Show prudence pru d ances s daughter D ii h ter L by ETHEL H HUESTON copyright by the dobbs merrill co THE MODERN GIRL this thin la a story of lovo love and heart interest lameres Is without a villain in it IL a tory story of everyday people their problems and an doya joys a story atory of delicious humor butnor of cheerfulness and optimism without a pollyanna Polly aana character the stories ot of ethel hueston are immensely popular her prudence irk in prudence of the parsonage prudence says so 80 arid and Pru dences sisters Sl stera has haa become one of the famous girls of fiction Oct loti but prudence to Is no longer a girl she now has a grown crown daughter and this latest book in the series Is mostly about her although prudence still figures in it as joyously and as aa eh charmingly as of yore this daughter Is a modern girl typical of the times and like so many girls of today engaged in a search for what she calls freedom soul expression etc ate the story opens tn in greenwich village with its picturesque and hectic life then the heroine having learned several things about life goes back to des moines melnea y yet e t true love seems to be the sa same m e whether hether in greenwich village or ts des dea part one CHAPTER I 1 I 1 jerry was waa not deceived it was lacking but twenty minutes of midnight at the top of four staggeringly gerin gly steep flights of dusty stairs the hie stud 0 apartment of carter blake was wag ringing with unaccustomed bluze blaze and blare of wild hilarity supplanting the lie dull drab of steady sl at very at the easel for the first time in nearly two years at twenty minutes to twelve the gayety gaiety was vua at its height on a stool in the center of the room a small phonograph shrilled out the melody of the latest tango and three couples danced intermittently about it topping klopping dt at will to light a cigarette to drain a glass from the tray on the table or to join for a mori crit in th conversation that went on among the others ET about the room among the cushions on the wide couch her feet crossed beneath her in a startling gown of orange and black a girl with vividly reddened hair bair with crimson cheeks and impeccably painted lips leaned drowsily against the shoulder of korsky the young russian sculptor her slender blender profile lifted to his face in her slim nervous fingers was a cigarette which she held first to his lips then to hr own eitl easy impartiality in the window sent seat alone strumming soft southern melodies on a banjo in discordant defiance of the blatant jazz half reclining upon the cushions lay jay mary donya a glass on the window sill at her side a cigarette droppa dropp ln futilely away to ashes in a tray while almee aimee glordan perched like a pretty angelic imp on the heavy old fashioned table against the wall her fair face seraphic in its gentle sweetness swaying to the rhythmic motion of the cocktail shaker of which the she had proclaimed herself offic latine goddess goddes 6 at twenty minutes to midnight a yellow taxi tail stopped before tile lie entrance four flights below and rhoda la faye in a golden cloak her golden hair an aureole in the reflect reflection loa of the bright street lights sprang out at the instant of its stopping her sharp elev cayey on tile the registering meter as an sh ah arid add om seventy I 1 right I 1 she hurriedly pressed two one dollar bills into the hand band of the driver come jerryl jerry 1 she cried with the quickness that characterized her every word and motion and thrust out a nervous hurrying hand from the folds of her cloak fairy geraldine Gerald lne farmer banner clasped it eagerly almost shyly as an she followed breathlessly up the four long flights of stairs to carter blakes studio on the top floor rhoda lifted the knocker let it fall heavily and waiting tor for no response opened the door and ran in drawing jerry with her they were greeted with a burst of merry laughter noisy wel welcome conic bertrande rochester abandoning the discussion before the picture joined them immediately catering rhoda about the waist with a deft arn arm 4 and whirling her unceremoniously int the dance around the phonograph no graph for a moment jerry stood blood alone slender elender and lovely with glowing questioning eyes and quickening pulses its jerry I 1 jerry harmer I 1 rhoda tossed lightly over her shoulder interrupted in what she would say by bertrande rochester who kissed her as they danced awfully nice lettla kid I 1 from iowa I 1 we wen to school to together gother until I 1 got fired I 1 almee glordan Gl orlan of the angelic ness slipped at once from the table and drew away jerrys cloak which she piled palea with the other on a chest near the door what will you haver bavell she turned hospitably to the table with its ita brave display cf bottles and glasses a nondescript lot those last of every conceivable cei vable size and shape and including three cracked teacups tea cups these are orange blossoms blossom s I 1 am making them for myself I 1 cant stand scotch plenty for you too if you like iguana allerton Is mixing highballs high balls in the kitchen and theres therea apricot brandy with cream it you want to start easy duane bring tho ho highballs high balls the girls are herel she called prettily imperative then to jerry again better