New Britain herald., 1927-02-01

that" she said. T know I'm nc prize winning beauty, but I've got brains. And I am funny! You wait til you see me do the comedy bit Roy Schultz is going to give me in this picture of Joan Joyce's. Ii
 Joan Joyce. Perhaps Gus Mac Cloud was really in love with her. Perhaps she was in love with him. Where had the two of them gone when they walked out of the res taurant?
 Robbie imagined them having dinner together at candle-lighted table in Joan Joyce's big white marble house up in Beverly Hills.
 Sitting there, across from each other, talking and laughing, there hands touching now and then -
 She pushed her dessert plate away from her, and asked the little waitress, trim in frilly cap and apron. for the check.
 Come on, let's go,' she said inn patiently to Monica, who had pulled a black enamel cigaret case from her beaded bag.
 Wait minute. I want to talk to you" Monica answered, pulling her back into her chair by her coat sleeve. T want to ask ou to do me a favor. Will you let me come and stay at your house to- night. Honestly I can't go back to my boarding house unless l pay up what I owe there-and even then, ] wouldn't stay after the way they've treated me. Holding my trunks,'
 While Robbie was opening her lips to say Yes" she went on: T hate to ask you this-but could you let me take some money, too? Not much-and I'll pay it back to you soon."
 Robbie thought over the automo- hile that Monica was not paying for. and she looked at the white fox scarf and the imported bag and the cut-steel buckles on Monica's high h-heeled slippers.
 Of course, those things were all unpaid for, too! Monica just couldn't have paid for them out of an extra girls wages.
 'I'd have to get the money out Of the bank" she said slowly. T have only fourteen dollars with me. Could you wait for it until tomor- row morning."
 Sure" Monica's face cleared as if sunshine had passed over it. She jumped up and started toward the doors of the restaurant.
 And I'll go back to your board ing house with you. then" she said easily, and that was settled.
 She drove Robbie home in her little car and parked it in the neat gravel driveway between Mrs. Mangan's Towering hedges, and followed her into the house.
 Mrs. Mangan was at home, sit ting at the dining room table copy ing recipes into a thick notebook.
 Robbie walked into the dining room and spoke to her:
 Mrs. Mangan, could my friend, Miss Mont, stay with me tonight 2" she asked, and Mrs. Mangan raised her head and gave her the most cheerful look Robbie had ever seen upon her worn face.
 Indeed she could!" She chirped where she usually drawled. 'The l two Misses Firkin left about an hour ago. Bad news from their home in Idaho - a brother dying = and they said they couldn't afford | to keep their rooms while they | were gone. They didn't know how | long it would be. It seems he was | hurt while he was filling a silo. | They lived on farm you know"
 Robbie didn't know She had never seen the two Firkins sisters. | Stella had told her about them, 1 and she had heard them talking to- gether sometimes at night in their rooms, or splashing in the bath room, in the morning.
 It flashed across her mind>that | it would be just like Monica to | come to live at Mrs. Mangans in | one of the rooms left empty by the | Firkin sisters.
 "Oh, l hope she won't" she | thought fervently.
 But that was just what hap pened. Mrs. Mangan got up from the table and walked into the hall | where Monica was standing.
 Evidently something in Monica's face-probably its cheerfulness = warmed the cookies of Mrs. Man. gan's shriveled heart. Dried up and drab as she was, Monicas life and sparkle seemed to appeal 10