Ten Cents a Dance Page #2

Before you left?

Do you mind seeing if the

landlady isn't still up?

Sure.

That old bird never goes to sleep.

Would you mind sitting down for a minute?

I wanted to see you before I left.

The landlady doesn't know it,

but I'm leaving tonight.

What for?

It's just a matter of assets and liability.

Assets? Some socks, underwear

and a couple of shirts.

And liabilities?

Sixty bucks for three

weeks' room and board.

I'd have beat it a couple of hours ago

only I wanted to say goodbye.

I suppose it's a dirty trick

my sneaking out like this...

but I haven't the courage to face Mrs. Kern

in the morning.

I know how it is. I've been there myself.

Of course I know some

people here in town...

but I wouldn't wanna go to them 'cause I

wouldn't want them to know how things are.

Where do you go from here, Eddie?

Follow my nose, I guess.

They tell me the park isn't a bad place

this time of the year.

After all it's just a

matter of mathematics.

I owe 60 dollars and I

haven't got 60 cents.

I have 60 dollars.

Oh, no, no, no... don't.

Here!

Alright.

Why, that's 100 dollars.

Sure it is.

I got 60 from Mrs. Crane and the rest will

take care of you for a couple of weeks.

Anything is liable to happen in that time.

I couldn't think of taking it.

Why not?

Now is the time for all good men to come

to the aid of their party.

You know, us roomers have

got to stick together.

Gee, Miss O'Neill. And if you're

gonna owe me money, it's Barbara.

Gee, Barbara...

Never mind.

Now tell me all about it.

I... I don't like to do this.

But there's not much to tell.

I thought I could trim the town overnight.

It trimmed me instead.

Trimmed you?

You haven't even started yet.

Gee, you're one swell human being.

I'm gonna take this 100 dollars

and I'm gonna pay it back.

Maybe it's a good investment.

I know it's a good investment.

You know, Eddie, there's only one way

to beat a hard-boiled town like this.

It ain't how hard you can sock but it's

how hard you can take it on the chin.

Maybe I haven't got a chin.

Sure you have. A nice chin.

And a nice face.

You're young, Eddie. You're strong

and you've got a good college education.

And you've got a job.

Job?

Hm-hmm.

I friend of mine runs a big business

and I was talking to him today about you.

He thinks there might be an opening

in his office for you.

Aw, gee, Barbara, you're saving my life. Nicks,

I'm just trying to protect my investment.

And if you're gonna thank me any longer,

I'm gonna sock you right in the nose.

Oh, alright.

But I want you to take my IOU.

Don't be silly.

Oh, absolutely...

I wouldn't think of taking this much money

without giving you some kind of security for it.

A hundred dollars?

There.

Okay.

And so to bed.

I'm not going to try to thank you anymore.

Cause I don't know how.

You'll never know what you've done for me.

I'll never forget it as long as I live.

Good night, Barbara.

Good night, Eddie.

Good night.

Gee, isn't that swell?

That kind of music makes you feel

like laughing, and crying, and...

I don't know what.

A little of both. Let's come

here every night. Hm-hmm...

Remember, I'm a working girl.

Is that so? You never have told me anything

about what you do.

Where do you work?

Oh... in a dancing school.

What do you do there?

Why, er... I'm one of the teachers.

Let's not talk about my work.

Let's talk about yours.

How's it going? It's pretty hard

to tell the first few days.

But it looks great.

What do you do?

I'm in the accounting department.

But that's only temporary.

Sure it is. All you needed was a break.

And you got it for me.

See that bench over there?

It might have been my bed the other night

if it hadn't been for you.

You certainly have been my good angel.

Angel...

That's what I said, angel.

You know, Barbara, it seems

like a different world.

I felt the same way the

first time I met you, too.

Yeah?

Gee, this place was just a city of millions

of strangers until you came along.

Isn't it funny how you go along

and you meet all kinds of people...

and then all of a sudden you...

I don't know, you...

you meet somebody and...

it just changes the whole world.

Did you send for me, Jones?

A package for O'Neill.

Miss O'Neill.

On your way!

Miss O'Neill, a messenger

just brought this.

It's good form to rise

when an older woman addresses you.

It's against the rules...

Miss O'Neill, a messenger

just brought this.

It's good form to rise

when an older woman addresses you.

It's against the rules to

have packages come here.

But I'll let it go this time.

Thanks.

She gives me a pain.

Why don't you take her to the convention?

Yeah.

Oh, gee, it's a snappy little box.

I wonder what it is.

Look at that!

Oh, isn't that...

Barbara, oh, my gosh, get a load of that.

Isn't that marvelous!

It's beautiful!

It's so lovely!

Where did you get it?

It's hers.

Who's Santa Claus?

Oh, I forgot to look.

Excuse me, does Miss O'Neill work here?

O'Neill? Oh, Barbara O'Neill.

That's right. She's up there.

Thanks.

Hello, Barbara.

Hey, do you want some dance tickets?

How much are they?

Oh, a dime will do.

Let me have one.

Shake a leg, dear?

No, thanks.

No wallflowers allowed around here.

I'm just looking around. Oh, why look further?

Come on, you'll like it.

???

Say, I'm, not gonna hurt you.

Relax!

You know, it's a good thing I got hold of you.

You need lessons.

Private lessons.

Hey, where are you going?

Eddie!

Well, this is a surprise...

Meet Miss Blake, Mr. Miller.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Come on upstairs. I wanna talk to you.

I don't know what to do

with that O'Neill girl.

It's just one thing after another.

What's the matter?

She was actually ogling that ma

with whom Eunice was dancing.

Now they've gone up on the balcony.

Sit here, Eddie.

I don't want to sit down.

Dancing school.

What did you want to come here for?

I wanted to see you.

How did you find out where I was?

The landlady told me.

Come on, let's get out of here.

I can't. Not until one o'clock.

I work here.

Oh, no you don't. Not anymore.

You're not gonna stay in

this dump another minute.

It isn't as bad as all that, Eddie.

I'm just one of the hostesses.

It's worse.

Otherwise you wouldn't have lied to me.

I didn't lie to you.

I just didn't go into details.

Mrs. Blanchard, I wanna talk to you.

You don't have to say a word about it.

I saw the whole thing.

She took your partner away.

Come on, Casey. I may need you.

Eddie, I'm telling you...

Don't argue with me.

I don't want you in a place where anybody

with ten cents in his pocket

can take you in his arms

and dance with you.

Shh, don't get so excited.

Everybody's looking at us.

You go and I'll meet you

after I'm through tonight.

You're through now. I

won't have you in here.

I don't want the girl I'm gonna

marry to work in this... What?

Say that again.

I don't want the girl I'm gonna marry

to work in this kind of place.

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