The Washington times., 1935-07-06

In its furnishings Irene ran
amuck. All her yearnings to-
ward the beautiful; all her re-
volt against the ugly and sor.
did surroundings of her child.
hood were consummated in the
fitting up of this salon. And
when it was finished, she
turned her amazing energy into
its management. Tea was served
at four. It was the only time
during the day that Irene came
out Of her private office. In a
trailing gown she glided
through the various salons,
greeting clients and welcoming
them. Only her special friends
came into her office, a small
Silk-paneled Marie Antoinette
room.
The rest of the day she was
at her desk, directing, making
plans, worrying Miss Ginsberg
about publicity and interfering
in the management of her sis.
ters' branches.
She spent hours on the phone
quarreling with Ethel and Stella
not that she was more quar-
relsome than the others, but
her energy was boundless and
she had a mania for perfection.
Usually she was right in her
criticism, although this didn't
help matters with her sisters.
CHAPTER VIII
Walter spent most of his time
here. For all her nervous ag.
gressiveness, Irene was his "a
vorite. He admired her looks,
her sophistication, and the
amazing thoroughness of her
mind. Their contact was always
a battle but she stimulated him;
he was her clearing house for
complaints, advice ana bitter.
ness. Occasionally they fought
bitterly.
Then her mother came out in
her-her mother who had been
a Polish servant girl before her
marriage to Pete Riley, who had
owned a dusty little hardware
store on Myrtle Ave-, Brooklyn.
They had met when Anastasia,
a big-boned magnificent woman,
had come in for a Welsbach
mantle back in 1888.
Shortly thereafter they were
married. But she proved too
much for him. When Walter,
the youngest of the rapidly
growing brood Of five, was
three-Pete planted his old hat
on his head one day and walked
out Of the musty shop into the
brilliant August sunshine that
shone In dusty beams through
the elevated structure. Anas.
tasia never saw him again.
Irene could haggle like a fish
wife. But her veneer Of acquired
culture was superb. She liked
to think Of herself and Walter
as coming from a noble strain
In the family-that had in it
fine old blood. Otherwise how
could nature explain their
beauty, their superb carriage,
fine skin and swift minds?
She greeted Walter cheerily
as he came in on Wednesday
morning.
eli! You're late. Do you
know that Jerseys receipts
dropped 10 per cent last week?
You've got to do something,
Walter. Or are you just go
ing to wait until the business
dies a natural death like a sick
dog? Damn hin, I'd like to
wiring his callow head off. just
called Stella and gave her a
piece of my mind. She's in
tears, the big ninny. Mama
called. She's accusing Franz of
NA@C0VAA4S O4A Ge@SOAA4Cs 0AAC - NC
termined to fire him. Well, we
better let her. When the old
girl takes a dislike to someone,
its no let-up until he's gone. For
heavens sake, Walter, you look
half shot? Where were you last
night? What's the matter with
your"
An Argument
Nothing. I've a cold coming
on, 7 guess. I'm on my way to
Brooklyn now. Why dent you
lay off Stella? You bawl her
out and she takes it out on the
girls"
"Since when are lou so
touchy about the girls, I might
ask?"
well, they in turn let it off
On the customer"
"stuff and nonsense. Did you