The Benson signal., 1918-03-02
CHAPTER XXI.
--16--..-

jectedly away into the rain that Jimmy
Wallace threw his bomb.
Every year he made two profess
tumn, one in the spring, in order that
he might have interesting matters to
write about when the local theatrical
doings had been exhausted. From
his first spring pilgrimage after
Roses disappearance he came back
wearing a deep-lying and contented
smile, and a few days later, after
talk over the telephone with Rod
ney, he headed a column of gossip
about the theater with the following
paragraph:
''Come On In,' as the latest Of the New
York revues is called, is much like all the
others 1t contains the same procession
Of speciality mongers, the same cacophony
Of rag-time the same gangway out into
the audience which refreShes tired buSi-
ness men with thrilling worm 's-eye view
of dancing girls knees au naturel. And
up and down this straight and narrow
pathway Of the chorus there is the custo-
mary parade Of the same naughty beau
ties of Broadway Only in one item is
there g. deviation from the usual formula:
the costumes. For several years past the
revues at the theater (the Columbian)
have been caparisoned with the decadent
colors and bizarre designs of the exotic
Mr.. Grenville Melton. I knew there had
been change for the better as soon as
saw the first number, for these dresses
have the stimulating quality Of a healthy
and vigorous imagination. as we'll as a
vivid decorative value. They are exceed
ingly smart Of course, or else they would
never do for a Broadway revue, but they
are also alive, while those of Mr.. Melton
were invariably sickly. Curiously enough
the name Of the new costume designer has
a special interest for Chicago. She is
Doris Dane, who participated in '"The
Girl Upstairs" at the Globe. Miss Danes
stage experience here was brief, but new
ertheless her striking success in her new
profession will probably cause the forma-
tion of a large and enthusiastic 'I-knew-
her-when" club.
Jimmy expected to produce an effect
with it. But what he did produce ex-
ceeded his widest anticipattuns. The
thing came out in the three o'clock
edition, and before he left the office
that afternoon he had received over
the telephone six invitations to din
ner; three of them for that night.
He declined the first two on the ground
of an enormous press Of work Incl
dent to his fresh return from a fort
night in New York. But when Violet
Williamson called up and said with
reference to a previous engagement that
was shamefully fictitious: Jimmy, you
haven't forgotten you're dining with us
tonight, have you? It's just us, so you
needn't Dress" he answered.:
"Oh, no, I've got it down on my cal
endar all right. Seven-thirty?"
Violet snickered and said: "You
wait l-Or rather, don't wait. Make it
seven"
Jimmy was glad to be let off that
extra half hour of waiting. He was
impatient for the encounter with ViO-
let-a state of mind most rare with
him. He meant to wiring all the pleas
ure out Of it he could by way of re-
venge for Violet's attitude toward
Rose after her presence in the Globe
chorus had become known-for that
biting contempt which was the typical
attitude of her class.
Violet said, the moment he ap-
peared in the drawing room doorway {:
"John made me swear not to let you
tell me word until he came in. He's
simply burbling. But there's one
thing he won't mind your telling me,
and that's her address. I'm simply per-
fishing to write her note and tell her
how glad we were."
Jimmy made a little gesture Of re-
gret. He'd have spoken too, but she
1idn't give him time.
'You don't mean," she cried, "that
you didn't find out where she lived
while you were right there in New
York! ~
John came in just then, and Violet
turning to him tragically, repeated, "He
doesn't even know where she ives"
"Oh, I'm a boob, know" said jim
my. ''But, as told the other five :"
Violet frowned as she echoed, 1.-THE
other five-what?"
Jimmy turned to John Williamson
with a perfectly electric grin.
"The other five Of Rose Aldrich's
friends-and yours" he said, "who
called me up this afternoon and invited
me to dinner, and asked for her ad-
dress so that they could write her
notes AID tell her how glad they
were."
John said "Whoosh !''-all but upset
g chair, and slammed it out Of the way
in order to jubilate properly.
Violet stood looking at them
thoughtfully. A little flush Of color
was coming up into her face.
"You two men," she said, "are try
ing to act as If weren't in this; as If
/ weren't just as glad as you are, and
hadn't as good a right to be. John
hsxe," this was to Jimmy, "has been
Saoati1g ever since he came home with
die paper And you Did you mean
re bs that snippy little thing you said
'EsoRs thA T-knaw-her-when clubT Well,