Evening star., 1926-05-16

| Il thought we weren't going to
have any more company this month" "
said Sarah.
1t was on the tip of Barbara s
| tongue to say, $50 did /, but she did
not.
This need not disturb your routine
at all. Sarah" she said. IN look
after everything"
y X X
JANICE THOMSON entered the
house with Alan carrying her per-
feet luggage. She already had small
niece by each hand. They looked up at
her wonderingly. There was something
| luxurious about Janice which touched
| a new note of response in their small
souls. She had a picture-book look,
with her short waved hair and the
soft. small hat that so perfectly
matched her fur coat. The coat was
of mole and squirrel, which set Off her
charming skin and her dark, lazy
eyes.
What a lovely room, Alan. You
have a clever wife," She smiled at
Barbara, who smiled back for lack of
something better to say or do and felt
both attracted to her guest and an
noyed by her. Alan sat around bland
| ly, obviously admiring this charming
pretty sisterinlaw, and beginning TO
I'VE ought to ask the Changers in
tonight. Barbara. Janice used to know
Mary Granger. Let's ask the Changers
and the Willoughbys, and few
| others"
Heavens. no. protested Janice,
I'm see Mary later. why nave
party"
1T won't be any trouble" said Alan,
"Will 1t, Barbara"
NO. indeed" agreed Barbara, re-
fecting that it was one of the nights
that Sarah went out early. NO
trouble at all for Alan." she said
under her breath.
Come up and let me show you your
room, Janice" she suggested. Allan,
don't you think they will be waiting
for you at the office"
Janice rose comfortably, looking
from her host to her hostess. She left
her hat on the table and her purse on
the mantel Alan had no excuse to
linger He went back to his work.
The hat and the purse were, as Bar
bara guessed after an hour, indicia
of the way Janice did things. or.
rather, OF the way she didn't DO
things.
1t seemed not to occur to her that
room should always be taultiessi!
restored after it's use, that traces OF
occupany should he erased. ina.
magazines should be replaced. ana
hats kept on shelves. And though 1t
was Sarah's night out. and Barbara
had been forced to hint that 1t was.
Janice sat at the table lingering over
her coffee, regaling Alan. ana trying
10 regale Barbara, with most OF
amusing stories picked up here ana
there. ~ .,,o
They had barely left the table
when the guests for the evening pc
gan to drift in. Barbara was uis
turbed. She went to the kltcheli "
trv TO mollify Sarah, and found that
august person singing over her work.
II seemed like a dream, until bar
hara noted two of Janices trocks
living over the ironing board ana on
the window ledge above the dlshpah
a five dollar bill.
"That's the way she gets away
with it," thought Barbara bitterly,
but what if you haven't any fVe'
dollar bills to give away
However, it was clear that Sarah
was a convert to the guest. mat was
a comfort. The children we're con
verts, too. and when Barbara went
to tuck them in she heard nothing
but talk of Aunt Janice.
Rarbara went downstairs. pausing
on the landing for glimpse or the
group in the living room. They were
enioying themselves. 1t was the first
time that the Changers had ever been
in her house, and on Alan's account
she was glad to see them there,
though vaguely she resented the fact
that Janice had been the occasion OF
their coming. Granger was capl-
talist whose interest might be very
useful to a young fellow in the bond
business.
They were all discussing plans for
the entertainment of Janice. The
Grangers were insisting on small
dinner for the next night, and Mrs.
Willoughby wanted to have her
chance to pay tribute to the inter
esting guest Not to be Outdone,
Barbara said she was having a
luncheon, and began to plan 1t furi-
ously in. the back of her mind.
THAT was the first night, There
followed a group of extremely
busy days Mary Granger enter.
tained at dinner for Janice, and Bar
bara furbished up her best evening
gown and went to spend an evening
watching Janice receiving the hon.
age of a dozen men. Alan, as brother
in-law and escort, enjoyed himself
hugely. Mrs. Willoughby gave tea
in her lovely home, and Barbara met
women rather intimately whom she
had known Onlv slightly before.