The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-22
HELEN REsENTs GRACE HARTER
Chapter 20


"Oh, Doreen. | have something 50
funny to tell you'll" Grace Harter came
in a few days after the last incident.
and hardly waited to reply to my greet
ings before she burs; out in exclama-
ton.
Good! l was rather in the dumps.
Mrs. Page is at the dentist / think
she didn't like it because l didn't go
with her; but | couldn't bear the
thought of sitting cooped up there az
hour or two waiting. What is it?"
Helen Ralstrom is jealous of mel"
She threw her head hack and laughed
gayly. THE little idiot"
What right has she to be jealous of
anyone? l suppose you refer to Wal
ter" But Grace had called her lit
tie idiot" that didn't look as / hal
anything to fear from Grace. / never
could quite disposses5 my mind of the
thought that she still cared for Walter
No right! But me of all people!"
Again | felt a little glow. Il dropped
in, thought I'd follow up my telephone
call, you know, | am a great believer
in the system. | found them resting,
so | knew l wasn't bothering Walt, and
so | pitched in. l flirted abominably
with him, Doreen, fused over him,
criticised his tie, anu was really the
solicitous female Her black looks
egged me on, and l just kept it up.
Then l said: "Walt, | would tele-
phone you often we are such old
friends, but I never 90 because l hate
TO interrupt you. You know how my
heart is set on your success" | wish
you could have seen her as she said ::
Don't flatter yourself too much,
Grace, that you are the only woman
who is interested in Walter. He has
other friends who are not afraid to
telephone"
Now, I'm jealous" l exclaimed.
walt, my boy, tell me who has been
trying to steal your faithful heart from
me?"
What in the world did Walter say
to such rubbish?" l asked now laugh,
ing.
"Oh. he was fused, showed it plain
". Wish / knew" he said, some
woman telephoned me the other day
Helen answered the phone and has
ragged me about it ever since"
thought l would get her goat, as the
boys say, and you see l did. I'll be,
a nickel they quarreled over it,
THAT she dares question my hus-
bands actions isn't pleasant for me,
Ireplied.
Its 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 RalstroIn, 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-lt
we can.
you think" l stopped I could
not put into words my distrust
Il don't think anyihing-yet But
Walt is man, isn't he? An impress
sionable one. and an artist. She has
good material to work on"
Il thought you liked Helen" ven.
tured
You made a mistake. I pretended
to like her, shall keep right on pre-
tending. 1t is the only way I'll get i
chance to help. When l left l was
sweet as sugar to her, flattered her
and the picture. Just the same she'll
give Walt a bad half hour or l miss
my guess. And he doesn't like baL
half hours, as you must know by this
time; can't bear anyone to find faul;
with him"
l began to see what Grace was driv.
ling al. Helen would be cross, Walter
would resent it. Only too well did ]
know how little he could bear criti
efsm or fault finding
"Oh, l nearly forgot | made Wall
promise to give a studio party soon
An evening party. OF course he'll have
her, but he can't devote himself tc
Aer when he is the host Let's gel