New Britain herald., 1928-12-14

ain't wasting it any more:" Ashtoreth scribbled obediently. She would move. if she had to. She was not going to get in. volved with Sadie. Not for any, thing in the world. To forfeit Hol- lis Nart's interest for such an in- timacy!
 ''I'll bring mother over some eve ming" she volunteered cordially. Sadie was frankly skeptical. You ain't kidding me bit. Ash. We'll. run along. Back to the grind. Mel got a nice new mag 1 azine and box of chocolates" She walked with Ashtoreth to the door.
 No hard feelings. deare"
 She laid her hand on the others arm.
 You look a million dollars, hon. ey-and that ain't maybe"
 Narrowing her big blue eyes. she contemplated Ashtoreth humor- ously.
 And bet" she added. you're just as hard to make. Oh. we'll. God played favorites with us vim min. That's all got to say"
 1T don't know that life's been using you too badly" consoled Ash toreth. "I haven't seen any ten thousands coming my way"
 You wtll,' prophesied Sadie. "sure as God makes little apples You're too dam ornamental to ever 50 hungry. or anything like that. you know. Kid. We'll. I'll be get ting in touch with you bimeby. So long. Ashland don't you be she'd ding any tears over my tough luck Here's one Til baby knows how to take care of Sadie"
 Ashtoreth waited on the corner for street car. One thought was paramount in her mind. To keep Sadie from telling Mir. Hart any fur ther details of her childhood.
 Not that I'm ashamed" she told herself. But being poor Is like having funny relations. You just sort of keep quiet about some things. Everybody does"
 She wondered how she should ex- plain 10 Mir. Hart the details of her protracted visit with the Mortons. How tell him of her fathers death? Or the miserable months when she and Maizie suhsisted on the char ity of neishbors? When Maizie went out working by the hour. "Ac- comm oda ting she called it. But. for all her gay pretenses. Ashto- reth knew that she had scrubbed floors and washed q thousand greasy dishes.
 There were many things that Hollis Hart must never know. Not that there was anything shameful about having been an errand girl in the five-and-ten. Of course there wasn't! But neither was it any thing a girl who looked like an heiress boasted about particularly.
 If he thinks I've antecedents. and education and culture like the girls in his crowd. what fool I'd be-" vowed Ashtoreth. Ito disillu- sion him.'
 She left the car at Park street and walked briskly down to State. MT. Hart had left the office when she reached there. and she spent the afternoon copying tiresome report assigned by Mrs. Mason. Suddenly she became panic stricken.
 Maybe he has another stenog- rapher! Maybe he'll never talk to me again!'
 At five o'clock, when she closed her desk, she was shivering inward ly. Half expecting Mrs. Mason to inform her. on the way out. that her services would be no longer re- quired. To be given two weeks pay, in lieu of notice.
 But Mrs. Mason smiled when she said good night.
 "Mr. Hart wished me to thank you for him." he said.
 Thank me? What for?" ! Mrs. Mason's lips twiched in . polite and efficient smile.
 T don't know" she admitted. But Mir. Hart spoke as if you | "oulQ unQeTStdnd.
 Ashtoreth powdered her nose and pulled her hat over her eyebrows, while her heart pounded nladly in a transport Of joy. She had not, then, forfeited his interest. To- morrow, perhaps, he would ask her of Sadie's plans. And she would he able to tell him that she had , advised Sadie to make no trouble. ! T may be only stenographer.' she rejoiced. but can do mil lionaire . favor!" Warmly grateful to life and its t largesse. she stopped at a confec. t tioner's on the way home and or. dered for Maizie pound of assorted bonbons and caramels with nuts . She bought the newest movie maga. Q zine. And d box of face powder
 highly scented. and pink as tende, . watermelon. Then she stopped d s the circulating library and procured g copy of Edgar Wallace's latest | c was Maizie's little joke that Mir
 Wallace keeps more women awake l nights than any man living. l.. Maizie had roast beef hash fo 2 dinner, and . cottage pudding fol . dessert.
 VI Let me drop an egg for you l. honey" she wheedIed. Nice coun