Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 June 1936 — Page 40

- Today's Short

THANKS iE "INTRODUCTION |

By Frances S. Evans

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.V AL has absolutely no sense about women,” stormed Ann Graythwayt, exceptionally goodlooking Chief of the Smalltown Public Library, And that was true. Intelligent' in other respects, Hal Gage lacked normal perceptions if a girl ‘was ‘nice to him,

~ Nobody, even in that gossipy place, knew how old Rissa Denton was, ‘but she had kept the town’s one “shoppe,” where the women bought their - needlework supplies for 10 years. Her hair had been getting blacker, her makeup more reckiless and her tongue bitterer, all that time. Yet Hal, only 24, had fallen for her feverish attraction, and the ‘announcement of the grotesque en“'gagement was expected any day.

.~ Everybody was saying it was a :burning shame, and nobody was do‘ing anything. And Hal was, after all, too good to spoil his life like that. Besides, there was Caryl Canbury, young, lovely, exactly the right girl for Hal and pathetically and vainly in love with him. “I can’s stand it!” cried Ann; .and got busy. :

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LL she did, as a matter of fact, was to encourage Hal to come in the evenings and talk his head off. He was as responsive to kindness and interest as a dog and .soon" he was coming every evening that she wasn’t on duty at the library, and falling under the influence of her wholesomeness, just as he had fallen under Rissa’s influence when he was. constantly ‘hear her. al was like that. He saw Rissa’ with - suddenly: opened ‘eyes ‘and sheered off in panic. ~ It was smooth work’ and com‘pletely successful. But soon Ann almost regretted it, because the next thing Hal did was to think he was in love with her! And she ‘was nearly 30, though she: didn't ‘look it,- and, anyway, she wouldn't have married him ifs he had been the last- man in the world. " Rissa was strangely indifferent— op the surface.” But soon a story begah to creep around to the effect that Ann had “won” Hal by methods that were indicated by a nod and a meaning look. " Her next reaction was a red wave of anger and she braced herself to face the ugly stories.

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ND lo, there was nothing to : face. Nobody believed a word of it, Rissa was too well known, and ‘so was Ann. Her anger soon evaporated into pity for the disappointed, bitter, dangerous woman. It. was a Heaven-sent solution when hef cousin Edie, one of the ‘Jucky folk who can chase the sun-

shine every winter, sent an urgent h

invitation to come down to Florida and Jearn to play. Ann took a ‘month's leave, bought an extravagant beach outfit, and took the Southern plane from New York with a sigh of ‘relief. It was wonderful to have time to play, and she soon knew all the faces. So when a thin, brown young man whom she had not seen before was presented to her one evening at the Tango Club, she assumed that he was a new arival. . He was perhaps 35, she thought. | He had a good-humored, shrewd face; and her first thought was that his one-sided grin was cynical, but “her second was that it was merely ssophisticated. Very. He danced as well as a professional, and Ann “wasn’t so bad herself, so she was a little disappointed when at the first pause in the music, he drew her out on the terrace. ££ ® = = v * NRAYTHWAYT is an unusual § name,” he began. §f “I'm the only one where I live,” ¢ “Which is—?" + "You wouldn't have heard of the place. Smalltown, Conn.” ~ “Tell me about it? What do you do with yourself?” “I'm a librarian,” “work for my living: It's more amus-

i ELL, for instance, I put myself through college by selling aluminum péts and pans from door to door. And behind one of those doors I found an old lady, poor as poverty, who had once had as a pupil & boy who was now President of the United States. “The coincidence was that that same President had attended my college, and when I graduated, that year, he was one of the alumni present. I told him about the old lady and he went to see her. I remember that one, because she died not long afterward, and it had meant a lot to her. “That's what I mean, Coincidence, adventure—perhaps even romance—you never know what unexpected thing is going to happen.” From that night, Ann and Clay Hammond swam, sunned, lunched, drove, teaed, dined and danced together, » Clay was going back soon—next week—in five days—four days— three—two. He had not yet told Ann he loved her, but she knew he would. : » 2 8 0, ON the next to the last morning she sang as she slipped into

spectacular skirt over it, poked her toes into sandals and, accepting a letter from the postman as he passed, ran rapidly down to their big sun umbrella. Stretching herself on the sand, she opened the letter. 7 It was from Hal, He and Caryl were engaged. “Ann, dear,” he wrote, “I'm beginning to see what I owe you. I'll never be able to thank you, but I want you to know that I know. You saved me from Rissa and then I acted like a spoiled baby. You were wise for both of us. Caryl and I will always love: you.” : Ann laughed, but there were tears in her eyes. “But I can’t forgive mysel,” the letter went on, “for what it cost you. I mean Rissa’s lies. And now she’s been up to more deviltry, It seems some salesman from New York who usually visits her shop about this time, has been ill and is recuperat-

. | ing in Florida—where you are. She

has written him that lie. She couldn't keep it to herself and I heard of it. I hope it has done no harm; probably you won't meet the man. But you ought to know in case—" 2 » 8 “ O coincidence is too farfetched,” Clay had said. That was what he meant. That was why he hadn't said he loved er

dropped beside her, with startled eyes on her white face. 2 “Clay, were you ever in Smalltown?” : He jumped. Then he said quietly, “Yes. It's on my route” “You know Rissa Denton?”

Ann, listen. TI love you. You're the finest girl I've ever known. Will you marry me?” “I know what she wrote you. It isn’t true. Here! Read this!” She picked up the crumpled letter and held it out. “If it's supposed to be proof, I won't réad it. I don’t need proof. Ann, darling, won't you please, please marry me?” Presently, when the world was steady again, Ann asked, “How did you know it wasn't true, Clay?”

. ® = = the first place, she didn’t need

the bright bathing suit, wrapped the |.

“What's the matter, Ann?” Clay |.

“Before you say another word,|

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By Blosser

WASHINGTON TUBBS II

(IDAHO BUTCH ESCAPED! THOSE BLASTED TURTLE CREEK COPS LET HIM GET OUT O' JAIL.

AND IF YOU LOST THAT MONEY, SOU]

THEY JUST STRUCK OIL ON TH' PRKETT A NCH, THE ESTATE'LL. BE WORTH MILLIONS! SHEEP OF THE FAMILY=- WAS

RA TAKE SIX MONTHS TO Pl np WiLL LEAVES EVER NG Sh Ho Show ADISINHERITED! 7 CHILDREN, BOYAN'A GIRL.

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THINK I'M DoiNG HERE...LISTENING FOR FOOT-

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- —By Martin

WHERE ARE YOU GONG , 300s ?

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