l"l l

IIlIIIIC.

only gested til.lt he

to tel llilii, anti iii. he ‘lino til Just will: tltlL llLiill .'..li l

‘table \

it. ti

told him SCVGI‘ on adding

have let luili d

i: she v QM‘: sell aiialigelneil; fur iii lli the tioc" ~ It hcd a I155‘

might

l1ii.l Doro.

‘eh

Her quick, decisiuil ‘lied le hcurvcr. c-ieiits. of the

l stluck by a sl

'I'ony would not tilnner from licr. even

lug a she had exploit nothing. ivhy,

. liked that at all! breath of relief

lze how hciviiy had liiln on lie After

' bed, careful n

before LLICy Slltftltfl oll til of the little gass cases w tooos ucre displayed. He kept lCofLiiIg nv her until she had like," "You need the uickels "He's

Jog thls soup iiito tny

a bowl of hot the ham and choc cup oi COliCU vihicli she had select- ed. She hid fclt guilty, there a t table, uuitchinu ej es smiled uzlier. M

Devon Aruzs-Puul Harris have ‘, us" we'll as all meals tor her- iiri'ot the Jan. he with black dress and the blue lc.u:'n for licr appearance \\'liicli you

almost ft licr uncolnfortable Now as she lcvieiged the re was gi

she had

tor her escorts awkwardness in scrve-yourseit iuilcti room where they had that. hasty supper, on the assumption that he was not tomed to playing

Why, collie to think oi it. lie had slur-ed at, her when she sug- get plenty of nlckeis Jan? e rounds jcu of getting even if I Just knew here the what he looked like."

a tlrt-olll. oier

ol cgutliei‘

He ‘nail ilslst-cu on getting he: fillcli tllst and CJIIXIIIg it for licr to \vli.i't they suit!

\ the

tut Jan

\\, ’ (‘YGII U1‘.

\\ lisliibu:

it; won't be so happy if ' lap,’ Jan had Harris might not. approve of. If it e had insisted were Mr. soup to would se sandwich and somehow everybody seems to think

21y. H

tile way llio vvi an ocra

1'. \\‘I\.\ J:

lilid tunic

But, an

little now ct iier

ad decided on

U1

evening. she

id

COINS?-

PAGE EIGHTEEN

PAGIING SANTA czLAgg

(Continued from page sixteen)

von Arms. Tony was only a chauf- feur and had never, she supposed. he taken dinner in a place wriere the wsltlcrs called the 02st patrons by yes So she could only account him

the

BCCLW"

host to a. girl.

simply

I05, you know. to put in the ‘Yes. oh. yes, I kaiow," .ly spoken. as if he had

They that. tray

only

>3 'i‘.ic view was William Ant ‘t outside the big

IIQVC I‘ C3, SD

l..i ii Just to be Dora. ' ' at a table!

had

..: .t noun on the bent .eat!icl' know how it is that we ev ' Li ‘..llll\.'.'l llll‘ Illliililgflilldllt })CII\(I . ‘olwtfiili. proiiccd its lllli~

you

t the

Tony's aybe she should tn her at t had said clock. i haven't you?"

SIOIIB

d she snob- the

nic nent that it was Just show the wee e didn't siiow up at l Devon Alilh with a chauffeur. one would know him. but Paul Harris might find out. It was best. w be on the safe side. unconscious across door. She arrived breathless at the hearsal room. All the rest o1 the pvcy

dcr. new thought. haie liked accept- though

ied that it cost her

woudnt Shew

he

i' heart. crep

Di. t0

sleeping peacefully as a chil

the other bed,

tile pillow, light soun upward to the

How good it

-lv___s__f.____

arms crossed above her listening to the mu ds of the city drilling windows.

lie here snug the door. Jan slid warm between crackled with their freshness. IICZ‘ hind on the fieecy biank- sharp command. Instantly the girls

c

opened was t0 sheets

have

drew a and took her . surprised to rcal- from the whole incident always did t in the corner, a s t softly into. blond girl wake Dora. series o!

in involved bending repeatedly to the

d

.he lay with her floor. head On in a golden shower every

ted

that She

he minded her sis

he and Zambrini No body is a. mi fixing up a number."

wasn't he here the drv be- re "

“Well, yes," said Dora. "I believe was].

