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Show BEHY Oy RUDY H. MARTYN. I, lilt, by UcClu. Ntiftpiptr SbiIIcU.) Hetty Allen's red hair fljmcd loose In the suushlne as she ran up the trim gruvel path with the letter clutched In one hand and the soft parcel tucked carelessly under her blue glughaui sleeve. Hack In the kitchen she tossed j the parcel on the chair and hurried to turn the bam In the smoking spider. The letter she tore open and read In the fragrant hare of the cooking dinner. din-ner. "Very nice about wanting ma to come and sends a present to wear," she paraphrased at the end. Her brother Hob niumhlcd something Into the hand towel he was using oti his suds-flecked face. Hob understood that the letter was from a cousin, .lane Dow Winslow, whom Hetty had discovered discov-ered In Don's home city. Don had worked on a local road survey for u month hat was long enough for lilra tn discover Hetty, and now Hetty wea going lo visit this cousin Jane, whoat the Al-n.s had never seen, und nin the gauntlet ot Don' family under her wing. "I suppose HJ people expect country coun-try gtrl te bate dowdy duds," flare-1 Betty, as ho flipped the ham again. "1 Just gue tbey don't need t rod oie clothes, U we are poor." "Kind out what's come before fan fly clear off the handle." suggested Rob. ' ' Betty snipped the parrel string wllh the lampwick iclsaur. wblcli happened hap-pened to be hsndlest. The stiK paper and sort, white Inner wrapping fell from the folds or silken stuff that billowed bil-lowed nut over her firm, brown haniU "Hed!" gasped Hetty, flushing hull). Hob gazed with manly admiration at the crepe do chine that glowed and gleamed lu his sister's hands. Me haJ neier imagined that stuiT for clothes could be quit.- so alluringly beautiful. "It's a pea. !i of a color," he said. "It'll make me look like a perfect fright ; You never heard of a red dre- on a ivdhalred girl, and I might Just as well give tip the whole trip as went this color n t-lngip time. And It's real crepe d' chine Mint I've alwajs dreamed dream-ed 1 might hae a dress of If fulrj dreams could come true!" watkd, Hetty. "Then why In lunket didn't they semi a black piece ot goods T" temporized tempor-ized Hob. . -. "I hate black," Hushed Hotly. "! hale the evcrmsllug colors red hair .has to wear, nnd If ymi know how I wnnt (n get Into the glarlngest red that oilier girls can, jou'd wonder I don't tiso hulr dye." "Send the goods back. Tell the .fane we can get up clothes enough for yon," said Hob. "I'd go In my old silk If ibis wasn't Ired. 1 don't know Just what to think. Hob. Klthcr cousin .lane is au awful cat, or she wants to sec her present Come flying hnck. and 1 declare If she is going to see that !" ' There was n wry Stullc. on Heltj's plijuajit fuv A3 She nut Hie smooth folds or the bllken stuff oh a ir..i chair. She wns (Mowilued tu run iln gauntlet of cousin Jane and the Wliw-low Wliw-low family with Iter head in the Mr. Hetty was flying the colors of her Imc-for Imc-for Don as sho made drastic plans t'oi that crepe de chine. She reached thu city some weeks later In the dusk of u feathery snuw. Her new shoes slid awkwardly on Huso Hu-so ft rugs that lay on counsln Junes polished lloors. There woro alnuue hands to take off her wraps; au.) up In her own room Hetty peered with some alarm at the cavernous closets and tiled bath ami cheval mirrors ani shaded lights. Could Hetty have guessed it. Cousit Jane In her own luxurious room w-as eren mote uncomfortable. "The child has red halrl" she walled. "I knew Don raved about red, but I never guessed tlie reason." Cousin Jane's hu-lund grinned-"I grinned-"I siondcr If her temper timuhe-," he ventured. "I Wonder what be thought of thai red stuff. The Aliens always did have i-ciW enough to know when they are Insulted. Huf If Hetty bhows herself lo Don Winslow in that shade of red be'll hl'lpk." . (Viusjn .lane snapped the clasp of her bracelet. She crossed the hall nnd knocked at Hetly'H -door. When;theii- . waa no nnswer she pushed opeu tin- door. A plnln brush fay on Hie iires lug talfle; Hetty's shoes -stood with heels rigalust tho wall, but Hetty herself her-self wns not there. Don's voice was what Cousin Jane heard ns she wmt down ijie wid Btnlrca$e, and a slender, radiant Hot ty In shimmering black smiled hjl fiom tho deep chulr Don had drawn to the open the. At midnight Hetty knelt by ('uin Jane, too hnppj for man) words. "Don's deteiniined to keep lovln me. and his jmiplo were dear A.'1 when I'm so huppy I don't want to be going a bit under false colore. Deur Cousin June, I dyod your bei.uiltin red present until It was black ii a liat. And I made It Into this dres? he caiiKO I wanted Don to keep l.ixln, me." "You ore a dear, loyal dlplom.il.' mulled Cousin Jni.c. Hotly Jumped to her feet. "Trut a red haired girl!" sh said Kayly. |