Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-14
CHAPTER XLIV.


The soft folds of the chiffon draped
themselves about her in lines of slen-
clerness and grace and the band of gray
fur was a supremely clever touch Since
the full soiled tunic had been cut off,
the draped undcrskirt now became the
skirt of the dress itself, long enough to
make Ruth look older, short enough
to show the gray silk stockings and the
slippers that were once Emilys.
IL was few minutes after IL o'clock
when they were ready-and the talk had
been only of clothes. Myra sailed about
in her glittering beaded dress with silver
clippers and a cleaning fan. Ruth IN her
comparatively quiet costume, and both
then the other.
Il must say it's mutual admira-
tion party" Cabs voice came from
the doorway "Myra, what have you done
10 this dear, little girl She looks like n
sure enough grown-up society lady
Ruth blushcd at the implied compli-
ment. Gaby studied her critically, while
rhe ripped off her own dress and tossed
j, hastily into closet.
You'd better wear my silver scarf
cr why wear any," she ratified on. y on We
such good arms, you oughtn't TO mnd
showing them. Will you hook me up?
Myra, the party is arriving: Go in the
other room and be sweet hostess while
] get into this dress.
TINS voice was heard from the hall.
Ruth was glad she could stay back n
moment under pretence of helping Gaby
dress.
Run on in, I'll struggle alone. Gaby
eaid. There's your friend from the dear
old home town, don't YOU hear mm?
Better see him now. YOU wont get chance
when the party really arrives
az drather wait and help you dress,
Ruth answered Something in her tone
caught the ear of the little actress. She
looked up-suddenly enough 10 ind
confirmation for her suspicion when she
cav Ruth's face.
II thought So she said. her own
tone quite different. ''Myra Is such
little fool. She can't help but give her
relf .wav. | knew she was deliberately
flirting with Tim, but | didn't know
she stopped suddenly.
Didn't know what?" Ruth wanted
10 have it all out now.
That he was the chap who was en-
Gagged to you. MyTa talks lot, YOU
see and she told me about YOU and her
admiration for your struggle there at
home. She really does adore you. Ruth,
and admires YOU immensely. But she's
SIMPLY a natural born, ruthless little
firt She didn't have thing to do with
her time, and she carried on outrageously
with Tim. Well, she got him. 1t was poor
craftsmanship on her part, III say,
when she knew YOU liked him.
All this time Gaby was powdenng
her face and flung her thick black hair
with quick, deft fingers.
at doesn't make any difference, I'm
-
sitting down suddenly on the bed
you're little brick. Gahy jumped
UP, dropping the long train OF her dress:
You deserve better than Tim, and
You'll get it. Let's see-there's man
coming tonight. Come here till put
some rouge on your cheeks. No, don I
protest You mustn't look like q ghost
Only touch, 80 no one will know-now
YOU look Ike denure little Quaker"
But Ruth felt grown up and quite
sophisticated when she joined the group
IN the front room. There were nearly
dozen there now. She was pleased, too.
because she looked so pretty. She too,
could be beautiful If she had money and
leisure and chance TO dress up Ike these
women.
Then, so curious is the effect Of fine
clothes upon the feminine psychology.
Ruth found herself no longer dreading
10 meet Tim. She was like the best OF
these women. In fact, her own quietness
made her stand out in contrast TO the
universal brilliancy and glitter. She heard
ore man ask:
Who's the stunning girl, Gaby?"
And Gabv brought him up and present.
edshim to Ruth.
She was pretty then. She could be
charming too. She could be all the things
that had attracted Tim, and taken him
away from her, A little feeling Of power
ran through her. the first she had ever
experienced. and she gloried in il.
She would not go to Tim, she would
make him come TO heri
But when he came up TO speak to
her, he looked so handsome IN his dress
admiration of him. Certainly Tim was
good TO look st, in his well fitting suit
But by mutual consent, they avoided /
each other after the polite greetings, |
Gsby had about eight men and four :
women IN her party, and they quite I
filed her tiny room. There was I
buzz of talk, lot of laughing, much Of il I
700 loud or too high, and talk Of people i
and things strange to Ruth
you re so quiet. a voice said 10 her /
She turned to smile at the man whose
compliment she had overheard lie was
Mr. Jordan who had something TO
do with the stage, she did not know what.
81 like 10 listen" Ruth answered. I
'1ts new world to me. YOU see,
They sat and talked awhile, forgetting
the others. MIR. Jordan, it seemed, was
not an actor. He designed and painted
scenery for plays and knew great many
theatrical people The men were all
connected with the stage, except one
tall awkward looking man who sat rather
silently apart.
''Hes some sort Of a Wall street mil
lionaire," Mr. Jordan explained
Hes q harmless old duck who has
more money than ne knows what to do
with and he wants 10 be a producer He
likes the theater and will follow after the
siupidest chorus girl if she'll introduce
him TO stage people.
He went on giving her the histories Of
most OF those present, and finally drew
from her brief account of her own life
at home-brief because Ruth said
nothing Of the need of money, which
was three-fourths of the life there, after
all
Tomorrow Me- W idea