"And what about the day terdsy-—and don't you expect today?" Therg was laughter in Jan's voice, though her golden eyes were solemn.

‘You're teasing me," Dora pro- tested, preteLIIng to be annoyed. "Walt and see, I'll get even with you for that. I'll-why don't you ' Tony here sometimes, I think I could do a better

before

“I can tell you what he looks said Jan enthusiastically. (rightfully tall and he has grey eyes-oh! nice grey eyes-that can be as bright as noel or as dark as-thc winter sin’. I-le isn't. like anybody It ever met before, Dora. You'd like him if you saw liiin. I wish I cou',d_brliig hlin in,‘ but you

know he's just a chauffeur. I told you that he drives for that hateful honv Deverest, who's going to be abroad until after Christmas." "But l still don't see..." iegnn "Its a little hard to explain, darling. You see we don't leoliy

elves, and I don't er imp- to get all llIlS"~—.>li-C waved a hand to indicate theu luxurious surroundrligs-"and Ini terribly all-ind o! doing anything that Paul

belong licre oiirs

that

Deverest himself, but

be different. It's funny,

I should know William Anthony Deverest." VII

"It's getting late, dear," Dora re- tei‘, glancing at the "You h.r.'e a. rehearsal, “Oh, for goodness‘ sake!" cried "I wanted to try on that one to see think would look better tonight. But I've got to fiy—-\ve're rehearsing that special Jingle Bells number that goes k before Christmas; gets on edge if any- nute late when he's

Jan dropped a kiss on her sis-

ter's hair and almost literally flew

the room and out of the

rls ivere there in shorts they

usually wore for practlc

noise of their chattering was ter- rific as Jan came in. By that,

she inferred tltat Zlambrini had yet arrived. Jan ‘oreathed easier place a little apart the others, admiring as she trikiligly pretty

was going through a intricate exercises which her loose fair hair cascading time she flung her head forward.

A sudden hush fcli on the room and even before she looked toward knew that Zambrini He hustled into the

had arrived. and barked a

middle of the group

l .

- pui

, ~ c‘. and pitted it, loving its combort- took ma}; positions and the 1-9. able texture. A slight nwvomem at ltearsal got under way. For the

ti tcntion Snow! She sat

as she watched

Yes. it \\'iIS snowing i a flurry of flakes that

up

, into biz

stuck to tho window pane unti

f bccan to melt

\'Ve.l. it. was December. The

had whirled b

Thanksgiving Da ,v'—

we iotmd out really d

a

i liai dly notic

rxved. And now

But. snow and

Dora so long a

IT‘) H,‘

u... s The

marking on he

"Only a. few mas, Jan! prize following she took anoth the closet and one that was ‘Are you

Jun smiled smiled n great Dora thought- Vvell.

Lcisclf vviili

wind oiv

blocks. Pussy thought he w glass yesterda

g ciishltfn c "You do 5111-11112?" gum cctfirtfl‘. nn~ side. "You know

means-she an d to call it-that sire ed when December ar-

havc no power to harm

this beautiful place. ntn her pillow. le

blue cy-es as she raised

the calendar which site ha

she Sifid‘ '

.10»! '.= dear?" site asked wistfully.

even when she was

thing that's min? nn

'§‘“§'h'd thigusgnnuff curled , as s. - .

t u w [we beside her like it here. d0

"Has Paul been to t:

around

so quickly

y "the tiny

what

it was sn cold winds

s they could s

r kne more

C.

Jan's mov er evening laid it tiircady

at her sister. (lea! uowaday she looked

out all the time. DfITZI p\it ‘ this wonderful Williams. she would be happy a

-piiff can ! ould

vinh

ball of vel

Jan. flicking that. had

I do!" crl

her

‘beside on the bed out attain tonight. uncerijnly,

go thrntieli is excitement when :i pigeon perched on the win-

i4‘ heart-st window caught her at- liud she glanced toward it. straight in bed. light feet. l1 fiflrllési. 1H of a single piano and occasionally turned, even an iJ-yltable blobStllflt or reproof from

l they

the edges.

