Show e t 1 E 4 4 e T 4 jr i k kI v. v 1 w k r i. i a i I i yv A l.- l. f 4 k THE SHELL jl j She She Lived in a Beautiful but Silver Shell but Schell-but but 4 tf J There here Was a Real Person Inside t t 1 T 1 THORNE'S ES E'S car The The doorman L held the wide doors doors' of the cl club b open and Elinor pulled silver sil r fur and brocade dose close about her making a slim mummy forthe forthe for forthe the wind that tugged at the canopy above the steps I Jack must be back That's the Chickering Chickering Chicker- Chicker ing JIlg bus called some one behind her behind her and then the doors shut off the warmth warmth and tinkling voices How cold it ft was with snow d drifting in spirals against the car oar headlights The chauffeur snapped on the dome mo light of or the car and a quiet figure within turned his massive massi e head toward hers her s' s yr yOli Old Oh Elinor linor stop stopped l silver siJer slipper on oni II I i the step She yawned a as she dropped into i the seat eat What you doing up this time of the he morning orning Allen AllenT Jh The hg chauffeur I spread robes re c. carefully ully about her her and shut t them Ill in v. v s J Seeing efin jou home The man thrust a pillow under her herr feet fet Jack wired wired hed he'd get in tomorrow No 1 today The Fhe car slipped off with a gr grating tin o of chains on icy pavement pa Had a good time I. I Im In dead lead Rock Pock me to sleep Elinor slid lid down shining hining head heul ou his shoulder rt F This getting married How do folks stand i it more mOle than once mice once Maybe I Ill I'll last till the lf T y wd wedding ing Tacks Jacks s smart smart mart to run away i f 1 do love lo Jack Y oil Olt nobody beli believes vf's in love lore nowadays o et except ept maybe you Jacks Jack's a handsome lId he he ma makes s elegant love lon Lots of pra P. P tice 7 Elinor hes he's hes all nIl right That's what I i. i wanted to say You can make a lot out of Jack ELINOR T LINOR touched his cheek with fingert finger- finger t Dear sober tips Grandpa I spose c you feel like a father to both of us Do you remember the first time I saw you Jack had my kitty by the tail When we lived lied next door I makin was vas making making- a n frightful S 'S row ro and you came out a book under your J arm I remember I 1 couldn't hobble fast r 1 t enough but he dropped the cat And I went in to loo look at pictures in your book Elinor laughed again Poor Poo Mother lother You know she worried worried for fear Id I'd be homely and highbrow and wear s spectacles Well I didn't did I The he car crunched to to a stop before an apartment house dark lark except for th the orange glow v of entrance lamps You Tou might have luncheon or something if you have a vacant minute Allen hitched forward awkwardly in his seat and the heavy y walking-stick walking jumped from its hidden corner corner to make a stroke of rigidity across the s soft ft folds of the rug f Elinor EBnor emerging with witha a a glitter looked tat at atthe atthe the stick Poor Allen I will she said f unexpectedly Tomorrow low too Ill I'll come for you at t the office Now KON arent aren't you jou amazed If you dont don't wake up in time Ill I'll forgive forgive for- for gi give you rou Heres Here's your tin crown Elinor Elmer thrust the band askew over oer her herH H forehead and flung herself from the shelter of the car car carcross across cross the icy pavement to the shelter of the entrance A snow snowflake flake caught in h her r lash lashes s was like ke a little warm tear Did Jack bring you home Mrs horne Thome drew drew the heavy silver and fur from the 1 girls girl's shoulders Hurry into your bathrobe Ive I've some hot bouillon for you Yes silvers silver's better than gold I think Gold dims your skin You were easily the loveliest thing there Nice Kice party Too bad its it's over ove More coming Elinor slipped out of the clinging silver sheath stretched lazily slender slender slen- slen r der subtle c curves of warm flesh with dabs of silver siler tissue undergarments 4 Here lIere child You drink this Mrs c V. V Thorne slipped an arm alm under her relas relaxed d di i s shoulders shoulders held the cup to her lips I do dont don't t exhausted exhaust d than I do d' d w see pee why hy you get more a Any one would think you were my age Elinor gulped the hot liquid Because its it's its me getting married d she said sinking into A the pillows the silk comforter Her lIer mother pulled rose across h her r smoothed it 1 1 Mary Iary Thorns Thoms is comi coming g in the morning morningto 1 to write notes for you You ought to send senda I 1 a 0 few yourself You haven't even seen the theE I E t things that came today Some of the girls I 1 h In your your r class at the Castle have sent ex ox- exquisite silver Too bad they're so far away Then Then theres there's that luncheon and bridge to to- to Y morrow morrow Yo You can sl sleep p till 12 Her lIer mothers mother's mothers mother's moth- moth ers er's smooth face had the Ule restrained animation animation anima- anima I tion tion of ofa a pleased manager L Luncheon Elinor sat up her fair hair 1 3 catching little rosy gleams from the shaded lights Im not going I 1 told Allen AlIen Id I'd take him to lunch j Allen A Allen len Where'd d you s see him Oh Oh he brought you home That's hats all nonsense