Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-02

of course she thought you were max
ing fun. 1t was too good to be true.
These things don't happen once in a
lifetime She'll be sick about this,
you'll see. Why, she didn't know
what she was doing, she's an awfully
nice little thing-I-I hope you aren't
| going to hold 1t against herr and"
"Oh, she can have the stuff, If that's
what you mean. But keep her out of
my sight! l never want t. see her
again l hate herl"
Oh, very well Theresa knew the
temper OF this kind of human flint
with which they had to deal She
knew no kindly messenger could
bridge the gap Greta had so dramat-
ically created between herself and the
one who wished to help her-that she
would accept of no secondhand boun-
ty after her stormy passion. No use
to send a word Of forgiveness, for
| Greta would not believe.
| And so Theresa, knowing that Jerry
herself must reach across the breach,
stayed with her, petted her, coaxed
her into yielding.
ooh, very well. have 1t your own
way, then" Jerry said at last. II
know I'm a weak-minded little Ounce,
and let you twist me around your
! little finger. Come on then. Let's go
and find the wild little heather, and
tell her what we think of her."
Theresa promptly accepted the sub
mission, knowing full we'll she could
trust the end to Jerry's inherent
sweetness, and the two girls set out
together. at once, in search Of Jerrys
| spitf1re. She did not answer their ring
at the Griller studios, and after per
sistent pressing on the button one OF
the artists on the second floor looked
out from the window, and, recognize
ing Theresa, agreed to press his buzzer
to give them admittance.
1--WE want Greta VAL" said Theresa.
Where is her room?"
"In the basement" he called cheer
fully. "And dark as the deuce, so
watch your step as you go down. The
door on the right, clear at the cad"
Very gingerly they made their way,
hand in hand, down the dark stairs,
and through the dark basement corri-
dor to the door at the end, on the
right.
Listen" Theresa whispered. "Didn't
l tell your"
The sound of passionate, strangled
sobbing came out to them from behind
the door. Theresa knocked smartly,
but received TO answer. She turned
the knob, but the door was locked
from within. She pounded heavily,
necessarily, and presently the stran-
gled sobbing ceased, and intense 81
lence prevailed.
"Greta, come here and open this
door," ordered Theresa.
go away" was the muffied re
joinder.
"Open the door, you little simple
TOM said Theresa. Fright away. 1t
is Theresa Brady"
go away, 1 tell your
"Greta, you ought to be ashamed Of
yourself! Now you come and open
this door as fast as ever you can, or
I'll bang 1t down."
The sternness of her voice had its
effect at last. Greta shuffied across
the room and opened the door. A
her thin hair stringing about her face,
her cheap blouse twisted and pulled
awry, her unlovely face swollen with
weeping and stained with tears. When
she realized that it was Jerry who
stood with Theresa in the dark hall
her face with her hands. Theresa
stood back, made way for Jerry. She
had done her part. She knew that Jerry
now could be given free, loose rein.
Jerry ran into the dingy basement
room at once, and put both arms
about the wretched, covering figure.
'Don't cry" she said, don't cry.
don't mind bit, honestly don't. We
all do silly things when we're excited"
She pulled her softly across the
room toward the cot, and sat beside
her, holding her in her arms, calling
ner sou CdICSSlNc udlHcSs silly llLlIc
goose" and foolish child" while The
resa watched them soberIy, her un-
fashionable eyes not on Greta who by
rights should have been the center o.
the scene, but on Jerry's tender, sorry
face. After little, when Greta lay
quiet in her arm, except for an occa-
sional racking shudder of her thin
shoulders Jerry explained:
"You see, thought perhaps could
paint a little myself, but / can't really.
and don't want to be bothered. But
1t would be wicked to throw those
lovely things away. and when Theresa
told me about you l was so happy !
| could hardly wait to get hold of you.
1t was very stupid, the way told
you. / do things so quickly, all in q
flash, on the spur of the moment, and
| don't wonder you thought was
crazy. But really do not want the
eh;u.~e op1 ~ will tuoka ma On hannv