The Press., 1918-11-14
The Maid and the Manikin
 By BARBARA KERR
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure NewBpG-
 per Syndicate.)


 keyholes," giggled Bert Wainwright to Louise Laurent, as they were valnly trying to get into their rooming house without waking the other inhabitants. q never knew that we were her medically sealed up from the rest of the world, once we were inside this castle. Let's ring the bell"
 "Oh, no; this Is so funnyl Here, we can stand on this stool, reach that roof and walk right along to the verandah."
 And get shot, We'll, give me your hand"
 And in q minute more of gigglIng and clambering they both stood on the upper verandah, when just ahead of them a blind ran up and the window opened, but evidently merely for air, as they heard mans voice humming softly, and the wind blowing aside the curtain they beheld n man at work. Both were rooted to the snnt for 1t was most unusual work. ..
 MT. Reginald Santerre was drapIng a manikin with yellow gauge.
 "Oh," breathed Louise "How adOr- able!"
 "Sh-fOr the love of Mtkew whls- pered Bert, as the draper backed gracefully away from his work, walked to the dresser and picked up q photo graph. Mel" again whispered Bert when the draper leaned the photograph up against the face of the manikin and Smilingly eyed 1t in mental perspec- tive. She tried to keep Louise from seeing. Was he coming to the win dow? Hastily they turned the corner and climbed hurriedly into their own room.
 "Oh! Ohl Oh" laughed Bert as she rocked back and forth on the floor. "Oh, wasn't that the funniest thing? If you ever tell it, Louise Laurent, I'll murder you! Oh! Oh!"
 "Tell it7 Of course ] won't, But isn't it the sweetest thing you ever Saw?"
 "What?" demanded Bert. "That dress for me-"
 Bert That's the dearest dress I ever laid eyes on. l always knew Reg gle was a wizard in dry goods. You are the luckiest thing 1 ever saw Think of him, working all his evenings designing dress for you! Aren't you crazy to get into it?"
 "No! What do I want with dress like that? You know"
 "Oh, yes, know you'd rather get into corduroy hunting suit and tramp all oyer the country. But you'll have to quit that and settle down, The wife of Reginald Santerre-" dressmaker!"
 "Shame on you, BertI Think of Worth"
 "Worth-less! Of course, not just that; but have I no ambition but to be dummy tQ-hang-things Qn-9 Christmas tree7"
 "Now, Bert Wainright, ever since we were in school in No. 6 I've thought sometimes that you were cOnceited You ought to be the prOudest girl in the world"
 But Bert put her hands before her face, and a hard, dry gurgle, much more like a sob than a laugh, escaped her. Don't talk to me-don't. I'm going to bed."
 "Are you crying, Rertie? Are you sick9" came softly out of the darkness
 No, 1 was just telling Reggie good. bye. l was giving him to you,"
 Louise bounded out of bed, turned on the light and got the thermometer "You are sick, Bert, You've got q fever. Open your mouth"
 "Fudge! Take that thing away os I'll bite the end off, and you know what happened to Willy
 "Twas chilly day for Willy
 When the mercury went down. "Im not sick. You couldn't understand in hundred years, Louise, but couldn't any more marry MT. Santerre Why was I such a fool as to think cOuld?"
 You'll be all right in the morning.
 "YOu listen to me-" And then and there Bert unfOlded the scheme of presenting her lover tC | her lifelong friend, arranging all the details of the renunciation. Louise lis tened, at first to humOr her, but as she { went on planning in the darkness she knew that she meant every word of it ] So when morning came she felt lit tie panicky, but Bert was as cool as though they were swapping sweaters and things happened just as she had planned. It was Sunday, and they met at the breakfast table. The girls re lated to Reggie how they had gotter in, and were afraid they might have wakened him, saying nothing of the dress.
 Well. now, isn't that strange? worked late last night" hesitating s moment. "1 had an inspiration for { gown for Miss Wainright."
 Adorable! Lucky Bert! Could w see it?'
 "Ripping!' smiled Bert. And here l am all logged out for hike. Is f as nice as this?" smoothing out he1 old brown corduroy.
 The faintest frOwn appeared on Re,; gie'S brow, but the girls hastily arOs from the table and all proceeded int his designing room, and the manikir was wheeled into view. Mildly inter ested, Bert wanted Ouida to try it on so they took it into their room. Ra turning soon, Ouida pirouetted before the admiring designer.
 She was more than beautiful. The adventure lent an unusual glow to cheek and lip; her black curling hair was loOsened up little, and tiny ring lets framed he' face and fell on her white neck.
 Superb! A dream p murmured the enthralled Reggie, dropping on one knee to fix place in the hem. There was knock at the door and Miss Wainright was called out.
 What wonderful talent, MT. San terre. It's an exquisite pleasure to be your manikir am really crazy about beautiful clothes," said Ouida, as she admired herself and the gown in the