time since when

thankfulness he mid her, d DOTK 118d get them off my mind first." Jan

had

owing. would and tziy in

Jan dived back smothering a little that she could not

davs to Christ- ‘bSQnT-ly- 119T ciety parties, lots of crowd?’ I Emflnt-S 85 him it's my business to put dress from good show: it's not my busin

the

She a nd hllilDY

not Smilillg- continued as if if it ilzicfe Jan hrtPPY '10 E0 en.

it t0 Tony bout

for blocks and

I the

00.

om-

dnw sill outside. Ito's the but c

pmiy in the world l she l-t pier arm hang over the side of .10 chaise lounge iintii her finger it“

low fur up on

n" vml up the

slipped to ed at

o.‘ Dora. p .-a' late- te before his desk her cy

next half hour the room resound- ed to the steady tapping of many to the repetitious notes

burst of explanation Zambrini himself. Awaiting her cue nervously. Jan stood close by until Zambrini tilin- ed on her suddenly and told her to go off somewhere and sit down.

“For you—later is time enough. “These girls. I mus

t

obedlently withdrew.

Zambrinl. when he had dismiss- ed th-e chorus and turned his at- tention to her. had no fault to find with Jan's rendition of the cute Jingle Bell song which she had been assigned. She was diaw- in: a deep breath of relief after the song was ovcl" when the or- chestra leader looked at her sharp-

uzis. a question in Dora's ly‘ them from d bee" observed deliberately.

"lVlr. Harris very displeased." he "He say to mt>"What's wrong with the show. Zambrini? Why we no get big sol-x te on a ess to tomers.’

think not," said Jan "that's all any of us on as good a show as

bring in cus "I should

can do--put

possible." Zambriiii shook his head. "Mr. Harris-maybe Ito's wrong". he Jan had not spok- "But Mr. I-Iarr he still the boss. He thinks we should have

more customers. Maybe he thinks we should bring them in ourselves." “Why~"began Jan.

that Paul assumed at least an ac- quaintance with? the elusive society man. and she cared the outburst ‘hat would fn'ln\v should uh" T111- ziounce that she had n-cvlr cvcn seen him. But how was she go- lno to keep up this farce any lunc- rt‘? How could she go nu pretend- "vg that she was personally ac-

rnlnted with one of the citws wvralfhiest men when she might he caYed unon to produce him at any moment?

Slow!" as she walked. she arriv- ‘Faul Harris‘ office at last and hei- sudden wild hope that he would not be there was dashed 1v his invitation to enter she stood es darkened

e and the glgyv

heir lively grace. Over "Tm-n you

then said crisply: “Sit down, Miss Payson. I've been wanting to have a. talk with you for quite a while and I think this is as good a time as any. You've been around here long enough to know that I don't. usually do things without a. reas- on. You are a fair dancer and your voice is good. But there are a hun- dred other girls who are Just as talented, or perhaps more so. Yet I picked you without a trial from among the hundreds of girls who would have considered it an honor to be a star in the Devons Arms‘ Christmas show. Why did I do it? Because I like the color of your eyes? 0r because I always sec to it that my elnployes-alnd their sisters-have one of the best suites in the hotel?” Paul's teeth gleam- ed at his own humor, but the smile vanished qulcl y. “Why do you suppose I did it, Miss Payson?"

"I~1 don't know. Patil."

“lick, I'll tcll you. I did it be- c .u.sL' of your friendship with one of the best known men in town— William Anthony Dcvcrest. I've seen it lui-ipen before~a girl in t'e show knows a nun like him, ho brings o lot of his friends in t0

l

see licr; i: brillv. liurir friends and." h 'w up ins AELIKIS in a gesture. "are you are"

"Biil—

"But wi : iiayiiicils in inc?" Paul. said. "l the l. l put licr in the show and slic netci" ‘liwkfi licr

boy ll'lt‘il(,i to rtiiir ill eicii once. He so .'. awny; ins friends stay away; ;ev'erbody' stays awzlj."

Paul threw down the paper cut- ter witli which he had been toying and walked over to the window in disgust. Juli dared raise tier eyes finally and studied his siini back in its faultlcsdi tailored morning coat. She .s trying. in the snare nf a few seconds. to nuke t1 decision tha. . ly affect not ottiy ‘li Dora's.

