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Show Betty By MARY CARSON ( by McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) WXU Service) "RY J0VE! yhat a stunning-look-L lng girl!" David Thorndyke followed the direction di-rection of his friend Halliday's eyes across the spacious dining room of Park avenue's most famous hostelry. He gave a start "What's the matter?" said Bob Halll-day. Halll-day. "Know the fair dame?" "I do and I don't," replied David. "Meaning?" "I saw her in New Orleans two years ago, but never met her." "Want to spout out the story? I'm a good listener. Besides" laughing "the lady Intrigues me." Thorndyke gave a short grunt "That bad already, is It?" Halliday nodded. "You seem to forget for-get I've been away for three years. I'm in earnest more than you think. Who is she?" "Betty Seton rich New Orleans maiden aunt in the offing. That enough ?" "Certainly not. I want to know everything. ev-erything. Who's the man with her?" Looking over "there's Kitty Talbot now talking to her. If you don't loosen loos-en up Davy, I'll importune the garrulous gar-rulous Kitty." "Zuelos Is the man with her Greek painted her portrait. 'Spring' he calls It Made a sensation Paris Salon and all that." Halliday jerked out: "Interesting. Td like to bash his head In." "Hold on, Sonny." David regarded his young friend quizzically. "Don't get so violent. Calm down. Nothing the matter with the Greek. In fact, he's the hero of the piece. Saved the fair lady's life when her weak-kneed fiance failed to look after her properly." prop-erly." "So there was a fiance, was there?" "To be sure," replied David. "Tall and slender with poetic dark eyes. Disappeared Dis-appeared shortly after." "After what?" "After the attempted murder." Halliday straightened up. "Yes?" "Look here," said David suddenly. "Are you after a big scoop, or is it sincere interest?" "Really Interested Davy. Honest Injun. In-jun. Not a word goes in my column." "All right then. Remember bygones are bygones." Halliday bobbed his head. "Because," continued David, "that little girl over there has had enough. I don't intend resurrecting unpleasantnesses unpleasant-nesses for the benefit of a curious public. pub-lic. I know you newspaper men. Always Al-ways poking your noses in other people's peo-ple's business." Halliday sighed. "All right, Davy. "Tell me all about the lady." "It was at La Parisienne New Or-lean's Or-lean's famous night club. The socially elite were greatly in evidence that night. I had just arrived exchanged judge, and my friends the De Tous-sees Tous-sees took me with them to prove that New York had nothing more glittering glitter-ing or gay. "We hadn't been there long when this Betty Seton walked in with her fiance. For a hushed moment the chattering chat-tering ceased ; then the huge crowd burst Into prolonged applause. I never nev-er saw such an ovation, except possibly possi-bly for a popular diva. "Betty smilingly bowed her acknowledgments." acknowl-edgments." David pressed his lips together. "But every ointment has its fly. There happened hap-pened to be a black-browed hostess in the background. Lovely herself in a voluptious way ; a certain Mme. Julie from Valencia. She resented all this adulation. "Besides; the blond beauty's fiance had been quite amorous in Julie's direction di-rection before Betty's return from school so the De Toussee told me and In spite of the sub rosa quality of the attachment, it had leaked out Everyone Every-one seemed to know it except Betty herself. "Be that as it may, this Greek painter paint-er over there was seated near Betty's table on this particular occasion. Down in the Crescent city for local color, Betty's classic lines had bewitched be-witched him. Foreigner that he was, he made no secret of his staring." Halliday's hand on the white cloth clenched. Thorndyke Ignored It. "Mme. Julie had a custom of passing among her guests, handing each a flower. flow-er. That night It was camelias." "Yes?" Halliday's eyes were glued on David's. "Betty's camelia was struck to the floor by Zuelos before Mme. Julie's hand touch the outstretched fingers of her hatred rival." "What was it?" Halliday whispered hoarsely. "Poison." Thorndyke replied succinctly. suc-cinctly. "Poison?" echoed Halliday Incredulously. Incredu-lously. "Yes. Poison-ring. Zuelos saw Mme. Julie press the hidden spring. He had made a study of antique jewels. This ring, its bezel an enormous emerald, emer-ald, aroused his curiosity." "What did they do with Julie?" "Deported. Spain. Life Imprisonment" Imprison-ment" Silence a moment. Outside New York pulsing throbbing. "Betty's not In love with this Greek, is she, Davy?" "Don't ask me, dear boy. All rules of romance point that way," said Dave. "What you going to do about it. Bob?" Halliday rose. "I'm going to take my first step now. Kitty Talbot'U present pre-sent me." I |