Show B By AND T S GIRL ’’r) Margaret Love S’ PEI PA asqueracse s IPsS f t 0 Sanderson (Copyright by AH the Reilly A Britton rights reserved) Company SYNOPSIS ’R ' I I y TAEJORIE BECKWITH as Captain Becky better because - known of her sloop down on the has been wealthy friends th Hattons at tbefr country home in New Hampshire! Shehesitates to accept knowing tjiat her wardrobe is not so exploits river visit ' Indian on a Invited fn her- -lorida to ' ' complete- her t’hat-of s friend && Lucile Hatton But she finally goes despite her lack of party frocks etc of She meets various young friends and Schuyler Hatton some of whomof try to help tease her but with the MCnuyier Sh manages to bold her own Lucile also She die horse race against herself to be beaten rides a lows but Imai XIII CHAPTER Venetian Night HIS next day Saturday continued dark and threatening The weather had not only Interfered butt with the weekly races had created a dearth of the usual socflaJ tl activities at the farm This did not trouble Becky very much for she was busy with her second article about the Humphrey farm this time By evening her fingers were well smudged but her article nearly finished was “Oh dar” sighed Lucile as they 'i as-mornlng sembled at breakfast Sunday “we haven’t had any fun at all! It's going to be a fine day too" Becky glanced out and saw the sun struggling to break through the clouds wNlh some promise of success “1 tell you!” Lucile with sudden animation “Let’s take that horseback ride this afternoon “1 don’t tlunk you had better” spoke Hatton promptly and decidedly up Mrs “A good" rem is not going to hurt either of you girls We can take a trip in this the afternoon is fine car enough and you must not forget that have a you social engagement tomorrow hight” "By golly! Td clear forgotten all about Venetian NJgJht! guess it slipped away from you too sis!” “VVhit'fdit all about?” Inquired Beckv puzzled “What’s Venetian1 Night?”’ “It's a grand party at the Sunape Club” explained Mr "It Hatton marks the end of the season up here for Ail good the boats and many people launches are decorated there’s a Billwax P-grwlWi ’: fAfi sr?pJ a J continued ’ it if it I e a processton after prettiest boat by a “I wish it dark and with the the prizes for the evening is clubhouse” wasn't so formal though” remarked Schuyler disconsolately ”1 don’t!” cried Lucdle “I’m going to wear that' new dress Becky helped up” me fix moment Becky stared at her or the color receding from It her Cheeks had come at last! She had a simple grty-dress hut at the remembrance of costumes in Lucile's ose gorgeous clothespress Becky felt sudden to withdraw from the Venetian Night party she stammered as “Why” the color flowed back into her cheeks and reddened her temples "I— don’t suppose of that mine can It’s wear can all have though” Luieile bit her lips at her own want of tact but Schuyler at once rushed to Becky's aid “Sure can” he replied stoutly you “You could go just as you are now You don’t need fine clothes Cap” “I am rather inclined to agree with Schuyler” said Mrs Hatton smiling will ball at concluded Only others telling think “I your affair good many that all After Min ixichs excellently be in one will wig float where wnuiisIdnft wear mv It to apt get in ijeciiy her article uie and evening was Dtxny taken deligh ted uiuaneu down tothe-4odge it to-bena Monday morning Becky recalled something story that she wanted to to the phone she tried an hour to get In touch with inally LevHs at the Record office recognizing tlia voice ot the one-eyed man in the outer office Becky told him Then she what she wanted changed her in change' Going for nearly added “How's ' : Lewis getting along? All she asked more as a matter of The answer course than anything surprised her “You don’t want the job yourself do the metallic voice you?” came m'ean?” asled Becky d’you “Isn’t Lewis there?” “Sure lie’s here” was the reply “Did fix things with Jeff?” you 'Y’es” replied Becky shortly refusing to le sidetracked “What’s wrong with right?" -else 1 ’ ' “WhM Lewis?” he’s "Oh “He’s out Wont him all right” came chasin’ to call -That’s the answer right xxxw you’ll attend to that article'’ Begkxafter considering the matter aU wanted” to the library where the If “No replied locals