Рауль Уитфилд - Sinners' Paradise

They were not in love with Delatante and Fenway-but Sam and Hobey were businessmen. Business was a bore, particularly when it tired husbands so that they did not care to run about at night. What were the gay lights of Romany Inn, the Halfway House, Scarabin’s, to tired husbands? They were certainly not a lure. Hobey and Sam detested them.

And they both had plenty of money. Of course, Pinky and Tiny spent considerable of their incomes, but neither believed that it was necessary for her husband to devote so much time and so much serious thought to business.

“The thing is,” Tiny continued, stretching herself beside Pinky on the divan, “what are we going to do about it? I know Sam will be furious, wild-if I go to Jimmy Weare’s party at Romany Inn tonight. And Lou’s coming for me at nine. Sam’s off for Chicago. But it’s a masquerade-and how will anyone know?”

“Know what?” Pinky reached for cigarettes, and they both lighted up.

“Know that I’m there,” Tiny replied. “You are supposed to be going with Delatante. Are you?”

Pinky hesitated. “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “Hobey was awfully angry when he left-and he’s a good sport in a way. But he’s lots older, of course, and he doesn’t like running around. I wouldn’t want to break with him.”

“Bah!” Tiny blew a cloud of smoke above her yellow hair. “He’ll never know you’ve gone, if you do as I’m going to do.”

Pinky’s dark eyes were upon Tiny’s. She saw that her friend had made up her mind that she was going to Jimmy’s party.

“What are you going to do, Tiny?” she asked.

“I’m going!” her friend replied. “In spite of the fact that Sam said he was sick of my running around, and would move his office to Chicago and leave me here-if I went tonight.”

She chuckled. “But Sam’s never going to know that I went,” she stated, winking. “And after this party I’m going to be a good little girl for a while. Stay home and work crossword puzzles. Read whoever’s in style-“

“How are you going to do it?” Pinky interrupted. She had heard Tiny tell of reforming plans before.

“Going to reverse the procedure,” Tiny stated triumphantly. “I said a minute ago that Lou was coming for me. He’s not, actually-I’m going for him.”

“Going for him?” Pinky echoed.

“Just that,” Tiny returned, chuckling again. I’m going to drive over for him in the roadster, picking him up at Charlie Carlyle’s place. My maid hasn’t seen my costume, and I’ll dress alone. It’s a simple one, thank the Lord!”

Pinky smiled. “It sounds great,” she agreed. “I’m going as a pirate-or I was going as a pirate. Ninette hasn’t seen the costume because it hasn’t arrived yet from the city.”

“Fine!” Tiny chuckled. “You can work it the same way, Pinky. Can’t you pretend you’re sick, and sneak away from that husband of yours?”

Helene Sickler frowned. Suddenly she jumped from the divan.

“Oh, Tiny!” she exclaimed. “I forgot. Hobey has a banquet at the club. I remember now-he told me yesterday that he’d be out for dinner. He’s going to change at the club!”

“Exquisite!” Tiny breathed. “Perfectly marvellous, dear! We’ll run away together. You get Delatante to go over to Charlie’s place. I’ll stop here, noiselessly, for you at about eight-thirty. Get Ninette away. Your butler won’t say a word. That’s the beauty of them. And in your pirate costume no one can be sure, positive, of your identity. Delatante and Lou will be the only ones who actually know.”

“Yes, but-“ Pinky broke off abruptly.

“But what?” Tiny demanded. She tapped the ashes from her cigarette with a graceful motion of her little hands.

“When we unmask,” Pinky said slowly. “Everyone will know us then.”

“Don’t be silly,” Tiny returned. “You don’t think I want to lose my happy home, either, do you? Sam’s all right. But nothing doing on the unmasking, Pinky. The answer is simple-we don’t unmask!”

Tiny laughed in her silvery voice. “Jimmy says the party will be fast and furious and he wants to make it a real party. Things have been a bit slow, he thinks. No one unmasks until two o’clock-and we shove off at a quarter of the fatal hour. How’s that?”

Pinky smiled. “Sounds cheerful enough,” she agreed, “and I’m all for it. I’d like to fool Hobey, he made me pretty mad this morning. But I-“

“Another ‘but’!” Tiny interrupted, in an impatient tone. “What now?”

“Hobey’s not in Chicago, you know,” Helene responded. “And the chances are that he’d return from New York before two. I’d be caught getting in, of course. He always kisses me goodnight.”

“Good Lord! Does he do that?” Tiny grimaced. “He’s worse than Sam, then.” She shook her adorable head. “These old-fashioned men!”

They both laughed. But Tiny was serious again. For several moments there was silence.

“I have it!” Sam’s wife suddenly declared. “What could be sweeter? You are lonely-so you phone your Hobey at the office, and tell him that you are going over to my place. You suggest that he stay in at the club for the night-you’re feeling miserable and think you’ll stay with me.”

“But won’t he be suspicious?” Pinky questioned.

“Of course he will,” Tiny replied. “But what of it? He’ll call up the house, most likely, and if it’s before I’ve left I’ll say that you’re lying down, resting-that you’re going to stay all night with me. If he calls up after-well I have Koti to say that we’re both retired children, and that he would hate to disturb us. He’s really my boy, you know, although Sam doesn’t know that. I’ll say I’ve given Koti enough dough.”

Pinky was smiling. “It’s a chance we’re taking,” she said slowly, “but I do want one big party before I settle down. And I have an idea that Jimmy Weare’s will be lively.”

“Lively? That’s not the word,” Tiny contradicted. “Terrific-that’s more like it. Then you’ll go, Pinky?”

Helene Sickler nodded her head. “I’ll go,” she said quietly.

“Wonderful!” Tiny did a rumba in front of the divan. “We’ll have a perfectly marvellous time. Call up your husband now-see how he takes it. Remember, my place for the night. You’re sick and lonely. But don’t let him rush back to you.”

“Rush back?” Pinky laughed. “Do they do that these days outside of the movies? He was rushing away the last I saw of him. But I’ll call him.”

They walked into the reception hall, and Helene picked up the telephone. While she was calling the number, Tiny was executing a continuation of her dance. But she broke off suddenly.

“Don’t talk too light-heartedly, Pinky,” she warned Helene. “Remember, you’re sick.”

Pinky nodded. She heard Hobart’s heavy voice over the wire.

“This is Pinky,” she said, in a weary tone. “I feel terrible, dear-and I’m going over to Tiny’s. I’m so lonely.”

She heard him grunt something unintelligible, and continued. “I think I’ll stay with her tonight, Hobey. You might stay in at the club. Your banquet won’t be over till late-and I expect to climb into bed with Tiny very early.”

“All right,” he replied, with astonishing brevity. “If you’d cut out the parties, you might feel better. I’ll stay in. See you tomorrow night.”

“All right, dear,” she replied. “Bye, bye.”

“Bye,” he muttered gruffly, and hung up. She guessed that her husband was still furious over the morning scene.

Tiny was still dancing her jig as Pinky hung up. Her face was framed in one gorgeous smile. She caught Pinky by the arm, and they both danced a few quiet steps.

“All set!” Tiny stated happily. “What’s that name the newspapers have given our party neck-of-woods?”