Nogales international., 1933-05-13

Before the stranger reached her, she
had time to see that he was thin,
unimpressive type with reddish face
and tiny sandy nustache, ne2tly
clipped. His features were small ard
his blue eyes twilkled. His plain gray
business suit, which lacked all trace
of style, was in need of pressing and
his wide cornmonsense shoes were
dusty and scratched.
''Well, Frills, how's the beautiful
bean feeling today? Golly, you women
are lucky, the way you can get thrown
around and not get hurt Now man,
who has to Use his head, would have
been just the fellow to get a crack
that would put him out of business
completely"
Joyce smiled up at him easily. This
man was not in love with her, she
knew instinctively. He was friendly
enough, but impersonal.
"Oh, is that so? ?" she retorted "Well,
the Lord must have thought women's
brains more important than mems, if
he protected them SO much better"
"Ha! Well | haven't time for any
arguments on the equality of the sexes
now, Just dropped in to see what you
looked like so | can send Neil wire
that everything is o. K"
OF coursel This was the doctor
"Well, I'm all right" she replied,
and then it occurred to her that she had
better not be too we'll if she wished to
stave off the hordes of friends who
were trying to draw her back into their
activities "But it shook me up and I'm
going to cut out some of the jazz for
this week anyhow :. You might tell
people it's by your orders"
"Ha! You don't expect anybody
would believe that you were obeying
any orders of mine, do you? When
have you ever taken my advice, young
1ady?"
He stared at her with such sudden
keen searching look in his blue eyes
that Joyce.blushed deeper thaney
Advice comes natural to doctor,
Frills," he went on IF you are going
to take advice, [ wish you'd take some
I've given you long ago. Quit this ex-
.cessive smoking Look at the way you
fdget."
But haven't smoked since day be-
fore yesterday" retorted Joyce tri-
umphantly, so it can't be that"
''It cant? Whewi No wonder you're
nervous Don't you know you can't cut
it out all at once? Not girl with your
highly strung nervous system, who's
been smoking at the terrific rate you
have! Use little conmonsense. Here,
take this. If you want to cut out stnok-
ing, do it gradually" He handed her a
cigarette with decisive gesture which
made refusal impossible.
Joyce took it, her hand shaking. But
before she had even raised it to her
mouth, they were interrupted by the
arrival Of Roxie 'Dr. Ellison, the
Gates Hospital wants to speak to you,
sir"
The doctor jumped to his feet.
Thanks, Roxie, just tell them I'll be
right there. Good bye, Frills, I'll drop
in again later" and he was off without
a backward glance.
Joyce drew breath of relief. AN
other one killed off That message was
sheer luck. I couldn't light this cigar
ette with him looking on" she MUIR
INJURED
She successfully lighted the cigarette
and pulled at it daintily. After few
moments, however, her attention was
suddenly distracted by the approach
of a woman. In her renewed agitation,
Joyce swallowed a mouthful of smoke,
which to her surprise she found her
self expelling through her nostrils and
mouth without any sensation of strange
ness. Automatically her breathing ap-
paratus was performing a familiar op-
Grafton!
Fortified to meet another visitor, she
rose to her feet and smiled greeting at
the newcomer.
"Well, my dear Frills, what for
tunate child you arel"
Her caller, who seated herself with
out waiting for an invitation, was a
woman about forty years old with a
delicate skin still fine in texture. She
had large pale blue eyes, straight little
nose, and thin-lipped mouth whose
corners dropped with petulant, COM
planning expression Her feet were
shod in beautifully fitting white kid
walking slippers. From the top of her
head to her feet, Mrs Paul Packard
was Immediately well dressed and we'll
groomed
III she affected Frills one-half as
unpleasantly as she does me" thought
< Joyce, "she wouldn't be on speaking
terms with me now, or else at least
Frills would have put the fear of God
into her."