stick to orange blossoms with me three faett ia tf gin to a whiff of orange and yta can love your wickedest wick edest enemy carter blake has gone down for champagne champagn hell be back in a minute what 1 I I 1 hardly know jerry flushed stammered a little in some confusion aimee dwelt tier her a quick appraising look and smiled in friendly fashion 1 I see she sald said you want apricot brandy with cream and mostly cream dont you who called for a highball duane allerton came in from th kitchen laughing his cuffs cafes pushed high a bottle in one handl hand a med medicine lelLe glass in the other mixed or straight almee aimee laughed softly slipping her hand cozily into the th curve of jerry r i pretty bare white arm brandy weak oh ob awfully weak she told him she registered when I 1 called you this Is ethoda ln la fayes little from the middle west jerry harmer banner she beautiful duane miss bliss harmer this la 13 duane alerton hes nice enough but stupid hes in business that disgusting duane since franey francy here tonight why dont you take jerry under your wing and mirke marke a little love to her youre so good at love making like his looks jerry dont be bashful if you see anyone you like better just say so youre company so you can take your choice oil oh no really I 1 think well I 1 think myself youre getting the he pick of the party almee alidee agreed pleasantly try him out abow jt jf you dont like his method bring him back and ill give you billy sparr and i welcome ce does nothing but stand over there and measure chins and ankles with a pencil now show her a good time deaney give her br brandy anit and keep it weak she the slightest rudiments of a real thirst almee touched duanes arm warningly caressed jerry with a light fleeting gesture and turned away to reach for a cigarette jerry lifted her blue bright happy eyes and looked at duane allerton with that look she forgot the great smoke clouded room she forgot the strange effrontery and the flagrant intimacy of the looks the words the attitudes of those about her she gazed into dunne duane All ertons eyes and a great happiness swelled in her gentle breast lie he took her hands both hands smiled at her seeming in that smile to draw her physically intimately into the affectionate warmth of his big charming camaraderie you beautiful thing I 1 he whispered jerrys heart sang within her he be put his arm about her and they danced twice across the room not one word could jerry speak twice she lifted her dark misty lashes and lowered them quickly thrilled with the breathless pleasure she felt in his touch lc ir the light of his bla eyed intent on her lovely face fac As they came up to the door on the third round he guld h hr br r neatly into the he small kitchen a sant m ind and impoverished relation to thac abc kincl kl tcheng lens jerry had bad known and came to a stop before the bottles on the tahle table you cant have a real good time when you are thirsty almee aimee said apricot brandy its trash it takes hours to get happy on oil it and then youre not I 1 know what you want he filled a small glass for her a large coffee cup for himself jerry sipped at it daintily not liking it barely able to repress a shudder of distaste but under the warmth of 0 his eyes fihe steeled herself to spartan resolution and drained it to the last drop and rejoiced that she did so go because he smiled at her gladly as he be tossed off his bis own he put the glasses back on the table again took her hands bands in hla his and glowed upon her ayau you are beautiful you are perfectly beautiful he said his bis belp velp was wa tow low pitched caressing his bli effa very direct and very earnest be lit a cigarette and gave it to terry jerry lit another for himself jerry had smoked before in college for fun with the girls of her sorority behind stuffed key keyholes hIes and carefully blanketed windows that waa mischief this was another matter but she took the cigarette when ho he grave gave it tugged at it y but bat with distaste and was ashamed because slie site got smoke in her eyes and because bits of tobacco came out between her lips she wished lie he had not thought of smoking it seemed such idle waste to use those tender fingers angers of ills his for holding cigarettes she liked that intimate boyish way lie he had bad of cutch catching ling tier her hands in both of his when he said you beautiful thing Is Is it your stud studio lol she risked asked suddenly embarrassed because she said nothing your voice Is just like music ile li told her find and tile the earnestness of ahli voice was almost like alko a silliness sadness hut but lie smiled smile immediately lord riot nol I 1 line have it looks like a barn to 0 o me I 1 hardly know the he chap some artist carter blake his name la Is nice dice follow fellow lie seems too they just asked me to come along and so I 1 did you seem so much nt at home the lie way may you go from room to room I 1 thought perhaps you lived here dunne smiled his pleasure lie ile liked that type ingenuous artless lie he knew what unerring pains what constant alertness it entailed for a girl to rehe reha 0 ayli put hit his arm about he her and they danced twice across the room maln that hat pretty assumption of artless innocence he admired one who could do it one who would take the