Evening star., 1941-07-12

shop today. I'd like to go into town
for while if it can be arranged"
Certainly, Nancy. Well drive in
this afternoon. Perhaps Eve would
like to go along"
A Lucky Find.
Nancy had not intended asking
Eve to go with them. but she could
not very well get out of it after
that. And to her surprise Eve as
sented readily
Il have to buy one or two little
things before the ball, and of course
III be glad to partronize your sis
ter's shop" she said ever so sweetly
When Mrs. Sinclair's limousine
stopped before the little shop
that afternoon, Eve raised her pref
ty eyebrows.
DO we really have to go down in
the basement? How frightfully
quaint"
But when they got inside Nancy
was proud of Clare. She came to
meet them and was introduced, her
lovely face flushed with success.
There were several customers in
the tiny place, and behind the tall
screen she whispered to Nancy that
she had been busy with them all
DAY.
Mrs. Sinclair went at once to the
table and picked up an odd-looking
vase.
My dear, where did you get
this?" she asked.
I'm sorry, but I haven't the his
tory of that vase. I think Mother
bought it at a missionary tumble
sale, but I'm really not sure. Nancy
and I used to play with it when
we were little girls"
IF it's really what I think. this
vase is worth several hundred dol
lars. Id like to send it to an art
dealer in New York and get his
opinion on it. Are you willing?"
why - of course we never
dreamed it was of much value"
If l am right about it. I'll buy
the vase at his valuation" the old
lady added.
Eve Drops the Vase.
Eve had been staring around the
little shop with boredom which
she made no effort to conceal. But
when she heard Mrs. Sinclair's re-
mark about the vase she hurried
over to them.
"Oh. do let me see it,"
She took it and examined it care
fully. TO think of this being worth
hundreds! What marvellous luckW
Perhaps her fingers were awk-
ward because she hadn't removed
her gloves, but Eve dropped the
vase, and it hit the floor with a re-
sounding thump.
oh, how careless of me! I'll
never forgive myself if it's broken!"
She bent over to get it, but Nancy
was ahead of her She picked the
vase up and scrutinized it closely.
No damage done-not even
oh, I'm so glad"
Il didn't think one fall would
hurt it. since it survived wears of
rough treatment" Nancy said dryly.
Glare and I often used it as a door,
stop when we played house in the
attic"
If you'll put it in a box I'll take
1t along with me-" Mrs. Sinclair
said. Eve, l believe you wanted to
do little shopping elsewhere,
didn't you? Nancy, We will return
for you in an hour" Then turning
to Glare: "Good-by, my child. I
wish you every success in your
We'll, I'm starting off wonder
fully, thanks to you" Clare re-
turned, busily wrapping the box
containing the vase.
Nancy and Clare Agree.
When they had gone, she turned
TO her sister. Nancy. who is that
girl? I believe she deliberately
dropped that vase!"
Shes Eve Carstairs, a former
schoolmate of Mrs. Sinclair's daugh-
ter. And I'm inclined to agree with
you that she dropped it on purpose"
But why should she do such
thing?"
Nancy shrugged. Il don't think
she likes me very much"
Won't it be wonderful if Mrs.
Sinclair is right about the vase?
Nancy, if she is, let's make Dad
tQkp ono of tboco cr,1ieoe l,o,. Laa,,
talking about for the last 20 years"
Glare, that's a grand ideal Shall
I go up and tell him about it?''
Yes, do! I see the Middleton
girls coming this way, so I'll get
ready for busy session."
Nancy laughted and glanced out
of the window at. three angular
ladies who were approaching, their
heads held high. Matilda, Sarah
and Carrie Middleton still called
themselves the Middleton girls, but
they had long ago been placed IN
the category of old maids. In Mount
Pleasant it was said that they had
once been pretty girls, but their
mother thought that no one was
good enough to marry her daugh-
ters, and their spinsterhood was the
result. They were poor and had
little pleasure in life other than
window shopping, for they never
bought anything.
Its lucky I don't have to get
anything down from a Shelf" Glare
giggled as the three sisters paused
in front of the store. They can see
everything that's on the tables, and
they will"
Nancy escaped and ran up the
stairs which took her to her fathers
office on the third floor. She was
secretly marveling at the change in
Clare. Only few weeks ago Clare
had been bored, discontented and
restless, thinking only of herself and
her own pleasure. The fact that she
had thought Immediately of giving
her father cruise with the pro-
ceeds of the vase showed that Glare
had changed much from the self
ish and unhappy girl she had been.
Copyright, 1941, Chicago Daily NewsD
(COptipued Tomorrow