Evening star., 1923-10-28

~ ERTINE MALLORY sat up in
- bed and giggled. From the
cot on the farther side OF the
- room a cross contralto voice
INQUIRED: Whats the merry jest?"
Look at the clock"
A tousled, dark head lifted from
the pillow.
'what about it,"
'It's noon"
'Who cares?"
'T do. You do. We've got break
fast beat. So much to the good"
'Lunch" Queried the brunette with
pessimistic intonation.
Bertine giggled again. When ber-
tine Mallory giggled, you wanted to
kiss her. II used to have a stomach"
she chuckled. "All gone. This Chi
cago air did it. AS a banting diet It
can't be beat"
Yes; when you're thin you look
like a little red-and gold angel. But
I'm getting scrawny. How'm l going
to rehearse today with nothing IN
side me but yearn?" moaned Mil
dred. the fellow sufferer "Bertie, the
shows a flop. It'll be lucky II 1t lasts
out the week"
''Where does that leave us?"
Looking for another job"
TITS a punk season. and We haven't
got the clothes to make front be-
fore q manager"
Between us we have" Bertine
pointed out. You can take the rig
out for the air one day. and 1 the
next"
"The black satin's pretty snappy
STILL" mused Mildred. with nice.
fresh linen at the neck and the wrists
and the little old aigrette dancing on
TOD of the hat, we can still throw
bluff But outside Of that"
'Ginghams. Br-rr-rr-rr!" shivered
Bertine. She glanced at the door of
An inner room. What about Ethel|'
"Trailing a job. think OF course.
she won't hoodoo her chances by say
ing until she's landed it. What time
did she get in last night"
About 8, guess. She tried to tell
me something, but I was too dead
to the world"
'Tm going to dress and go down
for the mail. I've a feeling there's
something lucky for u.s." prophesied
Mildred
think somebody's written US box
of sardines? inquired Bertine hope
fully. "That'd be the most important
mail I can think Of. What's the mat
ter, Mir
where's my silk petticoat?
Bertine began to rummage about.
srWhere are my brown stockings"
whats become of my tan shoesT'
gasoline cleaned spats."
Berthe strode over to the decrepit
wardrobe. "Our aigrette's gone" she
announced.
Mildred threw open the door of the
inner room. a"So's Ethel"
"She sure must be on the trail of
something good or she wouldn't be
stalking 1t this early. That's what
she was trying to tell me last night"
We'll, we've got to dress, anyway"
said Mildred philosophically. Come
On; let's snap into the good old ging-
hams"
TN the midst of the process the
door opened and the third men,
Der of the stranded trio revealed her
SetI, pOeiHB wa ~AS
threshold in a symposium OF their
collective most available garments.
The two despoiled ones lifted a single
voice: You certainly do look like
q million dollars"
First up best dressed" pronounced
the newcomer jauntily. Girls, I've
landed"
mo! What's the part?"
"How much in it?"
"Not so bad for bum season. Sew
enty-hve per. It's a last-minute
hil-in. Got in on the clothes and the
bluff. That's the way to land Job
in bad times. my infants. How much
have you got on hand?"
'"The treasurer reports two dol
lars and forty-nine cents"
"And the ghost walks Saturday.?
Maybe
"well, you've got to make 1t go. I'll
send back some, out of the first wad
lay my claws on. No advance yet
except my ticket to Peoria for Sun
day night
Couldn't you hook It for a mess Of
frankfurters and catch a ride on a
truck" suggested Berthe.
IF you're looking for easy feed,
Manderson's been inQuiring for Milly
and you"
..Manderson? That crooked shyster
lawyer?'
IT suppose he is about as crooked
a. they make en-" conceded Ethel.
"And I wouldn't be seen dead with
him, myself. on Broadway" Bertine
averred. But in Chicago-who
cares?"
."rhey say he's a bear with a menu
card" murmured Mildred.
'T'm not that hungry" snapped
Berthe.
Tad Wilbur's in town, too" pur-
sued Ethel, looking at Berthe.
you've been seeing EN- all. haven's
your observed the girl with rather
too obvious carelessness.
'Quite q few. He wanted to know
where he could find you."
"You didn't tell him!'
mo. But why pass up any possible
meal tickets?" protested Mildred.
''Tad Wilbur isn't q meal ticket"
'well, don't bite me-"
Besides. you're wrong" added
Ethel. HE IL. That is, he can be
II he wants to. He's hit IL with his
invisible telephone invention. The
Kaplans have put It In all their New
York houses. and he's out here plac-
ing It."
''That's fine" Bertine Mallory's
expressive face Frightened, but only
for q moment. II always thought II
was a fiiv," she added DULY.
well, I'm of. children" said Ethel.
s(Sot a lunch date. Oh, here's your