is he be sure sur e of it my dearl J B depends pen d s on him for everything he and J B are like that remember the fellow came up to the apartment with him the week before we were married of course why I 1 well you doused around as it if you were only halt half there hardly opened your mouth all evening that was J B was it there you gol just what I 1 mean you dont take any interest now it if this man but what makes you think there Is a its written all over you darling youre in love I 1 never saw a worse case nans big brown eyes lowered to her glass she became peony red well it if you dont see fit to confide in your best friend your business but you let me tell you J this tor for your own good it if he hes worth having dont let some other girl beat you to you will though youre all set for being a neat little old maid living on a pension and loving a pet cat 1 I dont like cats nan murmured doris extended a toeless suede sandal sa nd I 1 and a slender blender silk clad leg catal she said look at that 11 r run n 1 I see it nan said ralph bought me an angora kitten for or my birthday the darn thing must have been at these stockings to ill have to dash in sm somewhere and get another pair and put them on you vou come with me and you can have these do for or you if youre careful mending them 1 I cant come wath with you nan said you cant why not ive got a a kind of a date A date with that man of coursel course where oh never mind 61 0 V WA t theres the man im going to marry unless hes got a wife and 10 kids now dont be siliyl im dying to see him ill drive delv you there you bother it far just back to the office ohl doris said walter bring the check were in a hurry I 1 tell you nobody but you would think of slaving away at the office on a lovely saturday afternoon you ought to call your man and make him take you to the movies you ought to keep after him ready im ready nan said they walked out of the dim cocktail lounge into the sunny freshness of the afternoon 1 iguess I guess ill get my stockings over there at Br doris said we have charge accounts at all the big stores it if I 1 buy them at some little shop ill have to pay for them myself and they cost five dollars you dont mind if I 1 dont drive you to the office do you 1 I dont mind at all nan said extending her hand goodbye good bye doris ill give you a ring doris said you must come up to dinner some night when I 1 company and tell me all about your romance ill be seeing you i nan walked the two familiar familial blocks t to 0 the familiar millar a building but bul she did not go up to the office where she wor worked keil she took the elevator elev to the floor below it and stepped out into the spacious reception room of 0 I 1 the J B simpson company she walked past the deserted information desk toward the private offices and tapped lightly on one of the doors with the tips of her gloved fingers A mans voice called come in I 1 she went in the man got up from behind a 9 big desk and came to meet her he was tall and becomingly gray haired there were laughter wrinkles around his keen eyes youre late nan he said she put her arms around hl his shoulders and lifted her face for hl his kiss ive been with mrs je jenkins n who in seventeen kingdoms is 1 mrs jenkins you know the girl I 1 used to live with the one that married ralph jenkin ohl he said how Is ralph jenkins by the way he was a good man until thal thai designing cat got hold of him the man said now he has alimony to pay one woman and another run ning him ragged tor for new cars and this and that and hell be lucky if he manages to keep his job I 1 hope youre not seeing much ol of her youre not her heir kind thank heave heavens nl oh ashes all right nan said tolerantly she did us one good turn anyway you know you always say you fell in love with me that night you came up to the apartment because I 1 kept quiet the entire evening my little mouse he said fondly nan winced but bu t you wont have much chance to sei see her after were married anyway when we come back bach fro from abroad well be at the country h bouse us e most of the time unless she comes out there nan smiled you worry J B she wont come out there the he said with aulet certainty |