The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-29

clear star-pierced sky.
The glaSs-prOtected orchestra
thrObbed an accelerated waltz, as
Christina swayed leaped. cavorted, her
fur-edged. pink-lined skirt swirling
straight with her dizzy toe spins. AS
n triumphant finale. Hofmann held
her aloft,. while he executed daring
figure, ending in a mad whirl.
Tho exhibition over, the applauding
audience swarmed back on the ice.
"Oh. not after that" protested
Helen.
But Warren dragged her out and put
her through another ten minutes of
persistent, rigorous coaching.
By this time she was chilled through,
with reddened nose and wind-blown
hair. Warren, relentless. would not
let her stop for repairs.
"Never mind your hair-this's no
beauty contest. You're learning to
skate"
'But my ankles are giving out-I
can't"
"Way to strengthen them. Come
on, now-take longer strokes"
"Hello, Curtis! What're you doing
here?" tall, shaggy-coated man bore
down upon them. "Didn't think you'd
fall for this skating craze"
"Jack Wheeler beamed Warren
"Well, it's made lot of the old-tImers
get their skates out of camphor.
How're you making out?'
Little stiff in the joints. Nearly
broke my neck out there on an inside
back three"
''That always was nasty turn.
Have you met Mrs. Curtis?'
"Dear. I've had enough" conscious
of her reddened dishevelment. "You
skate with Mr.. Wheeler-Tll go In"
"Oh, no. you're not through yet Got
to get our four bucks worth. You rest
here while I take a turn with
Wheeler"
AS they spun of, Helen glanced long
ingly toward the exit. II only she
could get into the dressing room to fix
her loosened hair. She would have to
go half way around the rink on the
ice. Dared she risk it7 Gingerly she
rose. dug her skates into the ice, and.
holding to the railing, minced toward
the steps.
Just then two women, skating to-
gether, lost their balance and lurched
heavily against her. They did not go
down. but Helen, knocked from her
insecure footing. fell sprawling.
The next second a man was lifting
her to her feet. while others gathered
up her vanity bag and its frivolous
contents. scattered over the ice.
Helen had just regained her footing
hnr hat har ri viii
modification, when Warren dashed up
"what the Sam Hill are you trying
to do?"
"Oh, don't-don't talk! Just get me
inl"
With perfunctory thanks to the gen.
tleman who was still holding her, War.
ren helped her to the exit and half
lifted her up the steps. From there,
without a word. Helen hobbled into the
ladies' dressing room.
"Take these skates off-Quick to
the maid, as she dropped into a chair.
Deity the maid unlaced the skat-
ing boots, loosened the clinging silk
stockings from under the toes, and but
toned on Helen's trim shoes.
"Haven't got your skates off?" War.
rem appeared at the door. "Why. it's
only ten. We've a whole hour before
they close up"
"Do you think I'd 60 out there
again" fauntingly.
-"Why not. Can't learn to skate
without few tumbles. Be a sport
Come on-take another crack at it."
But Helen's self-consciousness was
too acute. After her humiliating fall
not even Warren's insistence could
lure her back on the ice.
A light buffet supper was included
In the two dollars admission to the
roof, and now, with a disgruntled
growl, Warren, still on his skates, led
the way to the glass-inclosed restau-
rant.
The head waiter seated them Mt a
table facing the rink, and only a few
feet from the skaters as they whizzed
by.
"Who's that girl Wheeler's with?"
Warren leaned forward. "By lingo,
she can skate. Didn't pick up that
bracket turn in any three lessons"
With brooding envy and a distinct
feeling of being "out Of It," Helen
watched the graceful figure in the
mo'e-trimmed suit.
"Oh. I could never do that!" wist-
fully.
"You could If you thought more
about the way you set your feet and
less about the powder on your nose.
It's your Internal conceit-you think
everybody's watching you. Next time
we go skating it'll be on n country
pond. and you'll not doll up. You'll
wear n good thick sweater and ear
muffs-and I'll put you through some
stunts"
"Anything to drink, sir?"
svo. c Dro---ora hrfpp o,,fol, "