The Washington times., 1931-03-25
Life, Love and Adventures
Of a Modern Cinderella
CHAPTER 35

DellghC was not tully ureSSed.
She was wearing a negligee
which had once been quite
lovely but which now was soiled
and torn. She had high.heeled
mules on bare feet and her hen.
naed thick hair was in early
morning, just-out-of bed diSor-
der. Her blue eyes were heavy
with wearineSS and her face
haggard. But her fine skin was
radiant and she smiled at the
younger girl with spontaneous
friendlinesS. She liked the look
of her somehow-of whom did
she remind her?
"I-I feet I've gotten you up"
said Mary Lou.
She looked with a sort of in
ner despair at the other woman.
Somehow she hadn't expected
her to look like this-a little un-
kempt, a little uncared for,
hard, as Larry had said, and ap-
pearing even more than her
age. Her only beauties were
the quantity and quality of the
touched-up hair and carefully
tended skin and the small,
rounded figure.
They sat down in the unin-
teresting, rather dark sitting
room. A pot of coffee stood on
the table on a tray.
''I was just getting an eye
opener" explained Mary LOUIS
hostess. will you join me?"
"No, thank you-"
"Cigarette?"
Mo"
Diana lighted one. poured the
coffee, stirred in some cream
and sat back in her big chair.
Battle of Wits
what did you wish to see me
about, Miss Thurston?" she
asked.
Mary Lou leaned forward.
The other woman looked at her,
observing the well-cut suit, the
small sable scarf, the sheer
stockings, the shoes; observing,
too, the great sapphire on Mary
Lou's slender hand. The girl
was evidently very well off. She
was simply but extensively
dressed, and she was very
pretty. Under the close-fitting,
almost brimless hat the red.gold
hair rioted in small, enhancing
curls. The blue eyes were Sc
rious and brilliant, and the
round cheeks flushed with a
natural color, the color Of nerv-
business and excitement, for
Mary Lou had gotten out Of
bed that morning to view a
very pale, little face in the mir
ror.
What on earth did the child
want? Perhaps she wanted to
go on the stage, had heard of
Diana, had money, wished to
buy herself a job? If that were
the case, unused the older wom-
an, she'd discourage it, money
or no money. She was a fair
judge of characteristic had to
be-and if she knew anything
about girls, this small, eager,
honest. looking little person was
too pretty and too sensitive to
last long in that dog-eat-dog
profession.
"Well?" she prompted.
Mary Lou took the plunge.
Miss Hartford" she said.
Ill at Ease
what" Delight set down
her coffee cup with a minia-
ture crash. She was startled,
curious, but not particularly
annoyed. Now where did you
learn that, wonder?" she
mused aloud. She has quite
forgotten telling Larry Mitchell
Was it possible that this young
ster was a relative or some
thing? Delight rather hoped
so. She liked her.
Larry told me-" said Mary
Lou.
Larry? Oh, the red-headed
press-agent lad-nice kid. But
why should he tell you?" asked
Delight.
"It's a long story" said Mary
Lou, rather desperately. IN
have to tell you from the be-
ginning. It's about-Travers
Lorrimer."
Delight Hartford looked down
at the seal ring she wore.
drawers? But Lorry Is
dead" she said slowly.
Lorry? Mary LOUIS heart
swelled. rose, it seemed, almost
to l4er throat.
"No," she managed to say
quietly, mo. he's not dead.
please, Miss Hartford, may I
ten you in my own way?"
"Yes. Wait a minute. Not
dead? Not dead. My God. II
I had known that!" said De-
light Hartford. She was ashen
white with shock.
Mary Lou waited, slcHened.
After minute Delight said:
II - ~EHNWV