The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-01
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| ing weeks was just ahead. Her re-
servation had been made for room
and bath at the expensive, exclu-
sive Minnetonka Hotel. Her rail-
road and Pullman tickets were
snugly secure in her new lizard
skin handbag.
Two wardrobe trunks were al
ready packed and checked through
to Lake Minnetonka.
She whispered the name-"Schuy-
ler" But for once it failed to evoke
his image. She sat, cold with
fright at the enormity of the thing
she had done.
Intoxicated with her new beauty
beauty made possible by Jerry
Macklyn-she had recklessly, mag
nificently, shot her bank rolf to
dress that beauty as it deserved.
Well-she drew deep, quivering
breath that portrayed her panic
it was done now, for better or worse.
She had just enough money left to
pay for two weeks in the Mime
tonka Hotel.
She had been so frantically busy
getting ready for her sortie into the
world of idleness and fashion In
search of the man she had fallen in
love with, that she had not time to
be frightened before.
Now that she was ready to go a
black swarm Of fears swooped down
upon her, squeezing at her heart,
sending prickles of goose-flesh all
over her body. What if Schuyler"
had changed his mind, was not at
the Minnetonka after all?
What a fool she would have made
of herself! How Jerry Macklyn
would laugh at her if she came
back, penniless and defeated! And
even if Schuyler" was at the Min
netonka, what right did she have
to suppose, for one insane moment,
that she could make him desire her
above all other women-women OF
his own set, women OF wealth,
fashion and charm?
And weren't the chances pretty
strong in favor of his already be-
ing married? He must be at least
30, and most eligible men are not
allowed to reach 80 without being
trapped into marriage.
What fool, what a fool she was!
She beat her clenched hands against
her desk.
Hello, there! All set to go?"
Vee-Vee looked up, startled, into
Jerry Macklyn's broadly smiling,
ruddy face.
Nearly ready" she replied, ris-
ing. I'm glad you got back before
I left. Rosemary Fitch was in-she
brought me a f1ve-pound box of
candy from Mr.. Garfield"
Got the old man going too?"
Jerry chuckled. This vamping of
yours is assuming the proportions
of a scandal. I've been to the
printer's-got proofs on those ads
and the booklets. 1t looks great
letter even than I'd hoped.
"You photograph like million
dollars. Believe me, young woman,
you're going to be famous from
Portland to Portland when these
ads Of The Peach Bloom Girl come
out. Ziegfeld and the movie pro-
ducers will be wiring us for your
name and to offer you staggering
contracts-here, look"
Jerry spread series of printers
proofs across the top Of the desk.
Two photographs stared up at her
from each of the pages-a picture
of a plain, dowdly, freckled girl,
her eyes concealed by trimmed
spectacles, and, in amazing con-
trast, a picture of Vera Cameron
after the miracle had been wrought
"a overwhelmingly beautiful girl.
Jerry's cheerful voice doomed on,
ignoring her dismayed silence:
"And here are proofs on the book
let that will be mailed to every
woman in the social register, from
New York to San Francisco, and
distributed free by every retailer of
Peach Bloom cosmetics.