her home she felt as if it might be easy to fall in love with him.

It was nearly 8:45 when Dan arrived. She had begun to wonder if he would come at all, and stifled a ory of relief when he knocked. He apologized nervously and said that since the fights were out of the question now, maybe she would like an evening of drinking and dancing. She changed hurriedly and they wont to a small bar a few blocks away. After two or three drinks Dan seemed normal and they danced and were happy for awhile. Then about halfway through the evening, a young, tall and very handsome blond man stopped at the table, bowed to her, and started talking to Dan about a change of pace, and a lot of names that meant nothing to her. Dan smiled and looked sick and nervous and said little in return. When the man had gone she asked Dan why he hadn't introduced her and he mumbled something about forgetting his last name. The waiter came and they agreed to try a new drink, a specialty of the place called a "Blitz", and they laughed about its sweet taste and forgot the young man. Dan took her home and said he would see her tomorrow. Thon he kissed her for the first time, very lightly, and ran down the stairs.

She didn't see him in the office the next morning, and in the afternoon his voucher for employment passed her desk marked resigned. Three weeks later on a Friday night sho saw Dan on the stairs of her apartment house with the handsome blond man. They turned towards the apartment across the hall. She watched him enter without looking her way and then went slowly into her apartment. She guessed that all men were just like the dates she had had when she first came to Detroit. All the interesting ones seemed to prefer the wild girls like the girls across the hall.

THE LADDER welcomes any and all contributions in the form of articles, stories, poems, and artwork either for illustrations inside the magazine or possible covers. (or course, money is also welcome). We cannot return manuscripts or artwork unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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