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Show By John Scott Douglas nGGIE GARRETT, their hostess, 1 shouted, "Quiet, quiet, you clowns, snake-charmers, pirates, dancing girls and frontier gamblers! gamb-lers! Gather 'round, while the men draw their partners." Costumed guests in domino half-masks half-masks circled Aggie, and a clown drew a slip from her Mexican sombrero. som-brero. His glance swept the smiling group of masked girls until it reached one in Egyptian costume. "You're mine, Cleopatra!" he exclaimed, laughing. ' A big, rugged-jawed man dressed as a pirate was next. After scanning scan-ning the girls, he yelled indignant ly, "Who's run off with Bo-Peep?" "Oh, Captain Kidd!" Aggie cried. "She came late and hasn't come down yet. Maybe you'd better draw another slip." "Not me!" said the big pirate gaily. "T'm partial to shepherdesses." shepherdess-es." He walked into the hall and then stopped suddenly. Descending the stairs was Bo-Peep, crook in hand. Small and shapely, .with ash-blonde hair, she had a pert nose and through her brief green mask peered two startled blue eyes. "What a lovely Bo-Peep," he said. "It seems we're partners." "Does that costume express your personality. Captain Kidd?" "My wife Judy thought so," he said wryly. "But I haven't seen her for millions of years. Or maybe may-be three months separation from her just seems that long. In truth, I a "Does that costume express your personality, Captain Kidd?" Bo-Peep, this was the last costume left that would fit me. So many New Year parties, you know.",. The girl hesitated. "Separations aren't just hard for men, Captain Kidd. It seems ages since I last saw my husband Bill." "Have you tried calling him?" "After the cruel things he said during our last quarrel? Certainly not! I have my pride!" "Me, too," he said. "But let's not talk of such unpleasant things tonight. Shall we be smart and modern? Take things in our stride?" "Naturally. I hardly think of Bill any more." "Nor do I ever think of Judy. Not over a hundred times a day, anyhow. any-how. Well, at least we have something some-thing in common, Bo-Peep?" "Haven't we, Captain Kidd! Isn't Aggie calling us to dinner?" He joined the line of men forming form-ing at the buffet, and returned with two plates which he carried to a secluded hall alcove. THEIR ZES MET, and then they started eating, saying little until un-til they finished, just as the carpets were being rolled up and the phonograph began playing.. "May I have the first dance, Bo-Peep?" Bo-Peep?" he asked quietly. Someone walked up when the music stopped, to ask her for a dance. They didn't dance together again until a few minutes short of midnight, when Captain Kidd cut in. He guided the girl into the hall and then they separated and walked side by side to the alcove window. Moments later there were gay shouts of "Happy New Year" in the next room, punctuated by the banging of the piano. Outside automobile auto-mobile horns made an incessant din, church bells rang forth their mellow chimes, and a distant siren screamed. They looked out at the unbroken carpet of snow for several moments. mo-ments. Hesitantly, then, they looked at one another. "We ought to make resolutions, Bo-Peep," he said. "I've made one," she whispered. "No more foolish false pride! Is all this heartache and loneliness worth it?" Her voice broke; she drew a quick, shaken breath and quavered, "Oh, T can't be smart and modern and take it in my stride any longer. Captain Kidd!" Gently he drew her into his arms and raised her mask. Their lips met io a long, lingering kiss. 'Neither can I. Judy." |