Show 55 S P w t III I I t 7 WJ lIll bj Jane lane Corby JI McGLURE SYNDICATE WN ii i WN u FEA TUR'S ES 1 II I i I r Jan Pa Payson son lives JIves In a 1 small apart dent with her ber Invalid sister Dora Hur- Hur I her ber Job at the Devon on Arms ry t t to hotel bott she steps In front of ot a car and Is It thrown down The driver steps out to kelp belp her ber There are some words and ben Uen Jan disappears In the hotel where her Paul Harris fires her ber for being late lae Jan thinks the thc man maD behind I he wheel Is a chauffeur but Paul reeo recoe- recoe l les es him as Tony a L social lion be he stands talking to ro Molly the telephone telephone tele tele- ss JI i I t phone operator shortly after the acci- acci Is when he be hears dent angry I has been fired so Paul gives Jan TaD j n I the lead part In the hotel floor show and 1 I tID Vets gets Mary Elizabeth EUzabeth Howard a smart Dressmaker to ro outfit Jan C CHAPTER APTER II just it broke in Jan ea ea- gerly gery This s seems such an expensive she sive dress I dont don't know that I can afford Oh youre you're not paying for it your- your selL teiL U. U Didn't Paul Harris tell you Jan turned back to the mirror to hide tilde her expression There it was again I That secret knowing look that she had surprised on Pauls Paul's face ace ti more than once since that incredible moment on Thanksgiving afternoon had told her she to I when hen he was have a n part in the floor show In Ia the days that followed Jan found herself far too busy to follow tollow any clues to the mystery that surrounded surrounded sur- sur rounded her She and Dora lived m b n a kind of ecstasy a Jan ijan Jan knew that Paul Harris was in the crowd that had turned out for the opening but she bad lad hd no idea of the extent of that disappointment dis- dis appointment A week later his bit- bit had grown to such Lions that he had decided to do something some some- thing ling about it t il But But and and he be hated to admit it itIe ite it- it e Ie e could not bring himself to ask aske he 36 e fragile Dora to go back to that t rable hovel from rom which he had her It must be that he heas heas heas as getting soft hearted and Paul lad ad d not been troubled that way in inears ears rears There was a quaI- quaI I ty tp In Doras Dora's white face tace and her pain pam blue eyes that reminded yes tim eim yes yes it did did of of Helen I 1 The situation was complicated It ade his manner all the more usque now that a crisis in therm the arm rm rm of Mary Elizabeth Howard had hadi I i She would have to be paid D some way for tor Jans Jan's outfit I I didn't act hastily he now told ic e c dress designer because some seme mes es these things take a few days straighten themselves out But Buti i ve ye finished waiting wailing This is the theAnd bd d i And what about me Mary Elizbeth Eliz Eliz- beth eth eth inquired smoothly l' l I You wont won't lose by it Paul ased as as- red ed her Im the one who has hasHer hasI I st. st Her salary that salary that suite they ive ye He broke off as Jan with a remark to the operator t out of the elevator miss Payson Paul called to er ier reproof for her untimely laughs laugher laugh laugh- er s r in every syllable 1 Mary Elizabeth eyed the girl as asbe asbe be approached and almost forgot he e c annoyance the whole incident I lad ad d caused her in admiration of her herrim rim wn handiwork The girl girl in in the winter iid-winter costume Mary Elizabeth award oward Inc had designed was designed was lovely Vely What a pity she hadn't made od I Jan who had been r ready ady to dance across cross Across the lobby for delight when lie first stepped out of the elevator felt eIt a sudden chill at Pauls Paul's tone he had been on her way to buy a arand arand rand new kitten for Dora The uniformed man at the hotel reaching out a gloved i lb land and nd at this precise moment set sete the the e revolving door spinning and it ittin itI J I tin pun William Anthony correctly and coated into the There he paused glancing voluntarily involuntarily toward the magazine land nd The dark girl there who Looked ked up with obvious interest t 0 rude nade him turn quickly the other ay And then he saw her Or was that the girl he had last een en n breathless stained mud stained and re- re I. Why she was beautiful I Been en from the side this way she shen Deemed emed n standing still as she was It be poised for flight her face up up- I tilted her ber lips parted eagerly Then I W the She to turned met toward him so that he heI I saw law aw her face She was in trouble I Paul was saying indeed that he s disappointed greatly disappointed dis I appointed POinted Miss Payson After Alter all i I- I William Anthony might have ye ve found It impossible to be pres t on the