Page:Minnie Flynn (1925).pdf/55

 gave his mouth the look of a ferret's. His eyes would have been very attractive had they not been set so close together. Among all the impressions that kaleidoscoped through Minnie's mind as she looked at him the fact stood out that here was a fellow rich enough to have a tailor press his trousers, a gentleman who, one could see at a glance, was entirely too refined to sweat.

What a contrast to Billy MacNally! By twelve o'clock Billy's shirt was wringing wet and his trousers clung to him, limp and creaseless, while he gave out a strong odor of—well, why think of it! Here she was standing face to face with the classiest man in the room. And as she drew in her breath she inhaled the fragrance of heliotrope, Al's favorite perfume, and the acrid odor of bay rum mingled with Sure-Stay pomade.

Al Kessler seemed to sense Minnie's embarrassment and, gentleman that he was, did the talking for her, keeping up a running fire of friendly little compliments. Minnie didn't believe all of them. Only when Al turned to address him were they aware that Jimmy had wandered away from them.

"Well, what do you know about that?" he laughed as he circled her arm, "I guess that shows how interested I am in a certain party, I guess that shows you."

"I'm very pleased to of met you, too." Minnie almost whispered this, her tenseness relaxing as they sauntered toward one of the deserted benches. She looked shyly at him from under her long black lashes. Minnie wished. . . but what was the use? He probably wouldn't even ask her for a dance.

Minnie was afraid that Billy MacNally would spy them out and break in upon this little meeting. Almost as if he divined her thoughts, Al suggested that they wander away from the crowd and into some corner where they could be alone. The hall was getting hot and stuffy, and he had been