Evening star., 1934-01-16

Charity was SpeeCnleSS. Die lelI oa
though she were cutting herself away
from everything she had ever held dear.
Her long, black shiny hair had been
her one great pride.
Billie worked silently for awhile. Sew
eral times she stood back to look ana
smile sympathetically at Charity's tears.
When she had finished she smiled hap
PLY. That's darn good job Mrs.
Temple-if do say so myself. Where's
your make-up?"
II haven't anything but powder"
Charity confessed apologetically.
Billie said threateningly, If you look
in the mirror before I'm through with
you. I'll smack you down. I'm going
to get my war paint
Charity covered her face with her
hands and waited miserably till Billie
ran back with her makeup. Then she
sat patiently while Billie worked away
at her cheeks and lips In a little
while she stood away, her head back
to one side, speculatively.
I'm going to take off about yard
of those heavy eyebrows Of yours. They
spoil all my hard work"
Charity suffered while Billie took her
tweezerS and plucked. In few min
utes Billie took another look - then
grinned broadly. You may gaze upon
With shaking knees. Charity walked
to the mirror But the girl she saw
there was so transformed that she
stood rooted to the spot. 1t could not
be she-Charity Jones Temple. It was
all a dream.
For there before her was vision OF
white. slender youth. Charity knew in
one glance she looked 10 years younger.
Her black hair hung around her face
in shiny curves; the bangs and the
slender eyebrows enhanced her gray
eyes until they glowed like stars. Or,
perhaps it was the faint touch Of color
Billie had put in her cheeks. She
opened her mouth to discover that her
teeth cleaned like pearls against the
rose of her rouged mouth.
| Silently she turned and held her
arms to Billie. Billie Rugged her hap
PLY. You're pleased, aren't you?"
"It-just isn't me-" Charity choked
then. "But-but I do like it."
Billie grabbed her arm. We're 60
| ing down to the beach while you're
still sold on yourSelf-and knock 'em
dead"
Billie make her over that she followed
with no protest. But her heart beat
painfully Billie knew there wasn't
| girl in Doug Temples party who looked
any more attractive at the moment
| than his own wife And it would please
! her no end to burn a few of the tab
bies who had laughed behind their
| hostess back.
| They were within few feet Of the
crowd when suddenly Charity stopped,
to grab Billie's arm fearfully. Look,
there's man in the water-calling for
| help. He'S-way out"
| vii cfrn inn
down the sand. her black hair flying.
| No one recognized the tall figure
| that dashed down the beach and into
| the water.
Charity had taken the situation in
| at a glance when she heard the mans
cry for help-and the screams of the
girls Only one man. she saw as she
| plunged into the icy sound was max
! ing an attempt to swim ouV.
Go back" she called as she passed
| the slow swimming wouldbe rescucr
| and realized it was Doug. She was sure
/ he did not recognize her.
Charity had been an expert SWIM
mer since, as a little child in pigtailS,
she conquered her fear of water in the
pond at home. Something in the de-
| termined manner in which the strange
girl had thrown herself into the water
and moved out with swift, sure strokes
| held the crowd back. They watched
breathlessly while she swan nearer and
nearer to the half-drowned man.
AS he came to the surface again by
her side, she realized with start that
it was Batch. He was in his street
clothes He was not too exhausted to
| fight and for moment Charity feared
he would pull her under. Holding him
up with great difficulty, she pulled her
arm back and hit him on the chin with
all her strength.
stop it-you fool" she yelled fran
tically in his ear you're pulling us
under"
Whether it was the blow. or whether
what she had said sank into the doc
tors consciousness. Charity dld not
know But he stopped struggling and
allowed himself to be towed in Char
| ity's strong young arms.
1t seemed hours to Charity before
she felt hands reaching cut to help
| her Two of the men had waded OUT
| to pull them in. When she saw Batch
was safe she walked painfully in and
| threw herself on the sand to- catch her
breath.
She opened her eyes to see Billie's
white face bending over her, OH
was so scared! You-were marvellous"
| Charity raised up feebly. I'm al
right. How is Doug?"
When she was assured he was all
right, she turned to Batch. She was
| a little disguSted to see that every one
! stood around helplessly, and that moth
ing had been done for him. Then she
realized suddenly that practically every
i one in the crowd was under the lnf1'l-
ence of liquor from the old Temple
cellar.
Charity turned to Billie We'll have
| to see if DR.. Bachelor has swallowed
any water"
Billie knew something about life
saving methods. and they set to work
ironically as she saw that life was
coming back into the half-drowned
! physician.
Billie was not too busy to look up
once in awhile to see whether any
one recognized the transformed Charity
| She was quite sure no one did,
Soon Batch opened his eyes and
tried to sit up. Charity urged him
gently: Take it easy. Rest awhile"
Then she moved away from him little
and took time to catch her breath
Chickie Belle. she saw. was penang
over Doug, who still lay painting on
the sand.
You poor darling" Chickie cooed
| tenderly, "let me rub your head"
Charity turned away and caught
Billies eye. Billie glared murderously
at the celebrated dancer Charity
shrugged. She hadn't even thought of
her lack Of clothes. Billie watched her
for signs Of panic. and was glad she
had forgotten her attire in the ex-
citement.
Suddenly Doug raised up. "Is Batch
all right?"
! When he was assured he looked
around and his eye lit on the tall white
skinned girl in slip of black bathing
suit whom he recOgnlzed as the one