The Cinema Murder

ee when his guest descended. She was wearing a hat which, so far as he could judge, was almost becoming. Her gloves, notwithstanding their many signs of mending, were neat, her shoes care

is expression half def

she remarked brusquely. "You can

much of a beau myself, you know. I bought this suit over the co

dy-made clothes," she observ

d hastily, "things aren't so expensive as here.

please," she

pardon," h

beginning already. You think because you're giving me a meal, you can

assured her. "Tell me what th

hilip gazed about him, as they walked along Broadway, with the eager cur

derful to you when you walk along here without a dollar to bless yourself with, and your si

tle undecided, at the top of the brilliantly-lit room. A condescending ma?tre d'hotel sh

s is unintelligible to

e ordering-that was o

much you want to spend

are what it costs. I've a few hundred dollars in my pocket, so you needn't be afraid I shan't be able t

d, carefully studying the pr

member, of the fish and

chicken, if you think

d back in

r of four dollars and fifty cents, this dinner," she said, "and I

d at her

a b

t. Notwithstanding his clothes, there was an air of breeding abo

ms to me you're used to spending two

"One doesn't have much opportuni

somehow," she persisted. "Ha

he explained, with a

all we say co

be," she observ

horrified if I

ne of those who's lived honest, and

at problem,

and I learnt our typewriting together and started in the same office. We stood it, somehow, for three years, sometimes office work,

remonstrated. "You've got

"My eyes are my own, and I'll troubl

ip murmured,

held out, though, but what with fines, and one thing or another, they forced her to leave. So I did the same. We drifted apart then for a while. She got a job at an automobile place, and I was working at ho

aid, 'I'm thr

ou mean?' I

rly in hysterics, and I couldn't get a word out of her. When she was through at last, she was all limp and white. She wouldn't tell me anyt

l me all about it,

e whole story. She'd got fired

t it unless you like," h

is sh

Frivolous Maids.' She c

for h

typewriting again, for anything in the world. She was looking prettier than ever, too. The

remarked thoughtfully. "Tell me, Miss Grimes, is

y at her empty plate. "I told you things were all right. The

orn like that man opposi

t how you like

o. I don't care. I ain't

, and I'm goin

ur claret, I'm afr

t down the glass a l

id, "it's just a Martini cocktail. We don't dri

ashamed appetite. A little colour came into her cheeks as the room grew warmer, her lower lip became less uncompr

d excitedly. "Look, she's coming t

d followed by a fashionably dressed young man, was making her way up the room. She

mes-Martha Grimes, you know," she added, calling to the young man who was a

was staring at Philip, who was returning hi

nquired, "didn't I mee

Mr. Dougl

shook h

e. I have certainly never been on the Elletan

name was Felix appea

use me, sir, but I never saw

ong," Stella enjoined. "Remember I only have half an ho

that young woman

n, somewhat dazed conversation. Philip had resumed the consumption of his chicken. He

some one," he

no

e a fuss about him in the newspapers. I shouldn't have said y

houlders. He seemed v

the newspapers....

antly. "And if I were she-I mean if I were as

you would?" he obs

your problems," she replie

he agreed, "and a l

I'll have some of that g

hall get another din

ou," he assured her. "I

erent. We'll come again

ctically. "Besides, I'm not sure they'd let me in here again. Did you se

nd sipped her c

nded her. "It's just a question how much happiness t

ey're untidy, when I've any work to do, they're scarcely clean. Our meals are thrown at us-we're always behind with the rent. There isn't anything to look at or listen to that isn'

those things,"

not fair to ask you that. It wouldn't apply. What should you do if you

passer-by-mind, though, one who thinks about men and women-I should say try one

r off would you be there, I wonder, and what about when yo

street. He paused for a moment on the pavement. The

to go to a the

ook he

ng home. You needn't bother

ted. "I only mentioned a thea

t. They entered the tenement building together and steppe

d ni

you? I'll polish that stuff up to-night, the first

n troubling her during the walk home,

ift stopped. "I haven't had a good time like this f

entered almost light-heartedly. The roar of the city below was no longer provocative. He felt as thoug