Show I I rI l li i 1 r t 0 r lJ f r I fJ 0 k-i k f i iw w. w I i l If i rj iI 0 fr I 10 J a B Bl x o l L f f f or f o t 1 z sra s kG c a. a l So tat Jt oJo dl r v to y austin v iJ t 1927 to Ii W WA Service Inc THIS HAS HAPPENED Billy Wells head the tho glove department department department de de- of ot the mammoth Curtis Winnie S Shelton Shel- Shel store Nyda Lom Loma Lomax ton and seven se other girls almost lf t ek e ry one exceptionally pretty win r prizes I la a second se ond Intriguing contest staged by by T T. Q Curtis the million million- Store tore owner Billy participates in these contests contests con- con tests o over oer er the protests of Clay Cur Cur- t son of the millionaire Cla Clay tv r j f suspects his father of a 0 hidden mot mot mo- mo t t dv and ho he feels that the contests w result in something unexpected s and perhaps unpleasant for tho the j S. S Jp participants Cla Clay has has- disinherited r himself and Is living with the Wells 1 In the poor section of the t working in a It factory by day music lc and composing and studying mu music Billy is also suspicious of at a al v 0 Old dT T Q Curtiss Curtis s lust l st before Billy l 31 gets a note i in informing in- in n- n f. f forming her she is one of the prize Y winners she the has a customer customer-a a man oriental t. t l looking Imp impeccably groom- groom r 7 ed enthralls her with Ms In- In i ate smile his caressing tones I 1 r r Sher She is still under the spell of ot his strange ange presence when she goes to c office There she learns that thc prizes 3 h Ii prizes in this contest consist of ot w an n ah-n to the Curtis mansion v Sf o dinner at a near date and ther the r of an evening dress and slip slip- s' s for the tie occasion When Billy ly Billys I f pI ks s out her dress she feels the I r repetition of a premonition that i dame came e to her in In- In Inthe the late afternoon afternoon- R I premonition that all aU of ot this Is vl- vl tally Important to her that It has hasa a It bearing on her future on Oid Old r. r and Q Q and on the strange man she has h has served at the glove counter NOW NOW GO do ON WITH THE STORY CHAPTER XV AU All during supper on on Thursday BlUy was In n such high spirits that even en Clay who had been moody and aid silent since she had bad l d told to him and her hel mother of the prospective dinner p party In T T. Q Curtis Curtis' home smiled in sympathy lunch Had a manicure on my hour today she announced Ansi And what do you do ou think Old T T. T Q evi evidently evl- evl dently thought there was something in my suggestion for the improvement improvement improve Improve- m ment nt of or the store for he h has s an an- flounced that beauty parlor rates to the girls are to be just third one-third of the charge to the customers Isn Isn't t that noble Think of ot getting a II manicure for tor 25 cents cents' s 1 And the operator are are forbidden to take tips from the thesa sa saleswomen T T. Qs s goIng going go- go Ing to make up the difference to the beauty parlor people So little lIlUe Billy aint so dumb be managing mano the store yet jet ct Clay prophesied sled Leave Leav the me dishes a while mother Billy begged as she pushed push push- c ed back her chair chaK chalAnd And you two nice things go into the living room and make love to each other while I 1 g get La surprise ready for you And no fair peeping moth mother r i fifteen minutes later she tiptoed to the door of ot the living room loom and on for a moment with vv W th misty i eyes eves at the sight of ot her mother and CJ y Curtis doing exactly as she had commanded them them malting making I love The boys boy's long legs legS' w were re sprawled on the tl worn carpet his tired head rested Ion on on her mothers mother's knees and and- her mothers mother's gentle work marked fingers were stroking stroking- his temples Sorry to Interrupt she called softly but youve you've got gOe to tell me if IfIll ifIll Ill I'll do do for for the party She had brought the dress home that evening and h had d smuggled it I and her evening pumps and arid silk I stockings into her Into her room As Clay sprang to his feet teet and I Mrs V Wells ells clapped her plump hands like an excited child Billy I revolved slowly before them Perfect Billy Im I'm going to set you to music In that dressy d ess And Ill I'll call U It t Dance of an Autumn Dryad one of th the things I love lovea a about out you Clay Cay Billy twinkled her blue eyes and wrinkled ed her short nose at at him You do see and say exactly xa the right things It is like da maple leaves in autumn isn't It It mother s Bu But t Clay had no more to say In words He went to the piano and began to compose compose a lilting gay little lit little little lit lit- tle piece that set to music the of the girl and arid the delicate te charm of the dress Billy I listened her eyes bright with tears of gratitude gratitude gratitude I tude and love A few minutes later Billy left the thelo lo loom m to remove the precious dress before belore even one tiny chiffon leaf lea should shoud be crushed and when she returned returned she was a more ordinary but still still charming little figure In Ina Ina ina a green and white checked gingham house dress Without a II word to her Clay her mother Had bad retired she retired she took tool her hei violin from its case cake and began to tune it for fol their inevitable hour of ot music Ready she spoke at l last st st. Cla Clay took look his place at the piano still without a word for herShe her She cocked a merry speculative blue blu eye at him as she began to play but she could make nothing of t the expression m of ot his face R Jt was neither anger nor weariness nor gloom that she read there It was nearer to profound thoughtfulness thoughtful- thoughtful hess ness As they played play piece after atter piece however the magic of t It won fron on him from his mood so that whet when the hour was up she saw sacs that his face wore that uplifted proud look that only music could place there When she was putting her vl violin tenderly and carefully into its case she was was startled to he hear r Clay say In a strained unnatural voice Would you ou ou