Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-19
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
Woman Disposes

= Adare mounted the steps of Mrs.
Hartshorne's small but perfectly ap-
pointed house and rang the bell.
She was a slender, vivacious young
nerson. of the black haired, blue eyed,
fair skinned type which betokeus Hi
herman ancestry of the highest order.
The tilt of her small, ,tantalizing nose
and the curve of her scarlet, dclicateIy
nodded lips suggested sense OF humor
balanced by the square little chin and
cool level gaze.
She frowned as she waited. tapped
her foot impatiently. At length a trim
housemaid opened the door.
"Oh, it's you, Miss Adare. Mrs
Hartshorne hasn't been feeling very
we'll Matilde is with her now. and she
is better. You can go straight up.
With nod Miss Adare availed her
self of the permission. Running up
the stairs, she knocked lightly upon
her clients door.
Matilde. thin, sallow French e
woman. admitted her and gcstured un-
smilingly toward the bed. The girl
approached and a little exclamation of
shocked surprise broke from her lips.
i'Oh. Mrs. Hartshorne, What is the
matter? Jenny told me you had been
unwell, but was better. | didn't dream
you were as i'll as this
With an effort Mrs. HartshOrne drew
herself up among her pillows. Her face
was drawn and haggard. her eyes deeply
sunken. in each wan cheek a brilliant
red spot burned.
Good morning. Rose. Do | look
such fright? 1t is just one of my old
neuralgic headaches. The handglass.
please, Matilde.
The maid brought it WITHOUT a word.
Her mistress after one glance dropped
4 it upon the bed beside her with Il hor
rifed gasp.
Heavens I don't wonder, :"
Perhaps you won't need me to
day Rose ventured.
"Oh, but / do 1 wanted to look
particularly nice, and must manage
to pull myself together, somehow.
have heaps of correspondence to be
answered" Mrs. Hartshorne turned
to her maid. "You may go, Matilde.
When the door had closed, she leaned
forward eagerly.
"Rose. you are such a marvclously
clever little social secretary-I wondc
if you can help me with a bit of per
soDal advice. ! am a nervous wreCI
and ] know it Too many late hours
and social activities; l never could en-
dure them. I look ghastly, hideous
and yet this afternoon l must be fresh
and blooming. Can you tell me how t.
work a miracle?"
''If you'll forgive me for the sug
gestion, l would try little rouge, Mrs
Hartshorne," Rose responded frankly
You never would before, but no mas
sage in the world will bring the righ
color now, or the blood to your lips.
Every WE'LL Mrs. Hartshorn
sank back with a sigh. Il suppose
must. Now let us get on will
the notes. They are mostly invitation
Ito be declined, as usual. You wi
know how to do it gracefully, withou
dictation."
The girl smiled and turned to tn
small stand beside the bed.
"You can trust me for that. Now
Ill just move these magazines to max
room for my stationery and things
GOOD gracious
AS she swept the papers from tn
table an ugly blunt -nosed revolver O
the bulldog" type stared wickedly II
at her startled eyes.
Mrs. Hartshorne reached out in hast
and, picking up the small weapon
thrust it carelesly beneath her pillow.
''Did it frighten you?" she laughed
"It isn't loaded. I'm so reckless ab0u
leaving jewels and money about tn
house that keep it to scare away pos
sible burglars. Do let us get the cor
respondence over with" H.
y The laugh had not sounded quite nat
ural to the girls alert ears, but th
excuse seemed plausible enough and sh
commenced her rapid sorting of the ma
without further remark.
During the light scratching of the pc
on paper, Mrs. Hartshorne< lay sner
and inert; but when the first batch {
notes was completed she asked SUD
denly, 4, =,
Rose, has any one been asking yc
questions about me? Amy ofSyoa6tothl
clients, mean the women inGIhy ow
set2 I'm rather curious ~ lst,i .;
Rose paused, an unopened enyelol
in her hands. ~ ~
fAbout you, Mrs. Hartshorne? Ho
could they? The most any woman asl
me about another is whether she evad
her tradesmen's bills or receives mar
love letters. And anybody could s.
with half an eye"
''I don't mean that. came here
stranger, you know, and people a
usually so inquisitive. Her eyes car
fully avoided those of the girl.
.Weli, I'll tell you" Rose replie
ssWhen / began this work as visitil
social secretary made up my mind tn
nobody would get any, information'fro
me about any clients. Not that there
Usually anything worth while repes
inS, but you know how little thin
can be twisted and turned and made
look like something entirely diffefeI
Attending to social correspondence
nv business, not tattR1gg
IA discreet knock ar the door pun
fEated her peroration ana Matilde e
tered with huge, ornate florists
frefn the end of which protruded 10
spiky stems. She handed her mistr'
: note,
Mrs. HartshOrne tore it open a
read:
Dear LADY, trust that your indi
position has passed and you ave 20
avn happy, charming self again. Nj
bese few roses brighten and hast
~ eOnyalqsecDce ! wonder IL y,