Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-24
The Plain Truth About Nancy

NL'oRGET It. Your poor old Daddy
T Bowman meant well. but he put
lot o. bunk int your head ABOUT man.
tind being rotten, when It amt 80
worse. There's always a coupla wormy
chestnuts t. tn pint. Come on out int
a. world. Who knows? Y might run
int somebody who'd be interested
enough T. help you. You can't fight
that kind of a game alone, like you're
doin', Get int this game, get int th'
usbts. show 'cm you're alive. Next
year you 20 { tn Metropolitan conduc-
ton Who arc you? lie says coldly.
I'm Nancy Bowman, says you. haught-
i,y. An ho puts a crick in his back
iortovin.' But. oh. lady. this is tn
world for you, II you'll on'y see 1t.
Al lonr. SEQ you in tn mornin'."
Nancy's knees shook 50 violently that
M had to sit down. She was stunned
m Jenny's frank summary Of her
nrospects. Il was as II she had climbed
4 vast flight Of stairs, only to lind
Sot.omlsss pit between her and the
reond half Of tho Journey. she knew
that Jenny loved her, and that Jenny
vas never known to lie. Jenny had
had the habit Of speaking the truth
boldly, even hurtfully; friends and
strangers, it did not matter, her lash
swept about impartlally and imperson-
ally.
"oh. Jenny, why didn't you leave
me be-"
Jenny had indeed awakened her. To-
morrow night her full consciousness
would be with her. How could she
sct?--how would she sing! How
would she be able to put vivacity into
numbcd body. rollicking mischief
into her face, and vocal honey into her
throatI
But wait. Hadn't her teacher told
her again and ngain that she had the
making of n great artistic? This hope
was short lived. falling back as 1t did
upon Il cynical truth; that it was her
tcachers bread and butter TO praise
her. Had poor old Daddy Bowman
been wrong? Had he let hope bemuse
his knowledge OF the tru,h--for her
sake?
She waited ten minutes until her
eyes cleared. then che went out into
the corridor. She paused as she reached
Tho doorkcepcr.
lis Mr.. Craig about?" she asked
On tho walk, miss. He's whiting
tpr Mr.. Mannheim.
Jenny stepped out into the night and
east a glance about.
"Oh. Mr.. Craig"' che called.
Cra.s, much nstonished. approached. .
Ia, .lx. E..~
Yes. you can let me thank You for
Ling Foo
'Oh. that -
Il did not realize until tonight how
ehoninably | have behaved. | should
nave sent the dog back or acknowledged
him"
You like him. then?"
That's just it. After n few days
couldn't give him UP. Yon see
tts hard to explain but I'm too
busy to make friends. ! never 80 any
where. All my free hours are devoted
to study"
Study" he interrupted.
Yes. am trying to make my voice
worth something"
Grand opera? We were all wonder
Ing" he said 80 that was It? Jus.
a sensible Young woman with fine
ambition"
Would you like me TO take tea with
you somewhere after the matinee to.
morrow"
II beg pardon?"
with some confusion, she repeated
ths question. Suppos,ng he now de.
sl'ned? 1t would serve her right.
"Why will you:" he cried.
There was something in the appeal
NAT shocked her. Never had she heard
S,voics SO full Of hunger and loneliness.
she was not near enough TO tell, but
Che wondered II there was liquor on
bis breath tonight.
Where and what time?'
Tho Ritz. at five. You make me
very happy. Miss Bowman.'
Five o'clock, then. Good night" ."
=. craig remained bareheadcl until
Nancy turned into Broadway: then he
put on his hat. For the sake of the
I"g' lie wanted 10 laugh but his
throat was dry. So It was grand opera?
Why hadn't the Mulluy girl mrnliu
~ Well, if grand opera was the girls
orenm he could help her; i" had intlu-
encN IN that direction. som" day he
would get Sorreniino 10 Try her ont
ihc stag" door opened aud Mann.
helm came out.
Anywhere you say. Craig" said th"
manager. but where we can talk.
We lhe SYNOPSIS Of Il new book. You re
Always alive with suggestions, buck
ground stuff, and costumes. There's a
sF'Nt part IN 1t for Bowman.
C, just had 4 little talk with her
nhe going TO take tea with me after
tho matinee.'
Wcll, now"
Nancy wnlkrd across town 10 the
el"Nnled. which she took. being par
uruarly careful to keep Ling Eco
GOV red. The puppy seemed to np.
pr'riate her difficulties, for on these
H'uhight journeys be was always ns
QI!'t as II mouse. The responsibility
n't'nhant rp0n the care Of such Il dog.
'o'ho!ned with the alrrtn"ss and serre-
.'ycness with which he had TO be guard
''' had hllcd an enormous void aud
."hight she had something to whisper
10 ana cuddle, 10 mitigate her profound
happiness.
rNhe Nhe would appear friendly toward
N'ais but II single false move and she
nouia nave no more Gf hiin. II she
to''d hnd in him real friend she would
w grateful; but she was full Of doubt
so' while she prepared the puppy's
1upper, while Bancroft rolled upon down
vi nls hultAnic bed, now amused, now
au'tant, the seller of adventures w0vc
us Web, SO line, so broad and high. that
"le day both Bancroft and Nancy Bow
@@A found themselves inescapably en-
meshed In It.
hancroft was awakened the next
smofhlng by the early sunshine. lie had
aorgotten to draw the curtains, and tho
h"Ioen light, bcamlng with notes,