The Wingham Advance-Times, 1939-12-21, Page 12Bfc’A at him iii consternation.
Ef what s the matter?’’ he interrupted.
Kams elf.
til'“I'pu'ye lost your job!” Her voice
|Svas lively when she said it and the
Iffinan had ah insane impulse to let her
IBclieve it, But almost involuntarily
Rhe protested ...K*fOh> no—"
K wBui you’re not in uniform!”
B® “How — how do you know what I
|®?” he inquired cautiously.
Kpi laughed and he suddenly decid-
she looked even more irresistible
HRap when she was sad. “You had
mr chauffeur’s cap with you on |»pksgiving, of ’’course- But you
ESfeh’t in uniform that day, either.
R^iitfm.iist have a pretty nice boss,”
'he's aboard,” Severest said
BO^ht-ly. The main thing was to keep
her. To keep her talking. She
Bgjjjga real person — not giggling and
M^rettish — but human and interest-
■F Mavbe. he thought wistfully, all
Kls were like that to chauffeurs. It
Eyas only his infernal money that
finade them act so silly. He led the
Vay to the car, but Jan shook her
head.
“The shop is only around the cor
ner. My, that’s a beautiful car!" she
said appreciatively. “W -A - D in
itials are so funny when they spell a
■ word!” .
A sudden sharp recollection of her
scene 'with Paul flashed through her
mind. She could hear again Paul’s
voice saying, “Of course if it was im- •
possible for William Anthony Dever
best to be there the opening night . .”
■ “William Anthony Deverest,” she
repeated aloud, turning a frightened
face to the man beside her. *
“Y-yes," he agreed hesitantly.
“You know—?” Jan gazed at him
wide-eyed. “He’s your boss!”
When he did not answer, she went
on bitterly: “I hate him! It’s wicked
— and cruel — for one person to have
so. much money he can make every
one else unhappy just because hes
alive. I hope I never meet him.”
Chapter VI
. Jan turned away so abruptly Dev
erest had' to hurry to catch up. ‘ He s
not so bad,” he said defensively. "If
he knew you were in trouble. .
“He'll never know it!” the girl said
fiercely, and walked on for a while
in silence. Then as they reached the
•corner, "Here’s the pet shop! Isn t
that the most adorable kitten you ev
er saw? By the way, what'^ your
name ?”
“My — my name?” the man stam-
'mered. “Oh! Tony — Tony Williams.
Bay, d<?n’t hold my boss against me.
That dinner.date means a lot to me.”
Jan, gurgling at th'e kitten, missed
his intent gledding glance. “You can
have a sandwich with me in the cafe
teria,” she promised, “if you like the
kitten. But if you complain about a
flea or two, the party’s off.”
She walked ahead of him through
the door and, grinning, Tony follow
ed. ■ ' '
There was something awfully nice,
to say the very least, about Tony Wil
liams, Jan decided that night as she
was taking off the white and silver
gown after her final appearance in the
floor show. Sometimes’ lie had seem
ed, well — almost shy, as if he wasn’t
used to taking a girl out to dinner.
It couldn’t have been that the place
overwhelmed him, either. J<jn could
have understood it if he had shown
nervousness while dining with her in,
say, the Blue Room at the Devon
Arms. Tony was only a chauffeur and
had never, she supposed, taken din
ner in a place where the waiters call
ed the best patrons by name. So she '
could only account for her escort’s
awkwardness in the serve-yourself
lunch room where they had that hasty
supper, on the assumption that he was
not accustomed to playing host to a
girl.
Why, come to think of it, he had
only stared at her when she suggest
ed that he get plenty of nickels before
they started on the rounds of the lit
tle glass cases where the foods were
displayed. He simply kept looking at
het1, until she had to tell him, “You
need the nickels and dimes, you know,
to put in the machines.” “Oh, yes, I
know,” he had finally spoken, as if
he had just come out of a dream..
They had laughed together over that.
He had insisted on getting her tray
filled first and carrying it for her to
what they they said was the only
’table with a view’! The view was the
crowded street outside the big plate
glass window, but Jan never glanced
through it even once, so interesting
she found jt just to be sitting oppos
ite Tony at a table!
“Gosh! I’m Happy!” Tony had
bounded up and down on the bent
metal and red washable leather chair
with which the management of the
cafeteria provided its patrons.