opening night but a whole reek eek ek had gone by and he had never ijen en looked In at the roof root garden Man Jan an dazedly trying to figure out hy by Y she should be held accountable r Mr absence looked ay y from Paul seeking enlighten enlighten- nt tot from her surroundings Her Heres es encountered the gaze of ot the I young man near the magazine ter who was staring as if it he heI ew her And she had bad certainly I n him trim somewhere Oh yes that eless Bless chauffeur who got her into on Thanksgiving Day Dayl She he be smiled faintly and Paul wait- wait for tor her reply caught the smile followed her glance Further tic words died In l his s throat and Miss Howard firmly by the thc iw w IW and propelled her rapidly tod tod to to- d the office J What What'S What what's the matter Mary M rn abeth zabeth prote protested ted a aul fist put his lips close to her car I illiam Anthony he I 1 11 I lil Ii And Miss Howard looking over her shoulder departed docilely enough You are Jan arent aren't you he In in- How tall he was Jan raised her golden eyes for for a brief instant to his Interested gray ones and nod nod- ded But how did you know my name Its quite a long story I found it out when I came to ask you to dinner as a sort of apology for my clumsiness that day Though its it's a little late I still owe you that apology Will you 7 I was on my way to buy a kitten kitten kit kit- ten Jan demurred walking toward the door And I haven't mu much h time for dinner I have to get ready for forthe forthe the thc show Jan laughed and he suddenly decided decider de de- de cider she looked even more irresistible irresistible irre irre- than when she was sad You had your our chauffeurs chauffeur's cap with you on Thanksgiving of course But you weren't in uniform that day either You must have a pretty nice boss He hes he's he's hes abroad said absently He led the way to the car but Jan shook her head The shop is only around the cor cor- ner nero My that's a beautiful car carl she said appreciatively appreciatively- W W A ini D-ini- ini initials are so funny when they spell spella a word William Anthony she repeated aloud turning a frightened face to the man beside her yes Y he agreed hesitantly You know know- Jan gazed at him wide Hes your our boss When he did not answer she went wenton on bitterly I hate him Jan turned away so abruptly Dev Dev- erest had to hurry to catch up Hes not so bad he said defensively I If he knew you were in trouble Hell never know it II the girl said fiercely and walked on for tor a awhile wh while e in silence Then as they I nr I SI I. I 1 Mr 1 Harris ards very ery displeased he be observed deliberately reached the corner Heres the pet shop Isn't that the thc most adorable kitten you ever saw By the way what's your name My My my name the man stam stam- Oh Tony Tony Wil Wil- liams Hams Say dont don't hold my boss against me That dinner date means a lot to me Jan gurgling at the kitten miss missed cd his intent pleading glance You Youcan Youcan Youcan can have a sandwich with me in the cafeteria she promised i if you like the kitten But if you complain about a flea or two the party's off oft She walked ahead of him through the door and grinning Tony fol fol- fol lowed There was a question in Doras Dora's blue eyes as she raised them from the calendar which she had been marking on her knee Only a few more days to Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas Jan she said absently her gaze following Jans Jan's movements as she took another evening dress from the closet Jan smiled at her sister She smiled a great deal nowadays and Dora thought she looked happy even when she was not smiling Well if It made Jan happy to go out all the time Dora put it to herself with this wonderful Tony Williams she would be happy about it too Has Paul been to see you lately late ly Inquired Jan with elaborate un un- un concern The delicate wild rose color that tinted Doras Dora's pale cheeks checks gave her her answer even before her sister said Well he was here herc yester day He could only stay a few min mn- utes And wasn't he here the day before before be be- fore rore Well yes said Dora I believe believe be be- lieve he was And what about the day before yesterday yesterday and and dont don't you expect him today Youre teasing me Dora protested protested protested pro pro- tested pretending to be annoyed u. u when he had dismissed the chorus and turned his attention to her had no fault to find with Jans Jan's rendition of the cute Jingle Bells song which she had been as as- signed She was drawing a deep breath of relief after the song was over when the orchestra leader looked at her sharply Mr Harris very displeased he observed deliberately He say to tome me me wrong with the thc show