New Britain herald., 1927-02-10

and coat ana Sne Wae StanQIn beside the bed, looking down a the pale pink dress and scarf tha Robbie had spread out upon it.
 She turned when Robbie opened the door. Her green eyes spar kled like emeralds. They looked curiously alive in her tired whit face.
 You going somewhere tonight? ?
 Robbie nodded. She had not tolt Stella anything about Gus Mac Clouds party. She had hoped tha Stella wouldn't need to knov about it at all.
 Yes" Her voice was one smal short sound, and she did not lool at Stella when she spoke.
 Instead she gazed at the ruined slippers, holding them up in heI outstretched hand.
 Monica borrowed my evening . slippers, and just see what she's done to them!' she cried. setting them on the dresser. Do you sup. pose I could fix them up with some gold paint?"
 She could feel Stella's enormous eyes fixed on her.
 Where are you going tonight? ?' Stella asked point blank. and Bob. bic told her.
 Gus MacCloud is giving New Years Eve bust" she said slowly l pl, al Stella's green eyes drew together and across her face went a little shadow of pain that Robbie had noticed there before when Gus MacCloud's name had been spoken between them.
 But I thought you and he i weren't on friendly terms any more," she said accusingly.
 Robbie smiled the soft helpless smile of woman who knows that man is hopelessly in love with her, and she with him. "We weren't-but We made up," she answered with a happy lltte smile. Stella turned sharply away as If that smile had been a lash across her face.
 At the door she glanced back, over one thin sloping shoulder
 Did you say you wanted some gold paint for your slippers:" she asked. I'm going down to the drug store. I'll bring you some if you need it."
 Robbie tossed her a half dollar. She began to take off her clothes in feverish hurry, and she was | lying deep in a hot bath when Stella came back with the gold paint.
 There was a strong smell of something antiseptic in the upper hall of the house when she started back to her room. It made her think of the smell that alwars hangs in the air of Q hospital ward. Carbolic acid, was that it :. She picked up the bottle of gold paint from her dresser and sniffed it. It smelled like banana oil
 Then she went to the door of Stella's room. What is that weirI smell in the hall?" she asked, and then she saw that Stella was hold ing little brown bottle in her hands, and looking at it's label.
 "Carbolic acid" she said, in an absent-minded way. I'm going to wash my hair brushes, when you're through with the bathroom"
 'I'm through now" Robbie an swered, tucking back the little wet gold curls that clustered on her forehead.
 But Stella didn't go into the bathroom. She laid the small brown bottle down on her bedside table and followed Robbie into her own room.
 Honey she said, as she sat on i the bed, smoking cigarette after cigarette and watching Robbie get into the pale pink dress. You're , just crazy about MacCloud. aren't you?"
 Robbie nodded. Crazy mad, Stella,' she answered solemnly. You could tell things to Stella. She was that kind of person. Hes not worth it, Stella re- marked. flicking off bit of ash from the end of her flag. Hes selfish beast and when he's through with you he'll drop you just the way he'd throw away an old collar. Now, I'm telling you" Think soo" asked Robbie. Hes come back to me twice TOW. after I've told him 10 go chase himself! I think he likes me a little. Stella"
 She wouldn't have said it, If she'd guessed how she was hurt ing Stella. But she didn't guess- not then. at any rate.
 She went on brushing her hair into little gold curls around her ears. fluffing violet toilet powder all over her neck and arms and shoulders, slipping the thinnest of thin chiffon slips over her head. rolling gold-colored stockings just below her knees. She was so busy doing the hundred and one little delicious things that are part of a woman's dressing that she didn't look into the glass and see Stella's face reflected there.
 If she had, she might not have felt so light hearted when she went down the stairs at the sound of Gus MacClouds siren wailing in the street below.
 There he is. By by, Stella" she called back.
 And stella's voice floated down the staircase to her: Say Happy New Year to him for me, will you"'
 (To Be Continued)
 Stella makes use of the little brown bottle In the next chapter of this story.