Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-27
Chapter LXXXII.


Next morning the girl put on the
stunning blue suit with its gray fur
that came high around her face, selected
grav shoes and stockings and gray suede
gloves. and a little fuzsy blue hat that
was the most fetching thing she had ever
seen.
She stood in front of the mirror, look
ing at herself. To every woman that SEN
sation comes once in a life-time--the SEN
sation of seeing herself suddenly of the
desirable fashion plate smartness, of
seeing herself suddenly transformed into
someone very pretty, very attractive.
Ruth had thought little of her looks.
But the rich furs, the snug hat, the ex-
pcnsive suit-above all, the correct touches
that made her outfit so very lovely, the
shoes and gloves, the silk stockings that
showed her what slim and graceful ankle
she had-these things made the girl look
at herself in a new way. She did not re-
gret now the money that was gone.
She only wished, suddenly, that Langley
was there TO see her in all this gorgeous
ness.
On her way out, she paused to bury
her face in the bowl of roses that some
how were sent there by him.
Then she forgot her clothes and her
new prettiness, and gave her whole
NINA 10 inc tslSk she istCl ptti Sclib " W.
She made calls upon several men
whose names she had. She talked house
building, looked over their plans, took
copies of their estimates and made notes
"a their suggestions. She discussed drain
is = creek and building a canal for float
ir down raw material. She saw new
architect and made corrections IN his
pai,s Tor some buildings in the new town.
But the war wont last forever, he
said. When it over, your war work VIII
end and You'll have lot of empty houses
on your hands. Why do you want to put
80 much money in thcm?'
Tley had gone out to luncheon, to
discuss the affair while they ate. 1t was q
downt own restaurant, ard very handsome
TO Ruth's eyes.
but for the future" Ruth said. after
the war. we'll attract other work, if
we have conditions under which people
can work. 1t costs more to build sub
stantial house than shack, but 1t costs
no more to build beautiful row Of houses
than an ugly rOw-eXpect the archl-
tects lee That's why I'm selecting yoI
YOU can give me something artistic.
The man gave in. And that afternoon
the new plans were begun, after she had
made some rough sketches Of what she
wanted.
Ruth was to stay in the city until
the new plans were in good enough shape
for her 70 approve them. That meant
visit Of about once dayto the architects
office He was q tall and rather q inc
loobl~g chap, and Ruth liked him i'm
mensely In her own mind, she compared
him with Langley because he possessed
thick fright yellow hair.
II 1ahi hiar4
on her ct her hotel. He was head Of the
largest contracting firms in the city, and
his conversation fascinated the young
girl MIR. Cooper did not talk about the
building of one house or block Of houses,
be talked Of the building Of whole cities
be created entire towns where there had
sbeen dAA fields, bs raised factories and
workshops where there had been nothing
but sticks and stones. Ruth listened 10
him with her eyes shining This man waved
Iead pencil in the air and it was Ike q
- msGo wand creating a city 20 house
thousands he made rough sketches on
the sheets Of blank paper spread out be-
lore him, and stores, halls, homes and
workshops fairly grew out Of her finger
'It takes a surprisingly little time,
he said, because many parts Of the
buildings can be made IN stock sizes
sufficient variety so that there Is no
monotony in the buildings when they are
finished. / can supply you with oity n
Dutch Colonial orin the Old English Cot
tsge manner or any one OF half dozen
periods of architecture"
Ruth looked at the rough sketches he
had made on the paper. You talk Ike
a magician she said. How long does
it take?" Mr.. Cooper mentioned the time
"a period 80 short that It made Ruth feel
more than ever, that he was some sort Of
Aladdin, who rubbed a magic lamp and
made cities spring UP like mushrooms.
But viii the houses be substantial
He went into 8 long explanation as
to how the buildings were made in parts
and fitted together, and that all the parts
were well made Of the best material
IN motor you over to our plant, he
said, 'and you can see whole villages
lying about IN classified piles; so many
thousand large windows IN one pile,
so many small windows in another,
sides of houses already fitted together
and lying stacked up ready TO be shipped =
I'm other words" Ruth said you
send me a whole town cut up IN small
pieces like jigsaw puzzle and when we
get the pieces out to Marketown.vou send
workmen along to fit the pieces together
and make buildings out of them. \
That's it exactly" he answered. He
gave some directions TO @ secretary who
had accompanied him, and sent the man
back to MS Office. It was nearly clock
Are you going to be engaged this
evening, may ! ask?" he turned to Ruth
She hesitated. II had thought Of look
ing up some old friends, she answered
and her face grew little pale at the idea.
Tomorrow-Ruth sees Society