Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-31
makeup box.

. DOh.
I'm going to get up" she said.
/ She felt far better than she had
expected when she was tucked up in
her deck chair The sun was out. The
sea was bright In the distance the
I glimmering tower OF an iceberg was
visible. Before long Blanche and Kraus
came down the deck deep in CONVEX
sation. Blanche had taken off her
I woolly cap and her fair hair blew In
/ the wind. She greeted Irene joyously.
II believe you've been pretending"
she exclaimed. You cont look a bit
seasick"
She sat down on the foot OF Irenes
chair. Kraus seated himself beside
Irene. They said how much they had
missed her but she did not believe
them. She tried to be friendly but her
face felt stiff. She stared out at the
iceberg. lonely and depressed. After
little Blanche said. Shall I tell her
the news?"
Sure" said Kraus. Go ahead"
Irene thought. shes going to tell
me they're engaged. Well, I don't care.
I wouldn't have kraus as q present"
The news is this" laughed Blanche.
( I'm going to Hollywood TO try my
luck in the pictures. Isn't 1t lark2
we'll both have pink palaces"
/ Irene stared at her aghast. you!
Going to Hollywood"
mo wonder you stare. can scarce
/ ly believe it myself. But Mr.. kraus
and Mr. McNab both advise me to.
There's something about me that they
think will take on. And Mr.. Fitzhuga
knows OF manager who Is looking
for a girl of just my type,,whatever
Irene managed to get out words OF
congratulation but her brain seethed
with anger and envy.
The next day she was almost herself
! again. All day she tried to make up
/ her mind to ask Mr.. Fitzhugh what
he thought of her chances, but he
seemed deliberately to avoid her. as
though he guessed what was IN her
mind But the fat middleaged man
showed his admiration that she began
to like him better. He was full OF
kindness and he could scarcely keep
| his eyes off her. He evidently had
plenty of money.
That night was the gala dinner.
Irene wore her most striking dress,
| the one with the metallic blouse that
! gave an added luster to her hair. She
made up her face with even more care
than usual She was so long in dress
ing that there was CLEAN Of i'm
patience in the Captains eyes when
she joined his party in the lounge.
Blanch too. wore new dress. 1t was
pink and white she looks Just like
peppermint bullseye," Irene thought
She smiled stiffly at Blanche and
walked with dignity to the dining
salon. 1t was gay with balloons and
colored streamers. The orchestra was
playing the latest swing.
Fancy headdresses lay at each plate.
with whistles and tops to add to the
noise.
A scarlet and white Jockeys cap lay
at her place. A most unbecoming
choice. she thought. She glanced with
resentment at the medieval headdress
with gilt star on the front which
had been given to Blanche. She felt
, that the dining room steward had
and as direct cut to her. She had
never liked him. Now she decided
that he would get no tip from her
at the end Of her voyage. She dis
dained to put on the Jockeys cap.
Blanche saw her look and ex-
! claimed. Why. they've given US tho
wrong hats! This certainly Is yours,
l, aren't your"
Was she speaking in sarcasm? Irene
could not tell. Flushing deeply she
| accepted the medieval headdress and
put 1t on.
Every becoming" said Mr. F1tzhush.
zone would think It had been made
for you"
Look at Miss Blanche in the
Jockeys cap" said the captain. That's
| what I call becoming"
The cap cooked on ono side, Blanche
was smiling happily. the picture Of .
Jockey who has Just won . race. She
knew how she would look in It,"
thought Irene. "She Just wanted to
take the wind out Of my sails" Angry
thoughts rushed through her. The
army officer was ordering champagne
for the party. The captain was BEAM
| ing At him.
They had finished oysters on the
half shell and the plates were being
removed when Mr.. F1txhugh took of
the black hoodlike cap which had been
allotted to him and handed 1t to
Blanche.
"Try on this" he said. almost per-
| emptortly.
| wore and put on the one he offered.
The transformation was startling.
With downcast eyes. compressed lips.