f k lunching at the hotel A W Were We're re Im not Elinor dropped back among d the pillows one arm shading her eyes Youcan Youcan You Tou can Allens Allen's out of everything and arid Im I'm going to be decent just once r i t t closed windows against white SOME SOIE one dazzle drew silt silk curtains to make a mn mask mak k of dimness Elinor minor stirred and slept again Some one tiptoed tiptoed heavily heavily about the room Susie black and and comfortable haug- haug ing away shreds of silver Reluctantly Elinor Elinor Eli Eli- nor nolt felt sleep slip away away- leaving tattered t fringes in her languorous body You You mas ma's been up for hours Susies Susie's teeth teeth gleamed at at her You get you bath and Ill I'll have breakfast ready They're listing listing list list- listing ing ing off your jour gifts You Tou sure got the mos' mos handsomest gif's git's I ever seen Yes Elinor could hear them them down the thet t t hall ball Her lIer mothers mother's lively d delighted lighted ac accents Mary lary Thorns Thorns' murmur r l A A bell rang frang The maids maid's heels tap tapped d down the hall and there followed a whirlpool whirl whirl- is t- t J pool pooh of e excitement with with a d deep p tone as i o f cus Jack Elinor heard her mother I v tr Dear ear boy i Come in t 1 You Yon know Miss i J. J f Y ii h iT 1 fi Thorns Weve We've been scratching off notes all nIl your ely lo presents And Jack S Swell Se e loot eh eb Lands theres there's your your Jour beau Mis' Mis l s' s I Elinor Eli Eli- Ii- Ii nor Susie brushed a thread from the girls girl's skirt dabbed a a. cloth at the smart smart pump Quick Susie Get my coat and hat Elinor flew to the closet with Susie Ive got to be going when I see him Elinor Her IIer m mother opened the door Her dark daik keen eyes eye observed her daughter ignoring b I you jou ou hear bear Jack lIes lIe's just i cached town Elinor minor pecked d at nt her her mothers mother's cheek rushed rushel past her II Lo Jack Tack She p poised is d dat at the door of hear heap mothers mother's living room She stared at Tack Jack the fhe he beguiling droop of eyelids eyelids eyelids eye eye- lids over bold blue e eyes s 's smooth sleek hair lIe He looked a little gray under freshly shaven cheek and chin Kinda wild He lIe smiled That Caroling Carolina Caro Caro- Jin ling lina moonshines moonshine's got an awful wallop Come here bere still love your jour our dad lIe He kissed her with lingering expertness Perhaps she was wa's too tired to think about that i instead stead of relaxing relaxing relaxing re re- re- re into on one quiver get in for lait nights night's show Rained th the fi first st day and we we never got got goCa a decent stand of birds bird until yesterday morning Hunting's hard work ork Come sit down lie lIe- settled a again in in the thelow thelow thelow low chair pulling her down to the arm Thought you might grub with me this noon but your our mother says no youie youre head qu queen n nat at a fest Ive I got another date Elinor dragged on the heavy gloves glores Jack Tack slipped his fingers under the furred cuff cuffs burrowed gently against the palm of her ller hand See here I If youre you're busting loose why not me What's th the idea turning me down for Allen Old doesn't lunch with pretty girls Today h he does Elinor grinned at him You know ou dont don't mind You just felt guilty over oer playing hooky Let me go that's a sweet tet boy She stood on tiptoe to brush his llis lips in a n light kiss Love Lo mother up a little She's missed you jou ou dreadfully She ran through the hall down the cold stairways if she waited for the elevator ele they might catch b her r slid under the wheel ground at the SHE starter starter cold car ah the I motor motor whined and roared into action The Gray hood glittered in the sun the piled snow was was was was-a a dazzle of light tb the sky arched in cloudless blue over the st steel bright bright l-bright air over er snowy ty roofs roofs A Allen lIen llen would laugh thought Elinor rounding round round- in lag ing a corner dexterously if he knew v what a n fuss hed he'd stirred up I dont don't know Imo just why I did it That heavy walking-stick walking rigid across the robes No 0 not pity I just wanted to s see sec e him again She cut in at the half circle of driveway b before fore the entrance of the offices office's of the Chickering fa factory tory stepped on on the brakes and did a little tail skid ns as she stopped her head toward Oh boy She poked poled a boy who stood grinning at her pirouette Will you tell Mr Ir Chickering Mr Ir Allen that Miss iss Thome Thorne No Xo you n needn't She waved toward a window where a grayed heavy head looked incredulously out Been watching for her had he Good old thing Her hand slipped out of its glove gloe snapped open pen a gold and black vanity case While sll slit she automatically renewed decorations her eyes caught the sidewise recognizing stares of men who passed They knew her wasn't she fihe Jacks Jack's girl EllO Enough gh to make malte any girl conspicuous in this town Then her hand grew still lipstick poised as Allen started down tn the steps They were wele icy She shut her eyes agai against st the lowering of the heavy beavy figure good leg kg down do first then that shoe with th the monstrous sole and antI the stick