She was seeing again hersistens face as Slit‘ litili told lier tin hour before of iii-r jov- iri the hotel room and iil the izciv luxuries titey en- joycd. The dark, richly furnished

Ill...“ .. cr ovni llic, but

1M0 the room Ill which she was sitting van-

ished colilpcielv and she could see again the miserable. crowded space on the court that. had been all the liome she and Dora had had. If she deviled knowing Dcverest they would be condemned to return to that same squalid atmosphere. She could not do it! Ft ivhnt- cost to hcrsclf. she must cn-

couragc Paul to believe this fairy

a little iviiile longer. '1' n so y, Paul," she said hesi- tantly. "lvfr.~lvfr. Devercst hasn't

110l- been feeling very well."

It sounded lame, even to her-

self. but Paul accepted it and turn-

vvit-h new eagerness. ‘ll see that he comes in?"

"Why, yes. Al: least. I'll try."

Paul beamed with delight escorted her to tho. _door with n flourish. At ailothel" time she would have been amused at his sud- den transition to the perfect inaitre d'liotel. blit now she virus too mis- erable to see anvthing funnv about it. She iveut ‘ovck to her room and tried on her dresses and talked about them to Dora. as ii nothin: had happened. But all the time hcr mind ivas revolving round and round the inlpcmible task she had sci herself,

The day went on ivitli more re- hearsal. a little shopping, o consul- tation with lvlnry Elizabeth I-Iow- ard. a visit in the hairdresser. Jan moved through ilic program with- out faltering. but she never for an instant stopped ziskirii: herself that haunting; question: What iii the world will I do?

By the time tlic show was over and shc was tircssing lo nice! Tony she had arrived at only one clear decision. She would tell him the whole story and perhaps iic would think of some v\':iv' in ivhich they could manage to satisfy Paul.

VIII

ed to her

and

“Wcll!" Tony's exp rssinn ivas a tribute lo the succ of the blue satin ev-

ening dress. His eyes evidently saw nothing w: no with the wil- lowy vision of loveliness that stood before him. and Jun smiled for the first time that night.

"I cam return the compliment." she said. looking: at his perfectly clit tuxedo and his general air of having bren wr-ll scrubbed just t1 few minutes before.

"Oh. we're stepping out tonight." he said. offering her his arm. “I linvc the car outside and we're go- ing over to the little dance place across the river. I3vci' been llierc?"

Jan shook licr head flllli foil in step ltieskie him. licr licart lirrivy again. Tie only thing that troubled licr about Tony was his corstant cffort. tn livc tin to ivliut was evi- dently his itiustelis .‘fl('l.ll position. As she took hr-r lllflUL‘ in the Qlcnin- 1111.‘, car she l'(‘¥(‘lli(ft again the fact

