Henderson daily dispatch., 1943-05-14
CHAPTER ONE
"hLLOES!"


III the outer room, Monsieur
Henri qlivcrcd from the pointed
tips of his patent leather shoes to
his cNquiSitcly oiled and scented
halr as he gave the signal which
opened the greatest event In the
world - the autumn showing of
li"nr: Furs! He gave a nervous
jerk 10 the short jacket of matched
pclts rs the first model took a deep
breath. Strengthened. staggered
casually daintily out onto the
raised dais of the showroom. The
string orchcstra's fluid notes
caught the lifting swagger Of her
movements. Soft. blended SPOT
lights added luster. Applause broke
forth. Henri gave u sharp sigh of
ecstasy.
III the dressing room, three fit
tcrS buried about among the score
"f beautiful models, adjusting hem
lines. smoothing, patting reverent-
~ Strengthening luscious fold
of mink, fluffing the sheen of Il sill
yer fox. Excited talk and laughter
flew about, stilled as Monsieur
Hcnri burst in.
1T ecs maE-nificentm he report-
ell as he dartCd among the models.
his hcaSlc-sharp eyes giving item
the last approval. Most Of the
hc"GcSt people are here! The show
room cCs looking like heaven. Jean,
Where ccs Jean?
\ filter nodded toward a girl
standing in brooding silence at a
window behind some wardrobe
rack%-a slender girl with wide
blu" eyes. cOrn-colored hair brushed
in Il soft cloud off her high fore
head.
"Shc has heard no word today
sine" that bad telegram" the wom-
an whispered significantly.
Henri hurried over to Jean. He
made chirpinG noises of delight as
lie adjusted her fabulous chinchil-
Ia cape and the sapphire swirls Of
her gown.
You are zee only girl who gives
distinction to zee chinchilla", he
IN urmurc passionatelv. you
should always wear zee evening
things"
with effort, the lovely blonde
brought her thoughts back to
her costume. She smiled vaguely
NJ Henri and said in a blurred tone,
attempting humor, I'll bet / never
own chinchilla coat in my life."
The dappcr Henri clicked his
t"nEnc with fond disapproval.
Tut! You are lovely-you are
young You are glamorousI"
And there ara many goldfish In
me s"a"' Jean mimickcd. She
pir"licttch slowly as he went on adj
liStlnG. then because she could not
TAX Of what was on her heart,
burst out in sudden irritation, But
INC gold ones aren't in the sea-
'h''yrc in bowls, nice, protected,
Sp"t-liEhtcd bowls! There's nv mu-
SIC She left him staring after her,
puzzled, and crossed to make her
entrance into the elegant show
room.
Poor Henri" she thought rs she
wendell her graceful way across
inc dais to the drifting melody of
Strauss waltz. "He hasn't the
1nihtcst idea what I'm talking
about"
Applause broke from the smart
audience below her, comments,
questions. Really stunning, you
Know! Quite successful" She hard
~ Knew what she meant herself. She
ohiy Knew that this spacious sky
Ecraprr room with its translucent
liGhting that made OF the huge
p'a'e glass windows the cleaning
Facets OF n diamond, no longer
thrilled her, the smart people, the
powerful people In the small select
group watching her studied grace
tul'>css no longer held Significance
LOT hcr. They irritated rather than
s"hl'aratcd. They were chattering
popPycocks the real people
" were IKE her brother, Melvin . i
,,n niSsi'ig somewhere in Africa"
.nc stunning words Of the govern
mem, mGnt telegram flashed with fresh
pun through her again.
"hc made her turn on the dais,
mSan her languid stroll past the |
WIDOWS. hiding her frantic desper-
","i' behind a dreamy smile. She |
n'us' Keep her control, she told her
.th st'rnly. This was no time to go |
10 Pieces. Just when she'd worked |