mind letting roe rne see seea a copy opy of ot the essay you won the prize with Why no no of course coUlse couise not Clay I thought you'd rather not see see It You hat hated d my doing it so so Mother tucked it Into the family Bible I 1 think Yes here it is is lIe He took it and went vent to the fireplace fire fire- fire fireplace place lace to lean against the mantel a as s he r read ad it ft When he had finished and and looked down at her as she sat in the big chair before the fire she was startled and touched to see a a. mist of ot tears over his eyes Its a crime for dad to dangle a fortune before your jour eyes yes and then jerk It back giving you a a. fifty dollar dol dol- lar dress diess for foi your dreams he told her fiercely But I never had even even evena a a. fifty fifty- dollar dollar dress before Clay she told him softly And writing the essay ESaY made made me me realize that dont don't I wan want t great wealth wealth wealth-I'm Im I'm grateful grateful to him for that Just as I said said all I want is money enough for a really fine violin and for the best of tion For myself I 1 rne mean n of course e I mother needs comfort security She paused aused and grinned at herself Lets not take it s so seriously Cla Clay Its It's sweet of you ou to mind but Ill I'll win mi my chance somehow And if I don well dont tt well I can always play for myself and for m mother ther he Billy Billy he dropped suddenly to his Knees and took her m little e hands youve got to have y your our u. u chance Youre loure grea great great great-a t-a t a genius I 1 couldn't believe it first I listened to pick flaws for tor fear I 1 was letting my friendship for ou you run mn away With my judgment But Billy it if I 1 know music music and and God knows I ought oUgh to for Ive I've heard heard enough of ot t it t and spent enough money money learning att tt If if I know a great violinist when I I hear near one then youre you're a genius loud do anything to win your ch chance nce wouldn't you you anything anything Billy laughed a little shakily for tor her blood w was s racing madly In her veins You mean something dramatic dramatic dra dra- matic matte like selling m my soul to to the highest bidder Im lm afraid there arent aren't any bidders Clay If Ie this were a movie now non t there'd ered be a rich villain pursuing me Its It's a T. little difficult to imagine old T T T. Q p pursuing pursuing pur pur- r- r suing seven pretty girls all aU at the same time isn't it I wasn't thinking of ot T T. Q t that thai laL is directly he acknowledged But this whole business of ot the fool contests contests con con- tests has set me thinking thinking- Youve been showing the strain of the unusual exercise she teased him Listen Billy He gripped Clipped her hands hard against his breast I Ican Ican I Ican can do it for you You know lenol that dont don't you ou Dont Don't crinkle YOur your fenny fun fen funny I ny little nose at me me It wee was his turn t to laugh aug shakily I dont don't mean mean meanon on my wages as a factory hand But you know enow I can can go back to dad any dad any time I want to You said yourself y Tuesday night that his eyes were haunted with loneliness And he told me I could come back any time If It I give up this this this-this this experiment of mine will you go back with back with me As my wife Dad would be terribly pleased He likes you Hed He'd d do anything for yo you give ou pu ailand ail ajl and more than youve you've dreamed of ot in this essay essay of ot yours Billy will you jou ou You mean mean you'd you'd give up asp your our own dream for dream for me me Bec Because use I have genius genius' she asked slowly tugging to release her hands Youve Youve You've got to have your chance Billy y he reiterated stubbornly Its in my iny power to give it to you jou ou Youre You're more Important that I am amAnd am- am And you think I Id I'd accept your accept your sacrifice Let you acknowledge de defeat defeat de- de feat so that I might be hastened along my own little private path to glory What a noble creature you I must think I am am No Nb tha thank you vou Clay Ill I'll earn my own chance chance or or work ork In a department store for foJ the rest of ot my life Ill I'll not let you ou give up your fight light for my sal sake e Id I'd despise despise despise des des- pise you if you did This is really funny Clay Curtis Cur Cur- Curtis rose to his feet then turn turned d to bury his face against an arm out along the mantle One girl turns me down because because Im Im I'm no good without without with with- out my m fathers father's money and nd another because Id I'd be no good with it And Im I'm Im I'm the wise young man that mat swore he lie was was' through with women Billy rose her knees snaking shaking so that she could hardly stand She tool too too one one step toward him to fling herself into his arms but something stronger than the love Jove which made her faint with longing for him held her back With an enormous effort she made her voice sound casual friendly co cool coal 1 Ill Ill I'll never forget what you ou were willing to 10 do for me Clay You are the wise young man w who o was through with women women and and youre you're going to be wise enough to l stay tay true to that to that vow until youve you've won on v on the fight you had courage enough to start I dont don't count Clay about me Ill I'll manage You cant can't kep a g good od girl down She he forced her stiff lips to smile in Imitation of ot their old impudence u rather a t take help torn rem my pty I father fae than a from me me-He me He r raised his I head to stare at her with hard angry eyes ejes Theres no doubt about t t-I'm t tIma Im Ima a wicked d woman she grinned at lit him hoping desperately that he cx could uld not read the heartbreak In her herI eyes I You know what I mean Y Youre You're ure no fool You know as as well as i S I Ida da I that T Jr Q Q Curtis is giving that dinner dinner din din- ner party for a purpose lIes lIe's pl planning planning plan plan- nI n- n ning to play God In your life life I How How How she demanded angrily but fear shrilled h her r voice To Be C Continued i t |