Radio romances (July-Dec 1945)

tore down all the barriers I didn't want. "O.K. . . . Barney," I replied. I suppose if I had dramatic talents I could have capitalized on that moment's mellowness, but other factors came into play. The band began playing "Good Night, Ladies," somebody threw a light switch that brightened the tavern for a minute, then another that darkened it. People began filing out to the street, and we went along with them. The last thing I heard as we stood on the sidewalk was Chink Murphy calling out: "Come again, folks." Then we were back to reality. I began to shiver in the night air. We walked a few blocks before we got a taxicab and I regretted it wasn't our good friend, Malcolm Ray, driving. Barhsley had his arm around the cushion of the seat and I couldn't feel it with my head. I felt sad again. I ' tried to recapture the enjoyable atmosphere of the little tavern but as we got farther away from it it seemed as though we were leaving something I wanted very badly, something I had dreamed about for all my life. Barnsley was silent for most of the ride back to the hotel, and I didn't utter one word. We both seemed engrossed in our own thoughts, and maybe it was just one thought. I knew, and I imagined he knew, that we had found something together in that little restaurant; and when the proprietor had closed the doors it was as though he were ending the only exciting chapter in two very dull lives. He squeezed my hand just once as he left me at the elevator. He smiled a smile that was perplexing. He said he'd see me in the morning. I didn't sleep right away. Too many thoughts were crowding my brain, thoughts that carried the past in unhappy procession. I could see Worth City with all its smallness, its confinement; and, although I knew that every place of living can be walled in by your own designs, I believed that Worth City would never be a happy place for me again. WHAT was wrong with Worth City? A better question would be: What was wrong with me? I didn't know the answer to that one. But I did know that any self-examination of my personality would expose the deficiency in my life. That was it, I had a deficiency of romance just as another person might have a deficiency in her diet. And the heartbreaking thought was that everything was near to me, yet so far. In the morning I covered the turmoil within me with a smile; and my cheeriness was easier because he was not there to talk to. I wondered why he didn't attend the final session of the convention, and I couldn't believe his absence had anything to do with the night before. It was not until late in the afternoon that I met him in the elevator. He had a new look in his eyes and he touched my hand as I stood next to him. He asked me if he could come to my room, that he wanted to talk to me for a few minutes. I said yes, and again I covered the excitement that pounded my heart with a smile. "Today I saw New York," he said when he took a seat near the window of my room. "I saw the Battery, and Central Park and some kind of art museum. I walked and I rode in taxicabs and in the subway. I saw millions COSMETIC DISTRIBUTORS. INC.. NEW YORK 1 7. H.I. Ckmn-fod M PERMANENT WAVE HOME KIT Each Kit Contains Curlers, Shampoo, End-Tissues, Wave Set, Rinse, Plus CharmKurl Permanent Wave Solution and 4 Striking New Charm-Kurl Hair-Dos. J U HE ■ LANG uo movie Sfa&z 8 Reasons Why You Should Use Charm-Kurl 1. Easy to use — It's Fun. 2. Safe, for every type and color of hair. 3. No .Experience Necessary. 4. COOL — No Heat or Electricity. 5. Contains No Ammonia or Harmful Chemicals. 6. Convenient— No Machines or Dryers. 7. Everyth ing Needed is in the Kit. B. Works Equally Well oil Dyed or Bleached Hair. ,*-.v DO IT YOURSELF— of Home It's easy and safe to give yourself a thrilling, machineless permanent wave at home. The result will amaze you. Your hair will be permanent waved into soft, luxuriant curls and waves which are easy to manage and look like natural curls and waves. Charm-Kurl is the rage from Hollywood to Miami. Over 6 million sold last year. Easy As Putting Your Hair Up in Curlers Yes, it IS easy to Charm-Kurl your hair to long-lasting new beauty. Requires no heat, electricity or mechanical aids. Contains no ammonia or harmful chemicals. Charm-Kurl cannot possibly harm children's soft, fine hair. Get a Charm-Kurl kit today. AT ALL DEPARTMENT STORES, DRUG STORES AND 5c AND 10c STORES Charm-Kurl is for sale at Department, Drug Stores and 5c and 10c stores. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE. Get the original Charm-Kurl Home Permanent Wave Kit, it's your guarantee of thrilling results. Charm-Kurl Outsells All Other Home Wave Kits Over 6,500,000 Already Sold. It's America's Favorite 045Q{ ? Nothing Else to Buy 'tTLee, Each Charm-Kurl kit contains 4 new hairdos. They're easy to do when you follow the complete illustrated instructions. This is an exclusive feature with Charm-Kurl. 89