New Britain herald., 1928-06-13
THIS HAS HAPPENED

IAlS aAS hAfFENLD
 Virginia Brewster Is in love with a poor artist. Nathaniel Damn. but she is tricked into promising to marry Frederick Dean in one year if she fails to earn $lo0.000 which he al- leges her father had cheated him out of in bootlegsing deal,
 Brewster had lost his fortune in speculation before his sudden death so that Virginia is left destitute. She pawns some of her jewelry and a broker friend, Oliver Gutter. prom ises to invest the money for her and try to earn the hundred thousand.
 She avoids all her wealthy friends and seeks work under an assumed name. but without success. She finds orchids at her hotel one evening from Dean and wonders how he learned her address. A call from the agency brings hope. but when she goes there the manager tries to dis suade her from working and advises her to marry.
 Virginia suspects that Dean has bribed the agency not to help her, and this conviction is strengthened when she finds that she IS being shadowed. She tries other agencies, but word leaks out that Nle Brew ster gtrl' is job-seeking and she is besieged by reporters. Among the group that are interviewing her she recognizes the man who has been following her.
 Cutter insists on taking Virginia out to dinner and hints that there arc several ways in which as beauti- full q girl as she can obtain the coveted hundred thousand. She chal- lenges his remark and he pre- tends innocence.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER X.<X1I
 Oliyer's distaSte for gratitude did not disturb Virginia. He always had been impatient of most accepted standards of conduct and conven- tions, she remembered tolerantly. It would be like him to get her out of this appalling situation in which she found herself and attempt to pass it off with q negligent wave of his hand. She smiled over the thought of how she would startle him with the truth when she dared tell #. He would know then how much she owed him.
 She unlocked the door and entered the small dark room with her mind filled with pictures Of the future. Pleasant pictures. Automatically she switched on the light and took off her hat, still half-dreaming over the assurance of success she had re- ceived from Oliver
 It was several minutes before she noticed . box on the bed Her first impression was that Frederick Dean had sent more flowers and she de- cided not to open the box But sec ond glance revealed that it was not from . florist. The label was that of famous modiste.
 Virginia was curious to know why anything from that shop should be sent her. Perhaps it was some thing she had ordered before CT fathers death. she reflected Often weeks were required to bring made to-order lingerie and garments from Italy or France to America. She'd better see what it was It would have to be returned unless it had been included in the bills already pre- sented to the estate. Better send 1t back anyhow. if the shop would credit it. Virginia thought as she un- tied the tape and turned back the tissue folds.
 When she held the contents up for inspection she could not recall hav- ing ordered anything of the kind It was . cape wrap of silver metal lace, exquisitely made. Virginia gazed at it admiringly q, moment before she threw 1t over her shoulders and looked in the mirror. It was richly smart with the black chiffon dress she was wearing and Virginia took it off and put 1t back in the box with q small sigh of reluctance.
 She was relying the tape when her telephone rang and she answered to be told that Nathaniel Damn was downstairs Nirgins's heart sang with joy She darted about, wash ing her hands at the stained lavatory in the corner, touching her ear lobes with perfume and setting the waves of her bob more smoothly.
 She was about to hurry out when it occurred to her that Nathaniel would want to take her to some better place than the hotel parlor to talk. Turning back to get d light wrap, her eyes fell upon the box on the bed. She stopped. hreathless with delight at the thought that came to her. Why not wear it? II must be- long to her. She had bought nothing since her mourning clothes were purchased. Surely the bill for this was among the accounts rendered. Possibly 1t had been paid for. And il was very lovely.
 With quick, nervous fingers Nlr- SInia tore at the tape and pulled off the Id. Hastily. and little guiltily, hhe threw the wrap about her and Whlrled out of the room
 Her feeling of guilt vanished com- rletely in the happiness of seeing Nathaniels face light up with ad miration when she rushed eagerly