“You won’t- be so happy if you jog
this soup into my lap/' Jan had told
him severely. .He had insisted on
adding a bowl of soup to the home
and cheese sandwich and cup of cof
fee which she had selected. She had
felt guilty, there at the table, watch
ing the way Tony’s eyes smiled at
her. Maybe she‘should have let him
dine with her at the Devon Arms —
Paul Harris had said she might have
an occasional guest, as well as meals
for herself and Dora. It was part of
the arrangement he had made with
her in return for her appearance in
the floor show, But, and she flushed
a little now at her snobbishness, she
had decided on the spur of the mo
ment that it was just, as well if she
didn’t show up at the Devon Arms
with a chauffeur? Nd one would know
him, of course, but Paul Harris might
find out. It was best to be on the
safe side,
, Her quick, almost unconscious de
cision had left her uncomfortable,
however. Now as she reviewed the
events of the evening, she was struck
by a sudden new thought. Tony
would not have liked accepting a din
ner from her, even though she had
explained that it cost her nothing,
Why, he wouldn’t have like that at'
all! She drew a breath of relief, sur
prised to realize how heavily the
whole incident had lain on her heart.
After she had crept softly into*bed,
careful not to wake ->Dora sleeping
peacefully as a child in the other bed,
she lay with her arms crossed above
her head on the pillow, listening to
the muted night sounds of the city
drifting upward to the opened win
dows.
How good it was to lie here snug
and warm between sheets that crack
led with their freshness. She put her
hand on the fleecy blanket arid patted
it, loving its Comforting texture. A
slight movement at the nearest win
dow caught her attention and- she
glanced toward it. Snow! She sat up
straight in bed. Yes, it was snowing
in, earnest, Mn a flurry of ’flakes that
turned, even as she watched, into big
blobs that stuck to, the window pane
until they began to melt around the
edges.
Well, it was December. The time .
had whirled by so quickly since
Thanksgiving Day — “the day when
we found out what thankfulness real- ,
ly means” — she and Dora had de
cided to call it — that she hardly no
ticed, when December arrived. And
now it was snowing. But snow and
cold winds would' have no power to
harm her and Dora so long as they
could stay in this beautiful place. Jan
dived back into her pillow, smother
ing a little joyous gurgle that she
could not quite suj>preSs. ”
There was a question in 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 Christ
mas, Jan!” she said absently, her gaze
following Jan’s movements as she
took another evening dress from the
closet and laid* it beside the one that
Was already on the bed. “Are you go
ing out again tonight, dear?” she ask
ed wistfully.
Jan smiled at her sister. She smil
ed 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 Jhe time,
Dora put it to herself, with this won
derful Tony Williams, she would be
happy about it too. .
“Tony wants me..to go dancing with
him after the show.” A dimple which
had never been noticeable in Jan’s
thin Cheeks flashed now. She knew
that she was looking better than ever
before in her life. Such a lot, of good
food!- But it was the improvement in
Dora that contributed a great deal to
her own well being.
Now she left the dresses and ran
over to the little refrigerator which
was part of the room’s equipment.
“Your orange juice!” She said gayly
to her sister, handing her the tall
frosted glass. ' . ,
Dora accepted the drink and sipped
it in silence for a moment.
“It’s very good,” she said. “Oh,.
Jan, isn’t it wonderful that all this
should happen to us? This glorious
room and all these soft, soft pillows!
And my view! I can see Ihc top of
the trees in Central Bark from away
across the room and when I’m fight
close ..to, the window I can See every
single thing that’s going on for blocks
and blocks. Pussy-puff can too. I
thought he would go _ through the
glass yesterday in his excitement
when a pigeon perched on the window
sill outside, He’s the best .company
in the world.” She let her arm hang
over the side of the chaise lounge un
til her finger tips touched the soft
ball of yellow fur that Pussy-puff,
curled up on a cushion close beside
her, »,
“You do like ij here, don’t you, dar
ling?” said Jan, picking up the satin
coverlet that had slipped to one side,
“You know I do!” cried Dora.
“Has Paul been to see you lately?"
inquired Jan with elaborate uncon
cern.
The delicate wild-rose color that
.tinted Dora’s pale cheeks gave her
her answer even before her sister
said: “Well, he was here yesterday.
He could only stay .a few minutes.”
‘.‘And wasn’t he here the day be
fore?”
“Well, yes,” said Dora. “I believe
he was.”* '
“And what about the day before
yesterday — and don’t you expect him
today?"
There was laughter in Jan’s'voice,
though her golden eyes were solemn.