you up?” Returning I p- ge-neral if as by canopy” a “A of real Venetian boat Xre any the rest fixed up like that?" “Not much!” replied Dusty bending over his engine “All they've got ar dowers or buntin' or Lights We didn’t run her over ’till dark so folks wouldn't eatch on” “Say that’s datidy!” commented Schuyler eagerly “You might to oop prize easy What is it?” replied Dusty “We ran set o' extra batteries to make sure we’d have power enough to run all little the lights That's why we ain’t been around lately We’ve been the first “Searchlight” in an workin’ some” As the officials bellowed out tho num-bars each boat took its place and the procession started toward the Hirb at slow speed Down the lake they moved the three girls in the Txmfer watching eageriy as the lights of the float and pietrs and crowding boats drew Another rocket went up from the near club followed by more fireworks With a of cheers and shrieking whistles roar first the boats passed the judg-s’ float Then Dusty reached for his eler'trlo light switch “Here wsj go girls!” people and I’m good friend friend getting on him — it not to — -Hcii does” Beckv a tryin’ to He’s been goin’ to be me I and I’m If he" Isn’t can fob that won’t stick keep ou trylnri titlh e out "Hurry hands up” he cried after shaking in with the girls ‘Climb there” where we go tn?” dwiaKded Lucile pausing before a square opening in the covering that the launch “Why don't you turn the lights?” on “Tell you later” responded Dukty helping her inside while Schuyler and Jack assistedBecky “Throw off the lines Hump You take the wheel and 111 ’tend the engine Got that spare spark plug?” “You bet” cried Jack casting the boat loose The next instant the in started he leaped and they were on start the lights? in “Why don’t you slated Becky seated in comfortable wicker chair beside Billy Schuyler sat just oemna with Buclle forward near Jack “ We-’ somethin’ big” grin nod Dusty “We’re5 goln’ to stay dark till erAt ’tnrtaf WA over there” ollowing his gesture Becky when Ids in his -just Billy’s "rs paused flushed arid breathless speech the vehemence of which completely checked the® astonished Schuyler “That’s the way to talk” exclaimed Mr Hatton approvingly “Lewis isn’t a social light but he’s going to turn out Now think 1’U end this a reaJ man discussion right here by carrying Becky off to look at those three new Shet lands” That afternoon Becky and Schuyler had a close tennis match Lucile being closeted with Briggs Becky gave little thought to her clothes until ’dinner time when Sho descended in her best dress to the early meal At Mrs Hatton’s special cammand she had allowed Brings to do up her hair in a new fashion which not only made her added somewhat to her older but appearance and elicited approving comment from Schuyler and Mr Hatton Becky tactfully transferred the comments Jo Lucile’s and the new gown latter girl who liked nothing better than to be to admired was soon in a thrill of delight After dinner the party went at once sifter her engine a - W tlllllLg Lof of the waters little boy on A WITH New Acquaintance the words the Loafer wai enveloped in a brought a subdued shriek of delight from Lucile One minute they were riding unseen fn darkness staring at the brilliancy without The next and they were surrounded by scintillating ’dazzling color Becky had only just enousli tlm® realize nhatth’e In! erior oif the’tenn dola” was hung with silks and blaxln? with lights and that the figure of Dstf looked unaccountably strange when she was startled by a quick shout from the latter himself “Tend the engine Sky! Lean off your veils!” — drop ‘With this the boy vanish ed Looking through an opening be' hind them Becky and the others could platform before see him standing on the queer stern an in h’s In oar hand the bright lights twofold from the black and 'gold trrmmings Becky could easily make out why he had looked so strange “Oh?” she cried obeying his last order as she turned around “he’s suddenly radiance that ' back-girls red-haired a up-curving reflected IVs all too perfect the for gondolier! anything!” re-springin’ appear L'M’aJ en-veloped box-like long had I The tfiat XIV CHAPTER answered red-haired re-’ — pler riding-lights A-ftor h the ’ I a ride-throttgh--4he--li4HH--w-hlc