trouble it was the type that most intrigued him you are adorable he said ani and then smiling his arm about her he be drew her into the dance once more and back into the studio in the doorway they encountered carter blake hatless ills bis bottle of champagne wrapped in a handkerchief just coming back come on quick he called to them w without waiting for introduction youre the girl from iowa arent you we want you to launch the contract heres the champagne be midnight in a minute the phonograph was turned off and the others straggled over toward the easel in the corner comer carter blako pulled it about until it faced them and they hey saw a printed contract securely fastened upon it with brass brasa thumbtacks the girls ran quickly about the studio to fetch the flowers from every vase and jar piling them in a rosy heap beneath the precious bit of paper on the easel to launch the contract jerry was waa greatly puzzled its his five year contract with international ter national explained almee aimee who stood near her picture a month for five years 1 what the party parry la Is for you know to celebrate the contract they only signed this morning they pressed more closely about the easel aabel jerry standing out before them all the bottle of champagne tn in her band now just a minute carter blake ordered bris briskly kli tia fire the revolver on the stroke of thelva then you souse the contract kam jerry jeffy was wa deeply anz lout not understand understanding InZ for luck you tou over ever see a 9 ship launched its a contract party j as I 1 told you explained ethoda how hall la Is she to smash the alie bottle carter some one hastily brought nn an elec dec trie iron from the kitchen and duane I 1 held it for ber I 1 lie he smiled nt at her anxious uncertainty lie care careful full I 1 hald the be bottle awny away from you when you break the neck off dont soll soil your gown I 1 then just throw it over the contract be ready now cautioned carter it lacks but a minute the clock on the mantel chimed the hour rind and on the last stroke carter fired his revolver into the air quick whispered duane in her ear with a strong sure ure blow jerry struck the neck from the bottle and flung a stream of the golden fragrant liquor over the contract on the easel cabel the others applauded gayly cla plus pills their hands crowding about carter to blinke hla his hand in congratulation the girls kissed him many times telling hlin filin how wonderful it was waa and how happy they were when jerry was drawn up to him film in the pressure about tier her oh it Is a just wonderful she breathed ecstatically still but half comprehending what it was nil all about but because the others did id find because lie seemed to expect it mid find jerry would not for tile the world have hurt ills his feelings she him blin too carter blake seeing tier in that hint mo merit for the lie farst time amazed rind and delighted with tier loveliness put both arins anus about tier her and kissed her again and nd again until dunne duane pulled hlin him away kiy reminding him blin that lie ho had signet signed but one contract and was taking the tie arh illges 0 of f a score I 1 then they hey had supper a generous conglomerate supper in its ita variety sandwiches russian soups strange things en casserole quaint foreign pastries italian ices fees rind and cheeses from fro every land duane and jerry sat together very close very quiet in the tha wide window sent seat looking out over tile lie east river to tile the misty midnight towers of new york on the other side tile the others talked of art of colors schools and contracts dut but jerry and dunne duane in the window beard not bot fil a word tha was spoken and hardly tallied talked it 4 all it cut into a particularly long and sober silence between them when ehi said are you nn an artist t duano duane laugh d oh lob lord no rm fin on wall street and heaven knows its where I 1 should bj any place but I 1 fleecing fleeming flee cing mi m ight and left who are jerry was almost resentful in his bis behalf heaven knows somebody at least it would seem so im getting the tha ragged edge of it on till all ends im not slick enough I 1 never catch on to going on until its gone and then its tuo too late info dont make me talk about business id rather go on think inc how beautiful you ore are after a while imeone started tho phonograph once more and they danced dr aced and lie he took tier her again to the kitchen where she had a tiny kgb ball which she barely touched to her lips and he be had a very large one and another and then another and laughing laug hirl nt at what he called her intemperate temperance he be drained her ber glass as well they were a 11 long time in the kitchen laughing for no apparent refi rea i son looking nt at each other deeply with pleased and intimate understanding while duane drank and smoked bhea they went back to the studio tho the lights were dimmer the music softer the voices more subdued almee aimee with the face of angel sweetness dancing by the door as they came in released the tip of the bearded mans lips from between her lips ta call to them do you like him jerryl jerry prett well satisfied and rhoda paused in the midst of a part particularly cula aly daring rendition of the tango to wave a friendly frendly hand to |