Evening star., 1941-03-30

just - all right, she'd admit it'll
just telling her the truth.
Isabelle's rage fiickered, f1ared and
was smothered beneath this admission
that she had been just as much of
fool as Wally.
Then the full realization of what she
had done staggered her back on her
heels. Why, dear heavens above. she
had practically thrown Wally Bowen
at Susie Clayton! Whom else but
Susie, could Wally ask to be his
model? Who half so desirable as
Susie with her Pitchy, who was and
looked thoroughbred dog down to
the tip of his tail? She, Isabelle Cum
mings in person, had simply handed
to Susie on silver platter the chance
to see picture of herself, practically
life-size. sensationally displayed in
Paget's Art Shoppe.
LOOKING down at the small be-
draggled figure so imperious with
anger a moment ago but whiting now
before her very eyes, Rosalie Cum
mings suspected what was going on in
Isabelle's mind. 1t was not easy to
find something to say. For Isabelle's
own good she could not console her
child as she wanted to. Isabelle had
plunged herself into all this, and lsa-
belle would have to carry herself
through it alone. Rosalie sighed and
her glance went to Pepper and Ivan.
They were rolling in the warm dust
of the alley, caking their wet coats
with dirt that would have to be
washed off by Isabelle.
Its too bad, darling" Rosalie
called over her shoulder, as she hastily
turned away from the window. "but l
guess you'll have to grin and bear it.
Gritting her teeth, Isabelle nodded.
And it was going to take a bit of
bearing and bit of grinning if she
knew Susie Clayton. Susie was a
genius at gloating, particularly at the
gloat obliqueG; and Susie would rather
gloat over Isabelle - after all she so
seldom had the opportunity than
have charge account for matted
milks at every drugstore in town.
Isabelle was not wrong in this
gloomy forecast. Two hours later
Susie led off with the first dose. She
called Isabelle on the telephone: MY
sweet. Wally just phoned to relate
the most fantastic tale of brawl be-
tween you two. About what he didn't
say. But he did say you were def
nitely out as his model and he wants
me and Pitchy to pose for him out at
the country club this afternoon. Of
course l wouldn't dream of doing it
without asking you if it's okay."
''Of course it's okay." Isabelle said.
As if Susie Clayton wasn't at this in
slant tearing off whatever she had on
so she could be dressed in her best and
ready on time! Isabelle gulped down
a sudden lump in her throat as she
imagined Susie and Pitchy with the
wind Unnecessary the electric fan -
blowing through Susie's hair and
Pitchy's whiskers while they posed
for "Thoroughbreds."
my sweet, you're lamb!'' Susie
omitted the adjective "shorn," but
it was in her tone. "Goodby!"
Grimly Isabelle put down the tele-
phone. She couldn't even flaunt in
Susie's face the fact that Susie owed
everything to her; not without also
Haunting the fact that she had allowed
her temper to make fool of her. 1t
was bitter. Isabelle's lips began to
tremble; it was gall unadulterated!
IHE telephone bell tinkled. She lifted
the receiver and heard Clifford Reeds
voice, teasing and gay: "Are you still
mad at me?"
81 could hardly be exactly pleased!
Goodbye She hung up. feeling a