San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-20

"Who prayT broke in Nine. Petruz-
ri impatiently.
"Arlette is the model for Nicholas
Perry's drawings" 1 said. "He is
the artist spoken Of in the caption I'M
der your picture. He has hurt his
hands-he doesn't use them-and
yet"
That's it," said Nine. Petruzzi Gag
erly. ''The child was too frightened
to sing when your husband brought her
to me. l tried to calm her. Then.
scolded her. She broke down at that
and cried-and to make friends / gave
her little old picture of myself-the
only one of the kind 1 had left. 1t
was in bad shape. She said she would
ask Mr.. Nicholas to fix it for her.
Evidently he can use his hands-and
his imagination-for what is written
under the picture advertises him as
well as-us," she finished with a
laugh.
"Are you still angry" I asked.
NO, amused" she replied.
"That is good" 1 said. "for I hear
familiar hum approaching and that
means that my husband is driving
up the roadway. He dashed off a
while ago-and it wouldn't surprise
me if it was Mr.. Perry he dashed
after"
And that was precisely how it turn
ed out, for inside of five minutes Jim
was kissing Nine. Petruzzi's strong
hand and was presenting Nicholas
Perry to her. And Nicholas Perry
cried gleefully:
Was that a good stunt or no,
Nine. Petruzzi?"
The stocky, sturdy, middle-aged wo-
man eyed him long and shrewdly be-
fore she spoke. And her voice was
restrained and a bit critical as she
replied with the New Highlander much
in evidence:
"Not good because it was not hon
est"
Nicholas Perry started and knit his
brows.
II hate to have you Judge me so
harshly,' he protested.
at might be well for YOU to get
accustomed to judgment that is I'M
biased by a desire to save you the
discipline you need" Nine. Petruzzi
snid quietly.
Nicholas Perry WINGED. have never
seen him more taken aback than by
his inability to move this grizzled,
middle-aged woman with her deep set
little eyes, but sturdy figure and her
capable hands.
Il shouldn't have done it," he ask
ed humbly.
at was highly dishonorable, she
replied inexorably. "What right have
you to combine my photograph and
drawing of your model so they will
be reproduced as one photograph?
What right have you to steal my seal
of approval for this child and to get
yourself publicity by fastening your
scheme to Diane PetruZzi?" she asked
with quiet dignity and a pride that
seemed entirely justified.
None" said Nicholas Perry hum
bly,. "But 1 was SO thrilled to find
| could use my hands a little again
could draw a bit. / was afraid
could never make another picture.
Think how that thought must have
hhrt-think what it meant to you
when your voice vent"
The unconscious brutality Of that
made me gasp. 1t stopped Nicholas
Perry. He looked at Madame Pet
ruzzi pleadingly and then he buried |
his face in the hands that are just |
coming back to power and whose first |
ask was dishonorable one.
Nine. Petruzzi got up and went |
over to Nicholas Perry. She put |
Ter hand on his bowed head.
II know how it feels, caro-" she |
laid. Il am glad your hands are
given their voice again. We are
III interested in the little Arlette. We
will make the greatest lyric soprano
Il our day speak from her golden
we can get the money.
But can we get it? 1t will mean two
ears with me-abroad. 1t will mean
more years with the great teachers
# Italy and Paris. 1t will mean
more years Of work. Ten years-her
a fortune. Shall We
triye to find the way?"
"Ten years." gasped Jim. Was il
ear that made his voice break so
Iarshly?
IT. L. ~o-S:...,-.IN