Evening star., 1938-01-23

married every day.
The beautiful girl at the other end of the
sofa shook her golden head vigorously, her
amazing eyes serious as twin lakes under rain.
mot met" she said Il may be taking Tony
for better or worse, but I'm taking him for
keeps, you can count on that" Mrs. Spratt
smiled indulgently. but her sharp eyes swept
about the huge drawing room of her Long
Island mansion in shrewd calculation. Her
mind was busy with the details Of her sons
approaching wedding.
IF it rains" she said, I'VE can easily hold
the reception here Unfortunate the village
church is 50 small. Would you like to be mar
ried in the rose garden?'
But Ma Spratt" Arizona eyes were really
troubled now. Il didn't hgger on you giving
ME my wedding. The brides folks generally
do that, don't they? As haven't any folks
thought maybe we d get hitChed in some little
church, and could set up some sandwiches
and coffee at my flat, even if it isn't big enough
to corral cat and
MY dear child!'' Mrs. Spratt protested
gently That is sweet of you. but it's hardly
fair to Tonv's friends! want to give you both
as lovely wedding as possibly can. and you
must allow me to do it,
Arizona looked away as though to some far
distant scene. The proposal hurt her. curiously.
1t was bad enough to be marrying millions,
when she herself was penniless except for the
few hundred dollars she had accumulated out
of her wages as an employee in the Spratt De-
partment Store She had badly wanted to
spend most of it on her own wedding. But the
other keen disappointment touched Arizona
to tile abandonment of cherished point of
pride.
"All right" she said slowly. But you'll
have to handle the roundup My own Ma and
Dad were hitched by Revivalist at the tail of
his gospel wagon. Ma wore white doe skin.
1t wasn't formal but it took real good" This
time Mrs Spratt's smile was warm.
There, don't you worry" she said, I'LL
take charge of everything. In fact I've made
out a partial list of invitations; about six
hundred so far How many do you wish?"
Two" said Arizona.
THAT makes eight hundred" said her
prospective mother -in-law. 1--WE can manage
it,"
WI, Sdlu f1LLNOIld oklO III oLNAS HIA
JONES' He's not an uncle exactly, but Id like
him to hand my bride over to Tony. And, Id
like to ask my old nurse"
Perfectly properv' Mrs. Spratt declared.
The old nurse, by all means! She might like
to come on little ahead and help with the
preparations can easily put her up. And
Mr.. Jones, too, of course!'
That's real nice of you" said Arizona
gratefully "You can ask all the Others"
"Well," said Mrs. Spratt oomplacently,
there is one person am not going to invite
and that is Lord Brittely, even if he is staying
with the Stanhopes. He's got out of coming
here to dinner twice and from now on, I'm
simply going to ignore him.
But Lord Brittely was not to be so easily
set aside. Indeed his name was the very first
word which Mrs. Spratts husband uttered
when he came home that evening.
"Brittely!" fumed Mr.. Spratt. do you
know who this titled snake you've been trying
to coax into my house is? Well, he's an English
armament man, that's what he is, and he's
trying to crab my deal for that Red Head
Copper property! Wants it himself. No Won
der haven't been able to get anywhere with
the owners representative! Bidding against
me- that's what he's doing, and with the Brit
ish re-armament programme, he's probably
got unlimited capital!'
But, my DEAR! Mrs. Spratt began.
Don't but mel" shouted her irate SPOUSE