Page:That Royle Girl (Balmer).pdf/18

 mon entrance to his apartment and to hers; and still holding to her, he led her up the stairs.

"Here's how it went. It's a zizz," he asserted confidently and hummed loudly, waving time with his free hand and with the other squeezing her wrist at the beat of the marked measure. "Like it?" he asked her.

"I don't know," she replied and displeased him.

"Listen to me play it!" he commanded her and he held her with one hand while with the other he unlocked his door. He threw it wide open and touched an electric button inside and gave her a pull, swinging her into the room with him; and he slammed shut the door.

He flung off his hat with a flourish and swept a hand over his wavy, light hair. It was almost flaxen, it was so light; and it grew thick and attractively on his gay, handsome head.

Women adored his hair and his gray eyes, which were clear and boyish and rather large. He had distinct, even brows and dark, long lashes. His nose was straight and slender but not weak; his lips, although full enough, were weak but he had the knack of holding them boldly and he had an attractive turn of talent in his chin. His skin was of the vivid, smooth pinkness which often goes with flaxen hair, and it added to his air of vigor and vitality which tremendously attracted women to him.

Of course he knew he attracted them; he knew he was very good looking and was frankly conscious of it. He always glanced at himself when he came before a glass and he gave a great deal of thought to his appearance. His clothes were the best he could buy and he never was seen in a suit after it had ceased to look new. Light brown became him and the suit which he wore to-night was one of several, of different shades of tan, which he possessed.

His wife Adele, who lived in the apartment nearer the