Evening star., 1934-05-20

INSTALLMENT XIV.
T THE stage door Elbows told
n her that Al Hart would see
~ her. Sandra entered the di-
1 \ rector's Office. Hart busted
himself about his desk.
Your first offense, Reynal," he NUT
tered. You get another chance. See
it don't happen again"
Rehearsals for the new skit had
begun two weeks later. 1t was great
fun, and not too difficult, since all
Sandra had to do was to be herself,
her old, hilarious, daring, dizzy self
After the second rehearsal she found
Elbows waiting at the door for her
with an envelope, stiff and white.
"Shure an the big boss Marty him.
self left it wild me-" Elbows whispered
as he handed it to her.
Sandra tore open the envelope. Sur
prised? A cordial note signed by Mrs.
Segal. Sandra read it twice, unbeliev-
ing. Why should Segal. who had rea-
sons to resent her being on his horizon
at all, invite her to his home? The
Segals were social gate-crashers, OF
course! But what benefit could they
derive from her as guest? She was
one of the hired help.
This note, she asked Elbows, did
any of the other Princess Peps' re-
ceive them?"
Nary a one. The big boss just guv
it to me an SeZ / was to make sure
ye got it,
Thanks" Sandra hurried out and
relayed the news to Steve.
"Segal's got something up his sleeve
besides his handkerchief" was his
comment. "I think you'd better &C
cept, Sandy. Let's find out what it's
all about. I wonder" Steve was
already regretting his decision. Sup
pose you get up in his roost and find
Mrs. Segal isn't there"
1T will be quite all right. Steve.
Just one of those stunts peculiar 10
social climbers"
Maybe. But expect me outside
with the riot squad if you don't show
up within a reasonable time"
I'D rather you'd take me there
and wait outside-do you mind?'
Sandra found she would be rehears-
ing the morning her mother and Val
arrived and she radioed Corinne she
would be unable to meet them at the
pier. The Segal party was arranged
for the night preceding their arrival
Steve drove Sandra to SegalS Park
avenue pent house. AS she left him.
he said: I'm camping down here
till comes the dawn if necessary"
surprise awaited Sandra. Marty
Segal was famous for the extrava-
gance Of his stage background. Here
in his home was repression, luxury
without crash of cymbals. artistry
without artifice. elegance spun to the
fine thread of a spiders weaving.
Mrs. Segal a frail wisp of wom-
an. all eyes and fair hair. received
Sandra. Steve need not have been
alarmed.
so good of you to come" Mrs.
Segal pressed Sanora's hand. Their
eyes met. Sandra meant to make a
gracious response Her lips were
formed for it, but her throat con-
tracted The tragedy in those eyes
that we're all of face! 1t cried to
you. You must answer it or-you
must turn away. Sandra turned
away.
Presently she was led into draw
ing room, q solarium, garden-diffi-
cult to decide which with such viStas.
She started. So this was why she
was here! Gilbert Akin stood at the
edge of a bank of ferns and minia-
ture orange trees in flower. He held
a frosted glass in his hand. He raised
it in the old salute:
Hi, Sandy!"
Sandra returned Gil's greeting in
kind: Hi. Gil" She would pretend
innocence of his instrumentality in
bringing her to the Segal supper
dance. Now that Val had a divorce
it might be that Gil purposed to re-
new his suit for her, Sandra. She
hoped, passionately, he contemplated
no such move. Any emotion she
might have felt for Gil in the old life
was dead
1t was a melange of social conse-
quentials. social detrimentalS and a
carefully culled admixture of music,
art and the stage that gathered atop
a Park avenue roof to add lustre to
the house of Segal.
Great seeing you again." Gilbert
said, taking possession of Sandra at
once "How's the cute red-head?"
"Topside. And you?"
Fine, too. And now that you're
here, I've the same old idea about
annexing you, Sandy" His dark eyes
caressed her with the old familiar
warmth.
Silly idea. Better change your
mind at once, Gil. I'm off the mar
ket."
Not silly-noble! Stay off until
can bid. I'm going to bid high,
Sandy
Don't. 1t would be a waste. I'm
in the theater. l have no intention
of giving it up"
open spaces? Writes plays or some
thing? A jolly little cruiser like your
self wouldn't bolt and go intelli-
gentsia."
Sorry. I haven't the necessary
gray Otherwise I'd be tempted"
Gilbert showed annoyance. He
sensed he was bound for nowhere and
getting there rapidly. You have
more mental apparatus in that red
head of yours than is good for you.
Tell me about your playwright"
Caution leaped to Sandra's aid Gil
was the satyr again. She knew he
could be cruel. Money and position
were powerful weapons. Gil had them