New Britain herald., 1927-02-17
@ JOHNSON FEATURES INC. le2

I Her eyes were on Boobies face 1 now. fixed on a point just above 1 Bobbie's eyebrows. It seemed as if Monica was trying to meet her eyes squarely, and just couldn't ] do it.
 Me, a sneak?" Robbie repeated her word faintly. Why, how can you call me that. Monica Mont ? When I've been as good to you as I've been, and let you get away with all my silk socks and my perfume e, and even my gold evening slippers without saying a word, It's you who've been a sneak, if anybody has."
 Monica finally managed to look her straight in the eye. But it was not an open and honest look.
 Well, if you're such straight goods, why didn't you come right out and say what was on your mind minute ago, when you came in?" she asked acidly. Why didn't you accuse me of stealing your rotten little pin and be done with it, in- stead of hedging around?" Robbie laughed suddenly.
 Monica, you just gave yourself away" she cried. If you never saw my diamonds, how did you know they were set in a pin? A rotten little pin Is what you said just now!"
 Monica gave little start, and then managed @ tight smile that she tried to make clever and sly She shook her head, and began to 1 take off the curl papers.
 "Oh, no, I didn't. say anything of the kind! Don't try to trap mel" She denied the whole thing flatly. T never mentioned the word pin.'"
 She got up, went into the dress ing room and came back with a towel in her hands. Serenely she began to wipe the cold cream grease from her white face.
 Robbie looked at her with ad- miration that was two-thirds scorn and disgust. What wonderful prevaricator she was. An artist really!
 Well" she said. with a little gasp. I've always heard that you can lock up from thief, but you can't lock up from a liar. How ever, you seem to be both, Monica. So, naturally I didn't stand much chance of keeping my brooch, with you around, did I? And it didn't do me much good to come here to- day and ask you about it, either."
 "None at all" Monica came back at her easily, as she slipped off her scarlet kimono and got into black satin dress that came just to her knees. And while you're talking about stealing, I suppose you think it's all right to try to take girls sweetie away from her, don't you, Miss Morals?"
 Robbie stared at her. What are you talking about?"
 Gus MacCloud" answered Mon- ica, widening her eyes until they
  In their sockets. You walk away with Gus and you think that's a nice Christian thing to do-to come between me and him. To break up a friendship that meant a lot to both of us. To both Gus and me-"
 Robbie didn't know whether 10 laugh or to cry. Why. Gus and Monica hadn't been on speaking terms when she had first known them! And then, for Monica to say they'd been dear friends and that Robbie had wrecked their friendship.
 Shed probably convinced Gus of it, too, by this time, Men are al- ways so ready to believe that two women are fighting between them selves for his love and affection.
 Robbie turned suddenly on her heel and went out of the flat, knowing that she was leaving the two dirty diamonds behind her, probably But she knew, also, that
 
 to get them from Monica, if they were there. Monica wasn't the kind of tiger-cat who would give up a thing once she had fastened her paws upon it.
 She went down the stairs, and as she reached the bottom of them a man passed her on the way up.
 She turned to watch him. Where had she seen him before? Where?
 Then, all at once, she remem- bered. He had been one of the guests at Gus MacClouds New Years party. She remembered something else about him, too; he had had a little blond wife who had watched him like a hawk all evening.