l: too. “Tony willlls m!‘ l‘) ‘l0 dfiflflllg "You kllOW this Ml‘. D<?ll\fll'f5"-‘" that cveiwtliing. she wus forced to with him aftc the show." A dim- said Zambrini. "The girls Rfl-WW- do was only on illliillli0il of the pie tunic-ii lint! never been nuticc- they 53y you know hint. Well. ivhv ri-ni mm; _ able in Jan's ‘llnn chccllts flushed does not M? Dentures’ come in <ec “(any 'p,-,,,_\._ m“ w“ Alford now. Slic kll/‘w that she was look- the show‘! He. likes it. lie bring his this?" inc bww tilun cver before in her friends. H". has plenty friends The \ life. Sin-h a int of good fnr/d‘ Bill show a big success tlren. I pleased. i it Wlls the lninrovrlflvlll ill D01‘! you nleasecl. Mr. Iiorris plcastti." n that contriiivlicrl a 2TH! (168193 h" Jan hold listened, lacwildered. to to . ovvn ivcli bring. this sudden attack. Wit t cculd "Why, you .lnnv Now shc left the dresses and ran Znnibrini mean" Vvlmi did cvr-rv- lli: huvd toiu-"cti Iifll’ over to the little rcfrigciwttor which body mean? inking. hcr cnilstrvll- l‘(‘.'lS uriiig 1nd then vms part. of iii" rooms cqulitulrnt- lv with this unknown William An- “7‘>I(‘Yq‘ 71ml _ val-vi in» 011v - i-i "our cirtlnq" juice!" she said oiirlv Ilinnv Devcrcst! she stared at soft“ ‘Univ you wrii about Iflf‘ f0 llcl‘ Slsi ' ilfllldlllg hi‘? llli‘ m" Zambrlili for a moment. noting lite "it'd i-n" vn-i worry ...ut ii- tut:- frostetl gin anxious expression in the llllif‘ ii'.': iifl. t'.\l' i~i'livl' lli ain't“ t-l the Dora accrplcd the drink and v-nvlid dark eves. ‘Flicn she impuls- '~.»l qlwg, 1pm n »~ n»... sinned it, in silcnce for a moment. iwlv Iold her hand nu his arm. i dawn: . - lie dirt "155 very; trood," she said “Oh "I'il see Poul right ziow." "lie m" 5.1-1 n: at," Jan! Isn't it wonderful that all ))""IT\lSf‘(I. and turiard fl-vflV. t inq slit‘ ili'l hren this shoird iinmlcn to us: This Bu! as .hc wit. ed to the eleix- wnitii ._ {m “wt 1..., [qypfd lvfgplf * fkyug rpqm and all these FOR for licr sten was slow. She would in solve ii. lli llfliillll.‘ iihrires snft. Jyiliows! And my view! I can see PfllIl~Sh0 could demand an cx- she told Hill! .<'lll’lllllll’l of the life sec the top of the trees in Central nlanntirm from him. But that iv-ris she and n01"! hmi 3m iii 3m Mul- Park from away across the room just what she had been avoiding lord's. Slic (lcscrih-id Paul's .. [Iflml and when I'm right close to 'l'l@ even dreading. during the weeks infcrcsf in her nlul licr bcwldcr- I can see every siltflle that htvl lu~t passed. She knew mcni as to ‘he muse nf if.

As they sped tlirnilglt the traffic with the lights nf the Jersey shore

YPIIYTITVT iii the cinrk vvnlci" below tkcm. tiic illilll beside hcr ncvcr look lils nvcr. from the rorid and

' a

scan-ru- li...l l. svvvinotlictic exclamation

But its she I"".'I(‘flf'(l tlic point in her nnrinlive where Plilii hiiti rc- ‘rwrcrl to Wdiinm Anthnnv Dcvcr- csi. she fr?’ him stiffen with new intc Si!" mndc herself go on. Uvirt: him a complete ivirtuie of all that Hit! happened to her that dwv. When licr vnicc finally dicd nwriv. slic m! liutirllcd in on-o rnrn- or feeling acain the uttcr hope- l-siicss of the situation.

So you've slot to produce ill/illinm

. ~- a . ti eiwura Bfygflvfgégxfmd m“ W’ \ with worry. »\'i"-~oiiv in person ch?" "flie-‘rls-liclite wild-rose color that "Paul. I've been talking to Zzivu- _“Oli Tfllli‘ T knnvl: that‘; iinnos- tinted Dora's pale cheeks gave her brlnL-I-Ie-he said SOITIWIIIIII‘ zihlr. Bur ;f Hnuw- wzis some other . h" aqgwqr v ‘acfore her sister a out your being dlsappnintctil in wvvv lllftvbl“ i could mecl sonic- gpld: "Well. he was here yesterday ti.- way the siow was pulling. hotly rsc- she floiuldered and He could only stay a few minutes. Paul stared at her a minute and stopped. / i t

' THE CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN

"No, that \ouldn't be so good. If they want Deverest, they should have him."

Jan sighed. "Well, I guess Doro and I will Just have to forget all

about it. I can get a Job some- where else." "But why." Tony demanded.

"Jou know my boss isn't like n-lot of those playboys-heb always avoided publicity like poison. Why, iliany's the time I've gone to a banquet or a dinner and said I was he. I got. away with it, too."

"Tony, you didn't!" Jan scarcely believe her ears.

"Sure I did. And I'll do it again. Your fir. Harris will never know the difference." For some inexplic- ablfe reason Tony chuckled to him- se .

Jan made one last feeble protest. "Are you sure Deverest wouldn't mind?"

Tony stopped for a red light and

could

took that opportunity to look around lit her solemnly. "He. wouldn't mind-—on my word of

honor. In fact, I think he'd be de- lighted and amused."

