New Britain herald., 1927-02-07
e JOHNSON FEATURES INC.

"cold turkey" to people. Neither did she know how to flatter and coax and cajole things from mel the way Monica did. When strange men stared at hel On the street, she didn't know how to beat down their half-insulting i look with her eyes, as Monica knew how to do it.
 Monica knew just what she want cd to do, and she knew how to dc it-no matter what it happened to be.
 Here she is without looks or manners or charm-and she lands good part in a good picture" Robbie thought with bitterness. VI have real looks. Everybody says so. Yet here I sit and twiddle my thumbs. If only Gus would get q picture to direct-he'd give me my chance.'
 But five days went by without word from Gus. Five days with out a phone call from >Magnifica or any other studio.
 Robbie began to feel as if the whole world had forgotten her. Then on Saturday morning. at ten o'clock. the telephone rang and Mrs. Mangan called Robbie to an swer it.
 Its your MT. MacCloud," she said My I wish he could see you right now. You do spend an awful sight of time prinking and fixing up. but you certainly do pay for it."
 Her curranty eyes were full of admiration. She worshipped Bob bies bodily beauty with the starved passion of those who have no looks at all. Her own life was dull and drab, and so she took the liveliest inter est in the affairs of the two girls. Robbie was sure that she was listening on the extension telephone downstairs, when she picked up /e receiver now.
 Hello, Gus" she said. Hello, Baby. What are you do- ing?"
 Nothing special" Robbie an- swered. Her heart broke into a run at the sound of his voice, even over the telephone. Want to go to Montmartre for lunch ?" He didn't wait for her to answer so sure did he seem of her. 'Ill drop by for you about one o'clock. By-by."
 Then she heard him hang up the receiver, and a second afterward came another click - Mrs. Mangan , hanging up the receiver on the downstairs phone. 1 In a minute she came bustling up the stairs,
 Going out?" she asked in her thin voice, for Robbie had her hair pinned up and was lathcring her face with cold cream. | She sat down on the very edge 1 of a chair inside the door, balanc- ing her dustpan on her knees.
 With Mr. MacCloud, I suppose, she chirped. Isn't that lovely. But how do you suppose Monicker feels about it?" Mrs. Mangan al ways called Monica "Monicker."
 Robbie shook her head. Her eyes were wide and child-like under smooth silver-white lids.
 How should I know, Mrs. Man. Gan?" she asked. But l shouldn't wonder if she feels the way l do when she goes out with him. A little bit jealous, maybe"
 Mrs. Mangan shook her head with it's dusty hair. T always do say it's a pity when two young ladies fall in love with l the same man-and troubles bound to come of it. The newspapers are ! full of such cases. Shootings and { the like."
 Robbie felt like saying Don't be a silly, Mrs. Mangan." But, of I course, it would never do to be Jude to the good woman. who had only said wlst was on her mind. { So instead she took Aunt Ger trude's old diamonds out of her top 1 dresser drawer and handed them i to her.
 1 What do you think of those ?" i she asked, hoping they would take | Mrs. Mangans mind off Gus Mac 1 Cloud.
 They did, to.
 Now, aren't they pretty and old 1 fashioned." Mrs. Mangan cried squinting at them. My mother had pair of old ear drops like them when I was a kid. I've often wondered whatever became of them. I suppose my oldest siste. got them when mother died. She got everything"
 Robbie laughed. well, you know what Monica says, Mrs. Mangan--
 always take everything you can get.'"
 She wondered if Monica was go- ing to get Gus MacCloud or not.
 It certainly didn't look much like 1t that afternoon at the Montmartre restaurant.