Evening star., 1933-08-06
By Stuart Benson

underneath the headpiece had appeared mop
of red hair.
I'm Pat" said the girl.
Patricia, my dear" Mrs. Van Spanker cor
rectad Il prefer it,
Such was the stress of immediate affairs
that Mrs Van Spanker could find no time to
search out a position for Patricia. She de-
cided temporarily to use the girl as q sort OF
secretary to herself
Quite naturally Mrs. Van Spanker never for
an instant entertained the idea that a simple
product of the Middle West would harmonic
With her intellectual dinners. Besides she was
too sympathetic a woman not to realize that
one so recently bereaved would wish to shun
social &C intact. Then, again, Patricia did not
possess evening gown fit to be seen. Some
thing would have to be done about that.
So Patricia dined in the privacy OF her neat
little room except on such occasions as the
Van Spankers were reduced to a strictly family
meal Had these simple home evenings been
more frequent Mr.. Van Spankers mustache
would have got quite beyond control In its
aerial tendencies.
The first dinner among strangers Of which
Patricia became q part occurred one evening
when q female guest was Unexpectedly de-
tanned at the last minute. Mrs. Van Spanker
was confronted by the alternative Of hole
that would be as apparent as a missing molar
stitution of Sally's daughter. She chose the
latter.
Lucky Mr.. Bluykhuysen would be there
and could be counted on to come to the rescue
In case the girl, unaccustomed as she must
be to the rather atmosphere Of social inter-
course, should make any too fragrant blunders
Mrs. Bluykhuysen was Mrs. Van Spankers
closest friend and it was the hope Of both that
Mrs BIS Violet and Mrs. v. SIS Robert would
one day join hands in wedlock-and fortunes
in compound interest
PY request Patricia was the last to enter the
y reception room just before dinner was to
be announced Several women gasped and all
of the men stared she appeared. She wore
black, clingng gown. Her hair was blazing
And, as Mrs. Van Spanker and the guest OF
honor the celebrated Prof. Spavinski alone
took the trouble to observe, her eyes were q
little frightened
MY dear!' Mrs. Buykhuysen exclaimed.
where did you get that gown? It's too
marvelous!"
"Oh IL" said Patricia with q conf
Dental smile at Mrs. Van Spanker, II just
picked it up"
Nothing remained for Mrs Van Spanker to
say at the moment, but during the soup she
leaned across the professor, at her right, to
Mrs. Bluykhuysen.
recognize it? It's my old blue crepe de chine.
made over and dyed"
Ah, now sweet Of you'll" said Mrs. BMyk-
huysen. Ever thoughtful of others"
The professor said nothing. But after din
ner he devoted himself exclusively to Patricia,
until Mrs. Van Spanker sent her to the library
to prepare the list for the impending roundup
OF the Daughters of Evolution.
Such a pity, Patricia dear, but you know
how important it is"
On the whole Patricia had acquitted herself
well and with becoming modesty. Mrs. Van
Spanker felt she could safely continue to use
her as a fill-n. Nevertheless, on the next
occasion Mrs. Van Spanker did not take any
chances.
How lovely, DEAR" she exclaimed as
Patricia entered the room. And how becom-
ing" She turned to the others. 'One would
hardly guess that quite charming dress Of
Patricias was made over from the purple
taffeta I wore last Fall
'Yes isn't it wonderful" said Patricia, the
merest suggestion Of a flush on her cheek.
Il hardly know myself"
These formal evenings, or rather those In
which Patricia was included formed but q
small part of her life The rest was work.
A great deal of work. So it was nothing un-
usual that certain August morning dis
covered Patricia with inky fingers and sur
rounded by stacks Of index cards.
And who are you?"
Patricia jumped. It was a strange voice,
1t belonged to the male sex, and It came
from directly behind her.
She swung around and saw . young man
standing In the doorway. He was tall and
broad-shouldered. His features were hard to de-
scribe. They might have been said to wander
over his face, blobbing into each other, Is It
were.
Patricia laughed.
I'm Pat" she said.
-Am I as bad as that?" grinned the young