New Britain herald., 1927-02-25

pa" the orange colored liquor that
she went down to Chinatown to buy.
Bobbie looked around the apart
ment as she held her cocktail glass
in her fingers. More and more, it
showed signs of Monica's new
wealth.
There was a d-embroidered
Chinese tapestry above the mantel-
piece. Blue and scarlet and black
and gold, it fairly blazed out from
the wall against which 1t was hung.
A wood fire fiickered in the CRATE, and
Monica had flung incense into the
flames.
There were orange and yellow
lustre bowls around the room, and
they were filled with fresh violets
and lilies of the valley. Bobbie Won
dered who had sent them to Monica,
She knew she never had bought
them. Catch the closefisted
Monica spending money on anything
as useless as flowers.
"They smell just like funeral,
don't they" she asked as Bobbie put
her face down to them, to breathe
their delicious woodsy fragrance. Il
Just hate fresh flowers around the
house. But Ted Piper sent them, so
I couldn't throw them out"
AS she said the last sentence she
gave Roy a narrow look, as if she
wanted to see if the mention of Ted
Piper's name would make him
jealous.
Bobbie glanced at him, too. But
he went on with his cocktail, and
his face did not change. 1t remained
as blank as the face of a wooden
Indian-the kind that used to stand
outside cigar stores in the dear dead
days beyond recall.
Good cocktail Monica. Pour
your uncle another" he said, hold
ing out his glass to her. Gosh, but
it's nice and snug up here. What
do you say to our going over to
MaHchetti's for some ravioli and
cheese and fiXings, and having bite
up here?"
But Monica shook her head with
its blue black scallops of hair. and
her bright blue eyes snapped be-
tween lashes that were loaded with
some kind Of black oil.
Not on your life. brother" she
cried. I'm all dressed UP to so out,
and I'm going out. So just write that
on your cuff
Roy laughed. Yes, I can see that
you're all dressed up" he said drily.
Anyone, with half an eye, could
have seen that. For Monica. In addi-
ton to what she called a back
ground" dress of this black chiffon.
was wearing about six yards of
large pink imitation pearls, a near
diamond brooch as big as a police
mans badge, a dozen or more thin
gold bracelets set with colored
stones, and about a half pound OF
rouge and powder.
II hear that you're getting to be
sourly to Bobbie. II hear that Roy
and Gus are just more than making
you"
"Werl, they've each given me a
part in a picture. if that's what you
call success" Bobbie answered her
quietly, as she set her untouched
drink down on the tea-wagon.
She had found out that drink
didn't make her happy-that it
didn't make anyone happy, but that
it made most people sick and silly
and so she had stopped taking it..
"Of course, it's success" Monica
said snappishly. But it won't last,
so enjoy it now. though I had it q
while ago, too. But Roy won't put
me into any more pictures now that
his wife's jealous of me-
She pushed the tea-wagon out of
her way, and got up.
Come on, Bobbie while I put on
my hat" she said giving Roy a
mean" look that he didn't see. 1T
won't take me a minute"
| Bobbie followed her into the little
| dressing room. Here, too. there We're
signs Of sudden riches. The dressing
table had been draped with pale
green silk festooned with artificial
rosebuds, and upon its top glittered
toilet set Of ivory monogrammed
in gold with Monicas initials. There
was huge bottle filled with a new
| kind of perfume that was almost as
overpowering as laughing-gas
Il blended it myself Monica said
proudly, waving the stopper before
Boobies little pink nostrils. Half OF
| it's gardenia perfume, and the other
| half is tuberose. Isn't it spuzzy?"
/ 1t had horrible smell.
| Monica sprayed it all over her
self. and then crammed a tiny red
satin hat down over her eyes.
| That son-of-a sea cook in there.
she said in her rough common voice
| with nod of her head toward Roy
| Schultz, thinks that he can come
up here and have supper every night
! where his wife can't see him, And
/ he can't. He'll either take me out in
! public, or he won't take me out at
all. and I've told him SOL" She snap
ped the buttons of her gloves vicious
| ly and slung an enormous beaded
! bag over her arm. and a great white
! ss;S