Show rm T so d dW W o t i i o t. t 01 r o r m l r- r I ni I uJ x f Ev l l t i r t J i ff r f l 3 J Pa J u. u 3 4 c 5 jJ by J Gust in tJ l. to tv W A Service C Inc THIS THIS' HAS HAPPENED Three Three- giris are are sel selected by T. T Q 9 Curti Curtis from roin h lils his department fc store to tome If ome lm into his hIs' home home- 1 as wards ward for lor one I e year year I e he believes bc eves they have haye worthy am am- Billy Veils Wells Is tire only one one of th the three wh who whorls is serious about bo t ther her amb ambition I She he wants to to be hE bea hEa a concert violinist The other two girls Myda 1 Lomax and Winnie Shelton Sheton helt n. n lie He about th their l hopes in order to enjoy the Curtis wealth Clay C Curtis rUs son of the store owner owner tries to get Billy to de denounce do- do enounce e- e the tle wh whole le proposition She disregard his advice Cl Clay y has disinherited disinherited dis dig inherited himself I jand and Is living with the Wells tar family ly in a poor section of ot town working In the Truman factory in the daj daytime lime and writing music at night Mrs 1 Meadows wid widow w of a former torm-er governor i is s hostess for foX forthe forthe the girls Her Hern nephew V phe D Dal l Ko- Ko maine a a fascinating f Oriental looking man is pla playing the biers biers co could ld not have made one any better What I want to know is can a ah h high s school hool student take an an ad advanced advanced advanced subject at summer summer school that is without having failed in it I ROBIN We had to to omit your comments too Robin but v we e know you Pu wont won't mind that e Yes of ot course the high ligh school students may take tale new v subjects at t summer school If It you yott are es especially especially especially es- es interested in any certain one It might be for fOJ you to put In a request for it as the inn lum may seem somewhat limited ed edin in comparison but every effort is made mad to offer those who wish tp to attend the summer sessions the subjects that they need or want a. three girls girs very adroitly w which Is fearfully painful to Billy who is Infatuated w w th with th him On h her r flying visits home f for lor a few tew hours a week Billy finds the tle once loved little mile cottage disgustingly plain in c comparison with her new I domicile I Professor with whom i Billy Is to to study violin tells her hershe hershe hershe she has possibilities but says says I It will be five years before the fulfillment of her hopes In dis- dis nt at this announcement announce announce announce- ment Billy returns returns' to the Cur- Cur ii ti home There she finds re reporters reporters re- re porters and photographers who are c covering tire the Cinderella story for tor the papers When Dal Romaine strolls in and the photographers photographers pho pho- ask for his his' pl picture ture for forthe forthe forthe the society page page paget he retreats retreads In n haste me Billy Bill puzzles at his remark remark re- re mark maik I I In I n never ver pose for pictures NOW GO ON WITH TH THE E STORY CHAPTER X IV Well little spitfire what did tell tell you you T. T Q took Billys Billy's arm arm and led h her r Into the dining room Her I purpose to tell him the bitter truth and and run away held firm She raised her blue ey eyes eys s drowned In Ip tears and faced him honestly with verdict So you see ee she she 1 her lips quivering like likes like a a. he heartbroken heart rt- rt broken better give ive m my year to someone else A year wont won't be enough h. h Its It's not fair to take It when I know that I I cant can't prepare myself for tn my car ca career career ca- ca r reer er as as you expect me to to to- Cant I be the judge of ot that T. T Q laid t both oth long Jong bony hands handson on her lier shoulders But knows knows- Vs kno she walled wailed But But the panic pank which had come upon her so suddenly was evaporating T T. Q grinned at St I t her fondly tightened his hands upon her shoulders Oho r a called me on the phone a at the store store just after atter you'd left He said he r realized that he had discouraged and be bewildered bewildered be- be you He lie had thou thought ht would understand that h he ho was speaking to to you as one artist to another not as a to toan an al ordinary violin pupil What he meant was that it would take three to five fhe make years ears to you ready t to take take your o r place as one of the great violinists of ot Amer Amer- ica ca Oh Billy BUly breathed a sharp harp Cry ry of ot Jo Joy joi He thinks I 1 will be really some great great some day He criticized me so sp dreadfully ma ma ma me rrie want n