’I‘hcre iiud been a hundred things to see to before Tony could appear at the Devon Arlns. Jon had had

' ‘k \\llli Paul Harris that made to liiin that must ‘ty about the atniear- f Mr. Dsvercst. "He absolute- l_v ulhds it." she told the hotel Illfilidijli‘. 'l'lieii, to make sllrc that lic uould do as she asked, she told hlin that Mr. Deverest insisted that he would not appear again if so much as one reporter recogniz- ed him.

Paul Harris seemed impressed. "I understand-I understand. Miss Payson." lie assured her. settling his tie that was alreody as correct

as a necktie could be.

0h. dear, thought Jan, he is n. ' ' "o i.' ~~-~\~ Joy. Suppose he ever finds out that the "Mr Deverest" he's so excited

about is only Tony Williams, the Deverest chauffeur. She was half tclnpted to give up the v/hole scheme. but when she was back in her room. making up her mind for the twentieth time whether or not to go on with it, Doro interrupted her thoughts. .

“Jan, you know something?"

"Yes. dear, said Jan tibsently, her mind full of the William An- thony Deverest problem.

"I just know I am going to be entirely’ \\'cli again," said Dora, licr blue eyes very solemn, "and it's all due. every bit of it, to this beautiful place. Well, not just to this place alone, of course." she added. "That doctor friend of Tony Williams, has had a lot to do with it, I guess. Wasn't if; the strangest thing that he should know a fam- ous doctor like that and get him to come to see me? He's really the irilted of iviliiam Anthony De- verest, Tony's bolss, you said, didn't you? Oh, Jan! Do you think we- can stay here always?"

"If I have anything to do with we can," said Jan grimly. Jan hoped that the fatal night when Tony was to show up at the Devon Arms would never arrive. But it did. The hours between the time Toliy had deposited her at the door of the hotel aficr a ride in the park. and the moment when she had to step out on the dance floor and begin her song. seemed to fly faster than usual. Her fing- ers had been shaking as she fast- ened the all white costume she wore. How iii the world was she ever to get through her song? If

Tony was at. the 1c agreed upon she wouid die, sh ew. and if he wasn't there she w die, too.

wasn't there she woud die, too. even more suddenly!

For a ntoinent, as the spot light caught and held her, she gas daz- zled arld could see nobody. {rut as the song vivent on and the other girls took up the chorus, the light shifted, and she could see Tony at the ringside table. In fact, Tony's ivas the only table she could see. Fearfiilly she appraised him, then caught licr breath on a sigh of re- lief. Silly of her to have worried about him! A chauffeur to a man like William Anthony Deverest naturally was accustomed to the Way's of smart night life.

It was because she was staring at liini so hard that Jan did not see a girl who was approaching his t-ablc until she was suddenly at his side, laughing down at him. Touyopusited liiick his chair and rt t- instantly, catching both the hands the girl ext/ended tlo him in his big brown ones. A wide diam- ond bracelet flashed on the girl's

ll,

vvrist-the silver fox cape slung over one shoulder hung halfway to the floor.

“Siic must be somebody," Jan

thought aghast. "It must ‘oe some society girl who knows Mr. Dever- cst. Probably site's asking Tony where lie is-atifi. the next thing it will get to Paul Harris that it's only ‘ivillirui. AIIUIOII)’ Dcverestfls clitiuffein‘ about whom he's been failing ail ov'-el' himself!"

IX

ll. was with an effort. that Jan took the solo part again as the voices of the. other girls came to a stop. she felt as if she could not. make. a sound. I-Icr throat. was

i-m ~ "ictid with terror. and she was surprised to ii-:ai' hcrsrslf sing- ing the mnuiviiul iloies of the "biiics" song; tlllvt was Zllmbriili'.~l

snt-i-iui pridc. Tt wits like n release from prisnii when she fiiuilly got Sll.i'.l_\' from the spot light and could velar: behind ill? scvncr. She stood lcoiliiiy. ngailts! n choir. \'v‘flIIl'f€'i'iI\§Z ‘now ion: it ivnild bc before Paul Harris ivnuid know The orchestra lcrilier. coming up behind her made her jump. so far away from her surroundings ivere her thoughts. "Why you stay‘ brick here? in- ircci Zambriiti solemnly. "Go out Dcverest. Mr. Harris like that. uo on-—g0 oii..out now." lie urged her l‘Sf.|l_V illwiirtl the cntriuice to til: stippti- room. Me- AknhWiflffV Jim Pthrypd. 'l‘l~ii,5 was WiId-l Ll. n‘ plain has . She nuglit as wcli go through with it.