Why we no get big society society so so- parties lots of crowd I tell him its it's my business to put on a good show its it's not my business to bring in customers I should think not said Jan uD uncertainly un uA- certainly all any of us can cando do put do-put put on as good a show as pos pos- sible shook his head Mr Harris maybe HarrIs maybe hes he's wrong he continued continued con con- as i if J Jan an had not spoken But Mr Harris he still the boss He thinks we should have more cus cus- Maybe he hc thinks we should bring them in ourselves Why began Jan You know this Mr l Demares' Demares said The girls gossip gossip- they say you know him Well why does not Mr l Demares' Demares come to see seethe seethe seethe the show He like it he bring his friends He has plenty friends The show a big success then I pleased you pleased Mr Harris pleased Jan had listened bewildered to this sudden attack What could mean What did everybody everybody everybody every every- body mean Linking her constantly with this unknown William Anthony She stared at for tor a moment noting the anxious expression in the little round dark eyes Then she impulsively laid her hand on his arm Ill see Paul right now she promised and turned away Slowly as she walked she arrived at Paul Harris Harris' office omee at last and her sudden wild hope that he be would not be there was dashed by his invitation invitation invitation tation to enter Paul Ive I've been talking to Zam Zam- brini He He-he He he said something about your being disappointed in the way the show was pulling Paul stared at her a minute and then said crisply Sit down Miss Payson Ive I've been wanting to have havea a talk with you for quite a while and I think this is as good a time as any You are a fair dancer and your voice is good But there are a hundred other girls who are just as talented or perhaps more so Yet YetI I picked you without a trial from among the hundreds of girls who would have considered it an honor lionor to be a star in the Devon Arms' Arms Christmas show Why did I do it I I 1 I dont don't know Paul Well Ill I'll tell you I did it because because be be- cause of your friendship with one of the best known men in town town town- William Anthony Ive I've seen it happen before before before-a a girl in the show knows a man like him he brings a alot alot alot lot of his friends in to see her they bring their friends and II he threw up his hands in a gesture there you ou are But what happens to me Paul said I hire the girl I put her in inthe inthe inthe the show and she never asks her herboy herboy herboy boy friend to come in even once He stays away his friends stay away everybody stays stay away Paul threw down the paper cutter cutter cutter cut cut- ter with which he had bad been toying and walked over to the window in disgust Jan dared raise her eyes finally and studied his slim back in its faultlessly tailored morning coat She was trying in the space of a afew afew afew few seconds to make a decision that would most certainly affect not only her own life but Doras She could not do it At whatever cost to herself she must encourage Paul to believe this fairy story a little little little lit lit- tle while longer Im sorry Paul she said hesi hesi- Mr Mr Mr hasn't been feeling very well It sounded lame even to herself but Paul accepted it and turned to her with new eagerness Then you'll see that he comes in Why yes At least Ill I'll try Paul beamed with delight and escorted her to the door with a flour flour- ish At another time she would have been amused at his sudden transition to the perfect maitre dho tel but now she was too miserable to see anything funny about it By the time the show was over and she was dressing to meet Tony she had arrived at only one clear decision She would tell him the whole story and perhaps he would think of some way in which they could manage to satisfy Paul Were stepping out tonight Tony said offering her his arm I have havethe havethe havethe the car outside and were we're going going going go go- ing over to the little dance place across the river Ever been there Jan shook her head and fell instep in instep instep step beside him her heart heavy again But Tony can you afford this As he turned a startled face to hers she colored and added I mean I would be just as satisfied to to-to to to togo go to a movie or something Why you funny little thing His hand touched hers briefly and reassuringly reassuringly re re- re and then pressed a button and started the car purring softly Dont you worry about me and dont don't you worry about us taking this car either In spite of ot the way you feel about him my boss is fairly fairly fair tair ly decent and he wouldn't mind this sort of thing at all TO ITO BE CONTINUED |