Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-25

you. Bear that in mindw 1t was hard
to get Laurel down to earth from her
emotional flights, which Jean suspec-
ted gave her a perverse sort of kick.
"And now" the girl went on, "I'm
going to run down minute and re-
assure poor Dad about you, and re-
peat what l already said. That Gaby
and you were talking about France,
and the old war, and it brought back
the tragedy of my father being killed
in action, and all that, and so that's
the reason you've been so upset."
Away she went, and presently re-
turned.
"He is fond of you, Laurel" she told
her mother half reassuringly, half
reproachfully, cit was all I could do
to keep him out of this room. But I've
managed to shoe him back to his Of
flee for a WHILE"
81 wouldn't want him to see me
looking such fright do look a
fright, don't I, Jean?"
She certainly must be recovering,
when she could give thought to her
appearance again, Jean thought grim
ly.
"And now let's finish about Gaby
before she returns, I don't want to
give her the satisfaction that we're
in here, pow-wowing about her. Her
ego's swelled up enough already"
Jean remarked.
Butch, you must remember that
she is your sister, darling!"- in re-
proof.
"I'm not in the least likely to for
get that, while she's in this house.
"Did Gaby tell you about her plans
for a grand prima donna career?"
asked Jean.
"Why, no." Laurel answered, "nat-
urally she spoke of her success last
night in the Plaza. I think" shrug-
ging, it's so derogatory for any
member of our family to be singing in
a public restaurant. Such step down!
"But it's step up for Gaby. And
heck of a long way from singing
on the waterfront of Marseilles!" Jean
was annoyed.
Laurel said pettishly: cts very un-
kind of you to remind me of that.
Herself, always! Jean was surpris.
ed at the queer wave of sympathy
that remark aroused in her for Gaby
"Well, no ones to know she's 9
member of the family, unless you spill
the beans," she rather tartly replied
"She is going on with her career
isn't she? Or did she suggest anything
else to you this morning?"
"Ye-es. Now that Pm home, she
seems to think-that with my back
ing-my chaperonage-"
"Go on. Nothing'll surprise me about
her or her intentions"
Don't be so snappish, darling. She's
our own flesh-and-blood. And it does
seem to be the best way out"
"What?"
Marriage. A marriage of interest
as she would call it. A rich husband
who would make up to her the pos
ition and the luxuries she has missed"
"Has she," Jean asked, with dry
lips, "got anybody on her mind?"
Her mother nodded "She isn't har-
um-scarum like you, Jean, getting into
scandals and the newspaper headlines!
She has plenty of French shrewdness
and common sense. And she wants me
to help her"
'To a swell marriage! She would!
Who's the mani"
Laurel looked innocently at Jean.
"Walter Mallory"
"Walter?" Jean paled. She STAN
mered: "Why, I-I'm going out dining
and dancing with Walter myself to-
night, Laurel!"
"But you mustn't! Gaby wants him!
You must cancel the engagement,
Jean! You mustn't, for my sake, for
all our sakes, do anything to antag-
onize Gaby! Can't you understand"
her mother pleaded, "we've got to
help her to win Walter?"
Jean met Walter in the foyer of
the Waldorf at half past seven.
She was in medley of emotion.
Laurel's demand that she break her
cherished date with Walter, because
of Gaby's designs on him, had been,
in her opinion, horribly unfair.
She, who had loved Laurel all her
life, who had never known of the
existence of first-born child, was
now to sacrifice her own happiness
to this elder sister! To this intruder
who hated her and Laurel!
Listen, MOTHER" Jean had said,
with heat, "Gaby's perfectly capable