from I vsrt dross wet or dirty” “No I’m going to said wear It” Lucile dj?idediy “I tell you Becky You can wear that gray one— the other new one” ’‘No thank you” laughed Becky her ‘I momentary dismay gone guess I’ll be 3itlriht” family departed in the car an The liour later and after a short ride stopped little at church among the hills which of the New Yorkers attended many “resorting” They stopped at a while roadhouse for a country dlnff&r and tn ih tumMi the ifisnn afternoon - ’ Jap-lantems r ball is a rather may be sure that guests will disregard managing a launch to hard about care I covered I evening it is Besides every tauncnes or on me clothes me thft do was al which" the cl ulbhouse-lay shore of ready dark were glowing with anese as were the grounds Lights of different colors danced on tire waters and just as they were descending hill the a hissing rocket shot up m-e’’ you the of craft ’ The but whole the “Oh we re late!” cried Lucile in dis “Nonsense!” laughed Mrs Hatton may "Can’t you let that poor boy heartily ‘No we’ro not” asserted Schuyler In take care of himself Becky? any quickly “That’s only the Signal for to the boats get into case you don’t know that anything is profession wrong Dusty’ll be waitin’ all right” added Schuyler impulsively “No” added moment later IahiIs stopped the car A the “an’ you bother over In of got other folks to center the crowded court besides tilled him Why don’t you work like with hurrying people and blind that for he ing lights trom other ears a “Because it” retorted pioach evidently been for you don’t need had noted Becky “and he does think he’s nice barely had the two girls jumped out sometimes” when Jack Humphrey dashed up adenough in a way” "Iles nice on” he panted then remembered “Com himself mltted Lucile “butnot nice enough for “Good evenin’ Mrs Hat Becky lie’s positively ignorant” you ton The folks are waitin’ for you an’ “Ignorant?” protested Becky vigorously Mr Hatton down at our dock There’s while and Mrs IJatton listened Mr hurry for you but we’ve got to no smilingly "Maybe he is if you mean starts from get in tne procession It in writing and spelling or not knowing island AU' ready?” the lot a o’ things But There affirmative guess he knows was a cry in the lot a that other folks don’t too” from the three new arrivals and “Meanin’ me and referrin’ to settin' Becky taking Schuyler's arm was to type or haulin’ ropes” laughed Schuyler piloted safely the pier through the but not without a trace of serious motorcars and swarming maze of Here they found the Loafer waiting ness “You know didn’t Becky hardly recognized the mean that” but Ber-ky her lips trembling and lit boat Only her were “I her temples flushing if mean the things and the wftole craft was covered as that make an Ignorant boy want to a ojr canopy At each end rose a dark learn that make him ambitious tn shape that completely changed her know something you wouldn’t expect whole appearance They were greeted lie be or not ‘nice’ 'like Jack may by a shout from Dusty however that Dusty but I’m more interestedin him speedily showed Becky this was the if T that’s can’t help what you mean oraft and tho toy scrambled I party-dress Becky formal and lit were Downs—” party-dress a s it Impulse I were a I I lights gathered Becky face wore such peculiar expression that Lucile in commented on surprise “I’m (thinking" laughed the girl of her conversation with the man in the Record office “I think I’d better go to East Cornish and see Mr over a a riding her could a see - blaze of light off the clubhouse a covered- paper that blaze ths a behind them by thia time with mass of boat Wghts around “You we’ve rigged her up like gondola it see all “Oh an’ over with black gold "When we switch on the lights all run over her she’s goin’ to believe up me" I in see!” cried Bwky delight “Lean ’back!” ordered Billy Humphrey sharply “We’ve got to piay ladles Becky There’s the float” The startled Becky suddenly realizing be that she to of the was part felt the color flood her face for an leaned back instant 'Phen she and tried to look unconcerned as the others As the Loafer slowly passed the float of axid the swarm boats Dusty using his gondolier and oar in mimicry of the gorfebus interior o' the craft fully a spectacle a |