New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-08
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and Aunt Sarah would be aayed against the girl who stood
seemed them indicate to ask her transcbe such letter
as he had proposed debating to Aunt Meg.
She stood there waiting for him to begin Very quietly,
without sefconsciousness. Her fingers her
note book And the stone her foefnger CLEANED,
like baleful scarab, across the desk at Hollis Hart.
"Your ling!" he exclaimed nvountarily. what gor-
geous thing! May see it,"
Unsnng she extended her hand Her fingers long and
white, made him think of dropping petals.
am intensely interested" he explained 'in archaeol-
ogy and particularly in the amulets of the Egg ptans
"Yes?"
Ashtoreth politely noncommttal
1T is not antique setting?" he hazarded.
"No," she told him. "But rather good copy think.
sketched it myself from talisman of the GraecoRoman
period"
Then Cleopatra" he remarked, smiling, may have
worn the original"
Ashtoreth looked on her ring with quiet humor.
ooh yes" she said "she wore it on her thumb the night
she had herself delivered to Caesar in bale of rugs
Hollis Hart chuckled.
1--WE no doubt" he said, chat Caesar complmented the
queen upon her TASTE"
CHANGING sharply at his stenographer he wondered
who she society GIRL probably taking fling at bus
mess Interested in antiques too.
'Im sorry" he murrnured alphabetically, "but have
quite forgotten your NAME"
'Miss Ashe," she told him. "Ashtoreth Ashe"
"'Ashtorethy" he cried 'Why Ashtoreth was the
goddess of Egypt"
She flushed sef-conscously
full. WE'LL now Miss Ashe will you take letter please ~.
He dictated quietly. Half dozen business communica
TONS
Leave them" he instructed, ION Mr. Higgins desk.
shall not be after luncheon That ALL Thank Miss
Ashe."
Forty pairs of curious eyes watched Astoreth to her
DESK They noticed her heightened color and exchanged
glances
She was wondering what sort Of impression she had
made. Wondering if Mr.. Hart knew her for poor girl An
re-
tending to familiarity with things of which she knew moth
ing Cleopatra and She pondered distactedy Could
Mr. Hart have guessed how little she really knew of Egypts
queen? Only that called her the Serpent of the Nie
and that she vamped Caeser from pile of carpets? And
killed herself with an asp?
"Ill get book at the library" vowed Ashtoreth.
And taking her mothers market list from her bag she
pencled memo at the bottom: Find out about Cleopatra
and scarabs"
The library next the chain grocery store She would
stop there on her way home Maybe Mr.. Hart would
something more about Egypt tomorrow. Then she would be
able if circumstances permitted to throw another obser-
walton or two. Careessly, of course
That night Ashoreh read while her mother went to the
movies. When Mrs Ase home, she made herself pot
Of tea and cut cake She of those women who
like little smack of something before bed time While she
ate she catted of Greta Carlo and John Gilbert There
nobody she remarked ronancaly made love like John Gill
bert especially to Grea Carlo. Finally she bed
smothering yawns with her pink, plump palms.
When she asleep Ashtoreth tptoed quietly back to
the living To read until the flat grew icy cold and
dawn put gray fingers Whitley against the window panes.
At six a. Astoreth knew that Cleopatra was nnort-
anot because she great quee-but because she was
seductive, like professional beauty
"And smart" decided Ashtoreth putting out the light
like the stenographer who vamps the millionaire boss.
Caesar the richest and the most influential man she
knewso she vamped him. Cleo forgot Caesar and started
running round with Antony Just like gold ggers today"
Smiling drowsiy, Ashtoreh cudded under her lowered
pull And slept to dream OF Hollis Hart in robe of Tyrian
purple with laurel in his hair
"Ashtoreth Ase!" said her mother at breakfast Look
at those circles under your eyes, thought heard you up
after went to bed Reading bet. Well you're perfect
sight-thats all I've got to say"
But Ashtoreth studying her eyes the over the
kitchen SINK decided that dark shadows dangerously
interesting And a bit vampy, besides.
She had resolved if Cleopatra came up again that day.
to inform Mr. Hart that the celebrated SIREN in her eyes,
better than goddgger And Ashtoret for reasons
best known to herself had distinct aversion to god-dg
gers.
The electric buzzer her desk hummed SOFTLY And
Ashtoeth slipping pencil beneath the elastic on her note
book, entered Mr.. Harris office.
"Ah, good morning. Miss Ashe"
He greeted her shortly.
"Pve something here I'd like to show you. letter in
the morning mail Most astonishing upon my word I'd like
you, please, to read it."
Astonished Ashtoreth took from his oustretched hand
sheet of purple parchment scrawd with green ink Watt
inc tho yf,Inno Of innort cd