Bcinre Jan WfiS IIIIHWR)‘ across the room to Tony's table he was

qt: 50¢ Mr.

on liis fcct and coming toward licr. “You were gorgeous." he whispered. pulling Jon's hand

through his arm. He settled hei in a chair at the table and sat down in his own. hitching it around so but it would bc closer to hers.

"I've ordered supper for you," he wild briskly. "wc don't have to wnstc any time over that."

"Oli. Tonv," said Jflil ivith ’I lit- tle cntcli in licr voice, "will you lose your job?"

-~vvii_v should I?"

"That girl-that gil'i,.ha.if..buried

in silver fox-won't she tell who you are?" .

"You mean Marcia? Did you see her stop here?" said Tony com- fortably. “That's Marcia Hayfield. very much Social Register, Just out this year. She knows-my boss. Just stopped to ask me when he'll be back in town."

"Bu: won't she fell i somebody. maybe Paul Harris. who you are?"

"Oh, no, not Marcia! She's too dizzy, wouldn't was‘; time gossip- ing to hotel managers. That girl has enough on her hands trying to marry money he: first season. You can forget her. We have just time for once around the floor before the waiter comes. Pieue...it's heavenly dancing with you," no coaxed. The soft strains of one of Zambrinfs famous rhumbss-his nearness as ills arm encircled her waist, his dart" head bent above h€I'——JBII never even thought of re-

fusing.

00o

"Jam"

Dora's face wore ~a stricken look. Jan had Just gone into the bath- ronm and set tl-e shower going— now she ran back to the sitting room to see what had caused Dora's cry of distress.

Dora was holding the morning paper in her hand. Tile daily pap- er ivzis one of Pzftil Harris’ kind- nesses to the sick girl.

"What's the matter?" cried Jan. “You look as if you had seen a host!"

"Read it." saic Dora. thrusting the paper toward Jan. It was fold- ed back at a little item that seem- ed unimportant enough.

"Boys arrested for causing dis- turbance -t Y.M.C.A." Jan skip- ped over the details quickly until she came to the list of boys at the bottom of the paragraph. Among the name. fie found "Jack Mal- lord." She raised her eyes and met Dora's. Her sister looked so fright- ezicd she hastened to reassure her.

"It says here that the boys were allowed to g0 with a reprimand.” she said gently. "It says here that Jack was one of a crowd of boys who persisted in getting into the swimming pool at the “Y" although they are not members, and mak-

ing so much noise and rough- housing generally that nobody else could enjoy the pool. You know

that isn't right, Dora."

“I know. But Jack never had a. chance. It's natural that. he would want to have a little fun," Doro defended him. "I guess he doesn't know any other way of having fun except rocketing around. How could he. living in that awful place?"

“Tell you what I'll do, Dora.” Jan said. “I’ll try to find time to run around to Mrs. Mallords after rehearsal and see how things are going. I might make her a little present. Just a few dollars. But. gosh. wasn't she the hateful wo- man!"

Jan was just ready to leave for rehearsal when someone knocked at the door. She had forgotten that it was the day for Dr. Curtis to call.

Wh-en Jan had gone Dr. Curtis sat. talking to Dora and writing out n. few changes in her diet. Suddenly he stopped and looked up at Dora.

"You are very fortunate in hav- ing a sister like Jan." he remark- ed. as Dora told Jan afterwards, "like a bolt from a clear sky!"

“You know. Jan. the way he looks after you when you go out of the room, and the way he-sort o»f-—watches you...whqn you are

talkim. .. ." "what in the world are you try- irig to sav?" demanded Jan. She

was standing in the middle of the room brushing her hair.

"Nothing." said Dora hastily.

"I should hope not," mumbled Jan from the depths of her hair, but she went into the bedroom as she flung it back from her face. Out of Dora's sight she stood still iv moment pressing her hands against her hot checks. Dr. Curtis! Dora must ‘oe mistaken. The doctor wca kind-Jan thought he must be the kindest. man in the world- but wasn't it bcause he was sim- ply interested in Dora's case? Dora was such a darling. and she had read so many romantic stories that she was always tiflving to figureout a real life romance for Jan.