never ver to touch my Violin again But I have rave only a year But think what that year can cando cando cando do for tor you child He shook her slightly affectionately This doesn't sound at all like my lit littie little lit Ut- tie tle Spitfire says by bythe bythe bythe the end of the year you can easily make your living living and and a avery avery avery very good living too with too with your fiddle Does it sound so terrible I now If It you ou get your start s year with raUl Na you can carry carryon on your studies while you earn earna a good living You'll stick wont won't you little Spitfire And trust old T. T Q to know what's best for tor you OU For answer Billy laid her cheek against the hand that gripped her left loft shoulder It was the slightest slight slight- est eat of car caresses but It was the first mark of of affection she had ever him and he looked extraordinarily pleased until pleased until Dal- Dal Romaine entered the dining room Ms Iris aunts aunt's hand on his his- arm his gra grave brown brown still stIn face ben i bel f deferentially deferentially def del to toward ard Mrs 1 Meadows Th This s Is most unconventional our lunching In evening dress Mrs Meadows ws said as Romaine held her chair for tor her But I knew you were eager to get gel back to busin business ss ss Mr Ir Cur Curtis is Im Izi afraid well we'll snap our our fingers fin fin- gers at the bo book k of a good many times Mrs 1 Meadows T. T Q i told her shortly his eyes eyes darting a II glance of badly concealed con con- dislike at Romaine who took his place between n his aunt and lilly Billy Wells Billy BUly wondered catching that look just why T. T Q disliked Dal Romaine so intensely Trum Truman Truman Tru Tru- m man n looked at Romaine with just such a hostile tightening of ot lips and jaw Wasn't their dislike founded on the fact that was arrestingly handsome that he ne had leisure and knew how to use it beautifully that women were irresistibly attracted to him He mak makes s other men seem crude and commercial and a little ri ridiculous ri- ri all all except T. T 0 O. who's an old darling but about as ro romantic romantic romantic ro- ro mantic as roast beef beef she mused must even as the close proximity of ot Dal Romaine made her quiver and ache with desire for the stimulus stimulus lus Ius of ot contact Her hands bands longIng longIng longIng long- long Ing for tor his to brush them thema a accidentally ll as he offered he her hel herthe the salt or pepper went cold and rigid with the pain of or waiting so eo that she dropped the tiny dish of pf alt HI HIS lean brown Lingers fingers did brush brush hers then as the they scooped the spilled crystals from the cloth cioth and instantly she had the feeling that sire had been given a dose of ot some powerful drug Better fling ling some some sem of that saul salt oyer over your jour our left shoulder shoulder- Billy Biily or you'll youl have bad luck Winnie Shelton Shelton Shelton Shel- Shel ton suggested sweetly but her hel eyes eyes were ere furious She had seen the touch of Romaines Romaine's hands Oh Dal bal l I mean Mr 1 Romaine Winnie fluttered YOu haven't forgotten forgotten for tor- gotten what you ou promised promised for for this afternoon Her coaxing voice hinted at lovely se secrets Romaines Romaine's grave still sUlI face w was s miraculously lighted with that fleet Cleet smile of his which left it more broodingly grave and mysterious than before At the moment she hated his smile because It had played up upon n a Winnie Sheltons Shelton's shallow shallow shallow low pretty little face Lace How could I forget he asked In his low caressing voice But Its It's no no secret really he add added d as he caught a gleam of malice and suspicion from Nyda's glittering gIlt glit lIt lIt- black eyes ees Miss Shelton Shel Shel- Shelton Shelton ton is ver very keen to i learn arn ice skating and Ive I've volunteered to tot t teach ach her I I. I hope all three o o of fou you coU girls will be m my mi guests this afternoon Wed We'd thought of ot go going go o- o ing up the the river to to the Pirates Pirates' pen Den I believe they call it Hot coffee offee and sandwiches sandwich s you OU know He turned toward Mr Curtis with witha a charming disarming smile A little shack built on the edge of ot the river An orchestra is to play this hi afternoon to make the skatIng In Ing merrier The Ice is quite safe Im I'm assured Will you go Miss W Wells and Is-and and Miss Lomax Ive lo got to o practice hours and hours Billy Hilly could not keep a note of of keen leen disappointment out of ot her voice So sorry Another time pErhaps perhaps perhaps per per- haps And you Miss