She jerked her head around, ready to bristle, then turned on the vote-getter. “You startled me. You’re Mr. Ross, aren’t you?”
“Your future councilman,” I agreed. “You startled me. How’s the politicking? Where’s Cliff Meyers? Dump him down a sewer?”
She giggled. “Poor Mr. Meyers! I said goodnight to him at my door, then came over here. I was hungry.”
“That’s no way to win elections. Why didn’t you invite him in and scramble some eggs?”
“Well, I just didn’t want-I mean I wanted a chance to think. You won’t tell on me?” She gave me the yougreat-big-strong-man look.
“I’m the enemy-remember? But I won’t. Shall I go away, too?”
“No, don’t. Since you are going to be my councilman, I ought to get acquainted. Why are you so sure you will beat me, Mr. Ross?”
“Jack Ross-your friend and mine. Have a cigar. I’m not at all sure I can beat you. With your natural advantages and Tully’s gang behind you I should ‘a stood in bed.
Her eyes went narrow; the vote-getter smile was gone. “What do you mean?” she said slowly. “I’m an independent candidate.”
It was my cue to crawl, but I passed. “You expect me to swallow that? With Cliff Meyers at your elbow — ” The car hop interrupted us; we placed our orders and I resumed. She cut in.
“I do want to be alone,” she snapped and started to close her window.
I reached out and placed a hand on the glass. “Just a moment. This is politics; you are judged by the company you keep. You show up at your first meeting and Cliff Meyers has you under his wing.”
“What’s wrong with that? Mr. Meyers is a perfect gentleman.”
“And he’s good to his mother. He’s a man with no visible means of support, who does chores for Boss Tully. I thought what everybody thought, that the boss had sent him to chaperone a green candidate.”
“It’s not true!”
“No? You’re caught in the jam cupboard. What’s your story?”
She bit her lip. “I don’t have to explain anything to you.
“No. But if you won’t, the circumstances speak for themselves.” She didn’t answer. We sat there, ignoring each other, while we ate. When she switched on the ignition, I said, “I’m going to tail you home.”
“It’s not necessary, thank you.”
“This town is a rough place since the War. A young woman should not be out alone at night. Even Cliff Meyers is better than nobody.”
“That’s why I let them — Do as you see fit!” I had to skim red lights, but I kept close behind her. I expected her to rush inside and slam the door, but she was waiting by the curb. “Thank you for seeing me home, Mr. Ross.”
“Quite all right.” I went upon her front porch with her and said goodnight.
“Mr. Ross-I shouldn’t care what you think, but I’m not with Boss Tully. I’m independent.” I waited. Presently she said, “You don’t believe me.” The big, beautiful eyes were shiny with tears.
“I didn’t say so-but I’m waiting for you to explain.”
“But what is there to explain?”
“Plenty.” I sat down on the porch swing. “Come here, and tell papa. Why did you decide to run for office?”
“Well…” She sat down beside me; I caught a disturbing whiff of perfume. “It started because I couldn’t find an apartment. No, it didn’t-it was farther back, out in the South Pacific. I could stand the insects and the heat. Even the idiotic way the Army does things didn’t fret me much. But we had to queue up to use the wash basins. There was even a time when baths were rationed. I hated it. I used to lie on my cot at night, awake in the heat, and dream about a bathroom of my own. A bathroom of my own! A deep tub of water and time to soak. Shampoos and manicures and big, fluffy towels! I wanted to lock myself in and live there. Then I got out of the Army — ”
“Yes?”
She shrugged. “The only apartment I could find carried a bonus bigger than my discharge pay, and I couldn’t afford it anyhow.”