Evening star., 1923-10-28
FIRST UP BEST DRESSED

q
whats yours?" inquired Mildred,
glancing at the letter In her friends
hand.
"Oh. nothing. Forwarded note from
Tad Wilbur saying he was coming to
Chicago"
You're going to see him., aren't
your
NO" said Bertine listlessly.
You used to run around with him
lot in New York."
mot great deal. I thought I was
little too Ritsy for Tad. That was
before the jinx hit me-"
BERTHE. you don't really believe in
jinxes and hoodoos and all that"
Don't I! l believe in this one. /
keep 1t with me-"
Whatever for? Let's see it,"
y ~
IRON the depths of her purse
, L Bertine flshed q folded,
worn square of blue writing paper.
Her friend read with astonishment
! this typed message:
don't recall the girls name,
and I wouldn't even know her face
| without that awful makeup, but for
the luvva Mike, chase her. The
! management sure pulled q fope, as
we used to say In French B. when
| they cast her for the slavey's part.
Otherwise you've got a big hit. Con-
gratis. Thine ever, T."
What's 1t all about" demanded
Mildred.
Collars and Cuffs I played the
| razzed me out Of the part. Haven't
had decent job since"
But how did you get lit"
Some smarty friend Of Sid
Rankine, who wrote the play, sent II
to him. Wanted the part herself,
very likely. Sid passed 1t on to the
manager, and he passed 1t on to me
with fresh grin and my notice. He
didn't like me, anyway. because
| well. Just one Of those becauses."
Mildred nodded her comprehension.
Were you good in the part?"
II was rotten" giggIed- Bertine,
"but I could have worked into it,
| Mildred referred again to. the
| paper: Whats a fope"
That's part Of the jinx. I'm
| keeping it till find out Something
| French. though it's no word 1 ever
| came across"
Throw the thing away" implored
| the other.
I'm going to hang on to it,"
| averred Bertine decisively. until I
| meet the perfect lady that wrote II
And then I'm going to make her eat
| it," she declared with ferocity.
| 'That1l chase the tinx."
How do you know it's a her?"
by the catty sound Of 1t. What
| are we going to wear tonight?"
Looks like ginghams."
What do you think Tommy ie
pulling? A fancy-dress party? No,
| ma'am! When you go 70 the theater,
you brace Mrs. Westfall for the blue
satin and the hat that you wear in
the last act. You'll be a knockout"
What about your"
Keep your eye on the good old
black satin" She exhumed that gar
ment from the wardrobe and began
to rip out the sleeves with deft
fingers. How to turn afternoon into
evening" she remarked. performing
some manipulatfons In the region of
the neck. Turned inside out and
| fused up with some trimmings,
this'll-er-create a marked impress
sion as one of the new crepes that
have Just hit New York this season"
You're a marvel. BERTHE. But you
can't wear a straw hat with that
outfit"
Cant II" She dived into a
drawer and emerged with another
specimen of black satin. which she
proceeded to adjust over the straw.
With a bit Of ruff1e. which your
new chemise Is going to lend me by
request. and the aigrette. IL Ethel
ever comes back with it--ah, we'll
aday! You get that blue satin IL you
want to keep UP with the parade"
4 + 4
NYyHILE Mildred was at the theater
w Bertine completed the transfor-
nation. Then, with the creation
daintily laid out on the bed, the two
girls made careful investment in
enough food to carry them through
the performance. That evening set
tied any hopeful uncertainty. The
show was sure nop.
who cares!" giggled Bertine as
they hurried back to the hotel for
her outfit. you're a dream in that
steely blue, Mil. Maybe youIl hit
some manager a bang in the eye
with It,"
hn tn An
black -and-white effect"
II guess between US we'll make
some OF 'em blink" began Bertine as
she opened the door and stopped dead.
The two girls stared at each other
in awful silence. The bed was empty.
The converted black satin, with all
| that pertained to It. was gone. It's
owner recovered hrst.
"Ethers been here" she observed.
I well. first up. best dressed"
Here's q note" said Mildred.
Gone out to dinner; leave the door
| unlatched!" She began to whimper.
'"The mean, sneaky-"
"Cut it, Mil. We told her to dress
the part. She's done It. Well, ging-
ham for me-"
Mildred began divesting herself Of
her gorgeous blue raiment. "Ging-
ham for me-" she echoed. 'Tf you GO
that way. I'll 20 that way"
Bertine began to laugh. "Well
pretend we did It for q JOSH" =
Half an hour later two shivering but
radiant girls were doubtfuily admitted
to the gorgeous apartment hotel In
which Mr.. Thomas Wright maintained
two whole floors.
"Buck up. grill" whispered Berthe
stoutly in her shaky companions ear.
IT think I smell sausage. Come in
and kiss your host, but don't take q
drink until"