Jan put on her hat and picked nn her bag and gloves. She took her heavy coat from the closet and flung it over her arm and she went through the sitting room. "I won't

he buck for dinner, darling." said Jan. "You won't be lonesome. will you?"

‘Paul-Mr. Harris-J’ Dora colored faintly as she spoke, "said that. he

ouid come lln and have dinner with me tonight."

"Oh. he did. did he!" Jan tweaked one of Dora's curls gently. but neglected to mention that sha herself was on her way down to see Paul Harris that very minute.

As shc went down in the elevator shc tried to plan what she would say to the hotel manager. Plainly. now that Deverest had appeared once at the sliovv. Paul expected him to drop in with a party regu- larly. But though Tony himself would have. been willing. Jan was set against. the idea. Tonv had u. good job and it. was simply crim- inal to risk it just. fnr the sake of nlcasin! Paul Harris. she ivasu‘! gnlll’! in permit him tn impcrsor

tile his torus again. ~

X

Pail‘. llarri= wit". as nearly effu- sivc as was possible for n man of’ his hfiblfllfll restraint to be when hc saw Jan in the doorway.

"Com-c in. comc in." he invited. ‘Tilt-n as Jon obeyed, "Off to see- sonic-body?"

“I'm gong to see Mr. Deverest nff." Jan said. trying to appear casual.

"He's n” going away again!" ex- claimed Paul.

"Yes. he is." This was harder tlitvn she had expect-ed. ‘There was n brief in.‘ " silence. Jen

forced hcrscif to meet the suddenly alert, gave that. the manager turn- ed on her. There was disbelief in his penetrating sturc which chring- ed. as Jan watched him in fasci- nalcd distress. to a sort of icy ang-

er. But when he spoke his \oice was controlled as ever. "Will Mr. Dever-est be gone lorn?" Paul inquired. "Indefinitelvf sold Jail. She

might ns well get this thing set- tled once and for nll

"You wouldn't. by nny have htid n ouarrtl. with Mr crest?" Paul began.

"Well. if. wasn't cxocil._v' a ouar- rel," said Jan hastily. It was a sort

chance Dev-

, .

of-of disagreement."

“Perhaps there is o new-what the columnists call ‘heart throb?”

Jan colored at his tone. "I don't know.’ she said shortly. “Really. Mr. HIITIL. ."

"Come, come, Miss Poyaon." Paul was suddenly the practical man o! the world. "I don't have to explain to you again that your value to the show is chiefly as a drawing card for Mr. Deva-est arid his friends. I could have hired a girl who could sin and dome u well, perhaps bet r than you, at less salary than am you. I need never have mlent oned supplying heir with a room in this hotel, much less a. whole suite."

"But Doro-I thought you want- ed to getlDorn away from that dreadful room where we used to live..." foiterod-Jan.

"Inn's beside the point." said Poul sharply. "It is true that I have l oertain-sympathy-forr your sis- ter ond-er-o certain desire w be of help to her. But I never allow sentiment to interfere with busi- ness and when I brought you to this hotel it was. I assure you. a businw arrangement on my part. I was making an investment in the hope-and apparently mistaken be- Iiaf-thnt I would realize on that investment. I felt sure that Mr. Deverest would be a frequent visi- tor and that his wide circle of friends would join him more often than not for an after theatre party?

Jan hoped she would not cry. She took l. firmer grip on the edge of’ the desk, staring down at the bright blue blotter which covered the to

"What dczlou want me to do now?" she ed in a. hushed tone.

Paul was silent. When he finally spoke, she felt the icy fingers that clutched her heart beginning slowly to relax.

She and Dora would stay on in the suite they now occupied. Al- though they thought it. so regal. Jan learned with astonishment that it ms by no means one of the de- sirable suites in the hotel. Its loca- tion, the shape of the rooms and its proximity to the elevator made it g renting problem to the hotel

manager.

The wardrobe Mary Elizabeth Howard bald already rovided for her would see Jan rough the

season, themanager went on. They would also take their meals as be- fore. And in return. Jan was to re- ceive g nominal salary while con- tinuing her work in the floor show