"Jan wouldn't let you do that. Because if you're witness against me, it'll give this bright boy a chance to say what he figures you two are up to. "Bob winked obscenely and laughed. "Like that, Jan?"

Now I was sure that Bob knew Jan and I were sweethearts. But I was also sure he had no actual proof of it. Yet I realized that should he voice his suspicions. in public, Jan might lose her job... And I knew my folks would despise me.

I stood staring at Bob and biting my lip. I didn't know what to say.

Jan spoke quietly, but fury burned in the tone of her voice.

"Bob Kemp, you're contemptible!" Jan's blue eyes were blazing.

"Sure I am, "he boasted. "What if I had run you down today? I'd have sworn it was an accident. If you'd been able to talk you'd agree with me." Then Bob turned toward me. "What would pretty Melba say?" "I'd say you did it deliberately!" I flared.

"Calm down, honey," said Jan, pressing my arm. "He isn't worth your getting your blood pressure up." "Oh but you are!" Bob said nastily. Then he threatened, "One of these days I'm going to get a gander at you two when you think you're alone." He looked into Jan's steady eyes. "Melba was always an ice berg around me. I'm going to see how you bring her to a boiling point."

I sputtered furiously and started toward him, my arm lifted, my fist clenched. I wanted to wham out at him. It was dear Jan who gently but firmly drew me back. "No, honey, no. He isn't worth it. We'll ignore him. Come on. "She turned me around and holding my hand she led me away.

"At last Melba has a master!" Bob called nastily. "Melba's master is a female!" He chuckled disgustingly. “Wouldn't your Mother like to have the facts 54

about that! Aren't you afraid I'll tell her?"

I was about to yell back at him and defy him. But Jan put a finger gently across my lips.

I knew Jan's way of ignoring Bob was best at that moment. He wanted me to make a scene. I knew it would delight him if I'd burst into hysterical crying. Well I wouldn't. And I didn't. But I boiled inside.

I wondered how Jan and I could best cope with Bob's vicious inclinations.

Then, to my relief, the very next day Bob's father sent him to Santa Barbara to see about a cleaning and pressing shop that was for sale. Mr. Kemp had a dream of buying such shops all over California, and of having a cleaning and pressing chain.

"Oh I hope he buys the one in Santa Barbara and keeps Bob there to manage it," I said to Jan.

Bob was in Santa Barbara two months. He bought the shop and hired a manager, and stayed around long enough to know it was operating smoothly. Then he came home.

The first moment he spotted Jan and me together, he curled up his lip and growled,

"I see you two are still up to your tricks.' As I looked at him standing there in his new Ivy League suit, I realized that, though Bob had a man's body, his mental attitude remained that of a spiteful child.

"Oh grow up!" I said, with more kindness than I had planned. "Bob, when will you stop being so hateful? Why can't we declare a truce?""

"Why not?" He smiled and put out his hand.

I clasped it in good faith.

Like a fool I dared to believe that maybe he was going to become a mature person. That perhaps he was going to stop hating Jan, and cease trying to torment us. I did so very much want to see him turn out to be a really nice fellow. Jan and I were prepared to be