Lomax I r have another engagement Nyda acknowledged ged sullen sullenly If It 11 Id I'd known known Winnie Winnie youre you're a de- de little brute You told me you were going to study stud this afternoon afternoon aft aft- But Im I'm sure lure you'd much rather be with Eddie Ban Banding That's y your ur date Isn't It Winnie asked innocently A dark daik flush stained Nyda Lomax's Lo 10 maxs max's cheeks checks and burned In he her rowed narrowed eyes ejes Im going to the Princess for a II fitting she snapped T. T Q chuckled Ive meant to tell telI you OU girls that you are at liberty to to bring any of your our old friends to the house hous Banning Is the young chap who squired d you at the anniversary party isn't Ire he Nyda Eddie Banning is nothing to tome tome tome me Nyda's fingers trembled as sh she raised a fork torI of ot creamed chicken ken to her lier sullen mouth I haven't noticed Clyde Stewart aro around d here yet Winnie she added maliciously Cl Clyde de Winnies Winnie's eyes eyes were very wide and innocent nt I Why Clyde Stewart and I were just friends thrown together at the store but I thought you and Eddie Eddie Eddie Ed Ed- die were engaged Well we arent aren't engaged and I think you'd better mind your own business Winnie Shelton Nyda's rage got the better of her dis dis- Girls girls girls' Mrs Meadows protested protested protested pro pro- tested in her cool cooJ modulated voice While Dal Romaines Romaine's lips twitched with a tiny Uny secret smile Winnie laughed exultant that her trip with Romaine had not not been spoiled b by bi either Nyda's or Billy's Billys unwelcome presence OhI Oh I was so thrilled this thia morning Mr 1 Curtis when I got my shorthand books All AU those little curly pigtails pigtails pigtails pig pig- tails and chicken tracks look absolutely absolutely ab ab- fascinating And I have havethe havethe havethe the shiniest typewriter with a a. little bell that tinkles at atthe atthe atthe the end of ot every line I 1 know a whole line of the the l keyboard already already al- al ready Y W She changed so prettily that even Billy had to smile Allow me to correct you T. T Q smiled Its Y- Y Y P. P. O I used to to grind out my own letters letters letters let let- before I could afford a ste ste- And howl ho do you ou like the Cordelia Blount school chool N Nyda da All signed up tip Oh yes Nyda gave him a along along along long deep glowing look Iv Ive got to study three different lessons lessons les lea sons tonight Ill I'll be so glad when Ive I've learned enough to b be allowed to teach in the model kinder kinder- garten part n. n Im I'm j Just st crazy to be with the kiddies With T. T Q beamed upon her almost fatuously It seemed to BUI he he hec c clever ever everno enough nough no gh to know know that she w s stringing him Ny Nyda a. a who detested children n Mrs Meadows vs and I are are planning planning planning plan plan- ning a a. a big big surprise for you my dear No to ont font t i tease ase But Ill I'll guarantee its it's something you'll like Well Wen children Ive I've got to totter totter totter tot tot- ter teron on back to the store All home home for dinner I suppose Mrs Meadows has asked Ralph Truman and his sister Annette and Bruce Kruger I believe And Dalh Dalhart rt Mrs 1 s Meadows smiled upon them all aU as she sIre rose roe from the table Apparently she shedid shedid shedid did not see seethe the quick frown that pushed T. T Qs eyebrows at mention mention mention men men- tion of ot her nephews nephew's name Ralph and Annette Dal and Bruce are going to a dance late at the Bradleys so you girls will have plenty of time for tor study this evening eve eve- ning Why Why Billy Billy looked at Mrs 1 I Meadows with evident eviden t embarrassment embarrass- embarrass ment ment lve ment Ive Ive Jve lve been invited to the dance too Ralph Truman asked yesterday esterday at tea I supposed supposed supposed sup sup- posed we were all going I I we er we had to to decline because because because be be- be- be cause we knew wed we'd have to study tonight Nyda lied as she rose languidly from the table and turned away slipping an arm about Winnies Winnie's waist as If to warn Billy that though they might squabble they were banded to together ether against her Good girls girls' T. T Q called caned after them heartily but Bill Billy saw a ahal half hal sad half amused smile on his stern mouth He was not dec deceived by Nyda's lie He Life was to be more thore complicated than he had bar bargained for with three f daughters ster In hi his To be continued Billy by accident learns the th great secret She finds out what T. T Q Q has kas been UD un to all along |