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"If you don't get by to pick me up--" Jack began.

"Yes, I'll probably be late. Well, take a cab and come here. Then fix yourself a drink until I come. Than I'll want to hear

all about it":

•

"I hesitate to ask this but what if. .?" he paused. Yes, what if the surging warmth of girlishness and femininity was not real but only hopeful imagination. What if he were found out! What would happen then to Nancy? They were mad to try something like this!

"Jack Langley you're doing magnificently. If you knew how really lovely you looked you wouldn't worry at all. I'm not worried". She led him from the apartment and through the snow to her car, and in a few moments they were rolling up the driveway of the done over estate that was the Erna Jenkins home. Nancy stop- ped only a moment to let Jack--Joan Lang now--out in front of the large doors, then drove off with a hurried "good luck" and the condensate from her exhaust wisping upward in the winter air.

Joan carried her small pack up the wide steps and as she reached the top a bustling gray haired woman came through the doors to meet her. "Well, well", she said, "if it isn't our Santa Claus. I thought I heard a car. My, but you look sweet. Here, my dear, let me help you with your sack".

"Thank you", Joan said. "I hope I'm not late". And privately she hoped her voice was as sweetly convincing as she felt it to be.

"You're in plenty of time, my dear. My, but I can't thank your store enough. They are so wonderful to us at Christmastime--oh, right this way, my dear. Why, when I think of what these poor girle go through--well, it's certainly wonderful of you. It cer- tainly is".

"Thank you, ma'm", Joan said.

"Ch, lands, just call Mrs. Pritchett". She hurried ahead of Joan, leading the way toward a large room decorated with holly wreathes and candles. "My, but you make a lovely Santa. Every year we get a girl more beautiful than the one before. Your store certainly has lovely girls. And it's so nice of them to do this. Why, if you knew what these poor wronged girls have been through-- but this is Christmas, isn't it? Let's don't talk about such sad