The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-08
Chapters From a
Woman s Life
HELEN REsENTs GRACE HARTER
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter 29.

Cnapter ~.
"Oh, Doreen, I have something so
funny to tell you'll" Grace Harter came
in a few days after the last incident,
and hardly waited to reply to my
greetings before she burst out in ex-
1 clamation.
[ Good! 1 was rather in the dumps
Mrs. Page is at the dentist. I think
she didn't like it because I didn't go
/ with her; but couldn't bear the
thought of sitting cooped up there an
hour or two waiting. What is it?''
"Helen RaIstrom is Jealous of me!'
She threw her head back and laughed
gayly "The little idiot!''
what right has she to be Jealous OF
anyone? 1 suppose you refer to Wal
| ter" But Grace had called ber a Tit
tie idot''--tllat didn't look as If had
anything to fear from Grace. I never
could quite dispossess my mind of the
| thought that she still cared for Wal
ter.
mo right But me of all people!"
Again felt little glow. Il dropped
in, thought ia follow up my telephone
call, you know. am a great believer
| in the system. I found them resting.
I so knew wasn't bothering Walt, and
| so 1 pitched in. 1 flirted abominably
/ with him, Doreen. fused over him,
| criticised his tie, and ' as really the
solicitous female. Her black looks
| egged me on, and 1 just kept 1t up.
Then L said: Walt. would telephone
you often we are such old friends. but
| never do because I hate to inter-
| rupt you. You know how my heart is
set on your success I wish you could
| have seen her as she said:
| Don't flatter yourself too much,
1 Grace, that you are the only woman
who is interested in Walter. He has
4 other friends that are not afraid to
| telephone"
''Now, I'm Jealous" I exclaimed
| walt, my boy, tell me who has been
trying to steal your faithful heart from
me?"
, to such rubbish?" I asked now laugh
"Oh. he was fused, showed It plain
! 1y. '"Wish I knew" he said. some
woman telephoned me the other day.
Helen answered the phone and has
ragged me about it ever since"
thought I would get her goat, as the
/ boys say, and you see I did. I'll bet
a nickel they querreled over IT."
THAT she daTes question my hus-
! bands actions isn't pleasant for me-"
/ L replied.
! tits good for you to know he allows
it." Grace said SOLDERING. You can't
fight in the dark and you have got TO
/ fight Helen Ralstrom, her influence
over Walt. And you can count me in
on your side, Doreen. That girl isn't
out in the open. She doesn't play fair;
] We will have to make her-if we can"
You think" I stopped. L could
not put into words my distrust
II don't think anything-yet. But
Walt is a man, isn't he? An impress
sionable one. and an artist. She has
good material to work on"
'I thought you liked Helen" ven
tured.
You made a mistake. I pretended
to like her, shall keep right ON pre-
y
chance to help. When 1 left I was
sweet as sugar to her. flattered her
and the picture. Just the same she'll
give Walt a bad half hour or I miss
my guess. And he doesn't like bad
half hours, as you must know by this
time; can't bear anyone to find fault
with him.
I began to see what Grace was driv-
ing at. Helen would be cross, Walter
would resent 1t. Only too well did
know how little he could bear criti-
cism or fault finding.
"Oh, I nearly forgot! I made Walt
promise to give a studio party soon.
An evening party. OF course he'll
have her. but he can't devote himself
to her when he is the host. Let's get
him to have it costume party.
Doreen. I'm dying for a good time"
THAT would be fun" I answered,
but it's hard for me to get away while
his mother is here. She resents being
left alone"
Nonsense! She's got Fldo, hasn't
she?
Mrs. Page came in Just then. She
greeted Grace in her most freezing
manner, while Grace impishly injured
If Ffdo had also had his teeth looked
after.
Il see you have the little darling
with you" she said.
Mrs. Page made no reply. but
knew from the way she sailed from
the room, I should hear another TRADE
against my friends, Grace in partic-
ular.
(Tomorrow-Mrs. Page is I'D