Still asleep I didn't come She jumped at the voice stowed away the case pushed open the low door Allen Alleq swung himself up up with strong arms Jack called caned up I saw him Elinor drove out with a flourish Swiped his wagon you see bee Where do we eat cat at Anywhere you jou OU like II I- I usually have a glass of milk and a sandwich here heie at the office Youie Youre ni nice e and quiet She dragged off her hat bat and leaned into the corner against the woo wooden back of the bench Ive runaway runaway run runaway away fr from m all ill the noise and chatter and tissue paper just for Tomato soup Allen smiled at her Funny how unlike Jack his face was for all aU it had the same shape His Isis forehead was wider his eyes exes were wele reticent instead of bold his mouth lOot a that was the greatest difference that thin wide mouth too mouth too gentle Oh well if you jou were crippled that made a difference The cracker under his long white whIt fingers crumbled I haven't ha leally really seen you ou at all since we came back last fall Elinor scrambled into her lightest tone Funny how I 1 ran into Jack at the first dinner dance of the sea season sou and aud here I am I r never nent thought you'd come back to this this' town Mother Bother Iother f i wanted to All ll her ler friends were were here even if father had bad died and shed she'd sold the house For all aU I know she may IDay have bave plan planned led on Jack She's aw fly clever er What happened to old oM Rags Hags For Foran Foran an instant Elinor Elmer thought she saw the shaggy head of of the dog pressing against Allens Allen's knees I Oh he died The first year you were in finishing school He lie used to go looking tor pr you all around your house I the funny kid though Elinor Eli nor not leaned forward glancing into the narrow narrow narrow nar nar- row mirror behind the tasseled lampshade n never yer believe belie I 1 used to be so scared would you jou ou We W used sed to get on ou better etter didn't we he h s said d. d Before I 1 changed for the worse wonc She i l i t pushed a a door his words opened the she wouldn't look back Oh I know you think Im I'm silI silly and vain lIin I am You dont don't know a thing about my thoughts How could you 1 His face bce darkened threatened lies her Im glad you let me we see Ie you jou ou today I Ellie Ilie I wanted to f say ay You and Jack Well Veil youre you're all nIl the folks I care about J I feel sort of responsible about Jack I 1 had to to try to bring him up and Ive I've always been well wen inadequate lIe He feels much muchas as liS you jou ou do 10 about me ate He lie withdrew his bis hand and anti a kind of bleakness settled over his face fuce one heavy shoulder pushed higher than the other as asif asif asif if it tool took the pressure of of the walking I wont won't see bee you alone again I 1 just wanted to say iii if you'll be sure to ask me if theres there's anything Oh OIl Lord 1 I I sound like an ass but perhaps per per- haps balS you jou can cnn fill in the words Anyway joure youre very lovely Ellic EUie Is that h lie he smiled smi a little what little what you jou wanted me to say Elinor blinked in a swift angry angl flurry You needn't be so serious about it then Suppose those thoe tears should show Come I have ha to rush home and dress She h crammed o on her hat bat turned up her collar You Yon wait while I get the car She bhe he hurried away before he had edged to his feet b behind hind the table able f fAgain Again AgaJ that moment moment of anxiety while while he le swung himself into the seat Then she drove dro silently back to the office ollice There she she hesitated glancing at the flight of stone steps sprinkled Sand but patched with ice She slipped out of or the car Let t me come comein comein comein in a minute Ive I've never neer seen your sanctum Did he suspect her She looked away from his Ilis clear blue eyes tucked her hand firmly under his elbow and be began an the slow climb up the steps Why Jacks Jack's here She had a glimpse of him darting past llast the window He ITe must be working for five minutes She giggled Or waiting for his car She was glad he was there hed he'd jerk her back baek into the glitter of the present There safely up those treacherous steps She moved ed ahead abend of Allen across the Uie corridor l to the door with Imposing in l lettering Allen tAllen Chickering John Chickering Private But ther her hr fingers on the knob met re re- re- re sista ce Its locked She looked at Allen clumping behind her ALLEN ALLEX A LLEN trued tried it rapped sharply on n the frosted glass calling caIling Jack Tack That latch sticks sometimes Jack The door was opened a a crick cAck Dont stand there bellowing YO you l ass Jack mute mut putting out a hasty hand to dra draw Allen within Then he saw Elinor and tried while his flustered face grew darker with anger to fill flU the meager crack Ill be put out at once You wait in the car But Allen had thrust the door wide before before before be be- fore fore Jack spoke and Elinor Elmer saw beyond th the men planted with obstinate firmness in inA ina inn A n d desk Sk chair a girl A slash of f harsh vivid rest red the c i ap fur coat fell feU open the same Mme red in the small hat hIlt against which the rouge and large hard eyes the black points of hair aid in |