“You’re teasing me," Dora protest
ed, pretending to be annoyed. “Wait
and see, I’ll get even , with you for
that. I’ll — why don’t you bring your
Tony here sometimes, Jan? I think
I could do a better job of getting ev
en if I just knew what he looked like."
“I can tell you what he looks like,”
said Jan enthusiastically. “He’s aw
fully tall, and he has grey eyes —: oh
nice grey eyes — that can be as
bright as steel or dark as — as the
winter sky. He isn’t, like anybody I
ever met before, Dora. You’d like him
if you saw him. I wish I could bring
him in, but you- know Jie’s just a
chauffeur. I told you that he drives
for that hateful William Anthony De
verest, who’s going’ to be abroad until
after Christmas."
"But I' still don't see. . , .” began
Dora.
“IPs a little hard to explain, dar
ling. You see we don’t really belong
here ourselves, and I don’t know how
it is that -we ever happened to get all
this” -— she waved a hand to indicate
their luxurious surroundings' — “and
I’m terribly afraid of doing anything
that Paul Harris might not approve
of. If it were Mr. Deverest himself,
that would be different. It’s funny,
but somehow everybody seems to
to think I should know William An
thony Deverest.
Chapter VII
“It’s getting late, dear,” Dora re
minded her sister, glancing at the
clock. “You have a rehearsal, haven’t
you?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” cried Jan.
“I wanted to try on that black dress
and the blue one t6 see which you
think would look better tonight. But
I’ve got to fly — we’re rehearsing
that special Jingle Bells number that
goes into the show the week before
Christmas, and Zambrini gets on edge
if anybody is a minute late when he’s
fixing up a new number.”
Jan dropped a kiss on her sister’s
hair and almost literally flew across
the room and out of the door. She
arrived breathless at the rehearsal
room. All the rest of the girls were
there in the shorts they usually wore
for practice and the noise of their
chattering was terrific as Jan came
in. By that, she inferred that Zam
brini had not yet arrived. Jan breath
ed easier and took her place a little
apart from the others, admiring as she
always did their lively grace. Over in
the corner, a strikingly pretty blond
girl was going through a series of in
tricate exercises which involved bend
ing repeatedly to the floor, her loose
fair hair cascading in a golden show
er every time she flung her head for
ward.
A sudden hush fell on the room and
even before she looked toward the
door, Jan knew that Zambrini had ar
rived. He bustled into the middle of
the group and barked a sharp com
mand. Instantly the girls took their
positions and the rehearsal got under
way. For the next half hour the room
resounded to the steady tapping of
many light feet, to the repetitious
notes of a single piano and occasion
ally an irritable burst of explanation
or reproof from Zambrini himself.
Awaiting her cue nervously, Jan stood
close by until Zambrini turned on her
suddenly and told her to go off some
where and sit down.
“For you — later is time enough,”
he told her. "These girls, I must get
them off my mind first/’ Jan obed
iently withdrew*
" Zambrini, when he had dismissed
the chorus and turned his attention to
her, had no fault to find with Jap’s
rendition of the cute Jingle Beils song
which she had been assigned, bhe was
drawing a deep breath of relief after
the song was over when the orchestra
leader looked at. her sharply.
“Mr. Harris very displeased,” lie
observed deliberately. “He say to me
— ‘What’s wrong with the show,
Zambrini? Why we no gej big soc
iety parties, lots of crowd?' I tell him'
it's my business to put on a good
show; it’s not my business to bring
in customers.”
“I should think not," said Jan un
certainly, “that’s all any of us can do
— put on as good a show as possible.”
Zambrini shook liis head. “Mr,
Harris — maybe he’s wrong,” he con
tinued as if Jan had not spoken. “But
Mr, Harris, he still the boss. He
thinks we should have more custom
ers. Maybe he thinks we should bring
them in ourselves.” v
“Why—’’ began Jan.
“You know this Mr. Demares’?”
said Zambrini, “The girls gossip —
they say you know him. Well, why
does not Mr. Demares’ come to see
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 Zambrini
mean? What did everybody mean?
Linking her constantly with this un
known William Anthony ‘ Deverest!
She stared at Zambrini for a moment,
noting the anxious expression in the
little round dark eyes. Then she im
pulsively laid her hand on his arm.
"I’ll see Paul right now,” she pro
mised, and turned away.
But as she ’walked to the elevator
her step was slow. She could see
Paul — she could demand an explan
ation from him. But that was just
what _ she had been avoiding; even
dreading, during the weeks that had
just passed. She knew that Paul as
sumed at least an acquaintance with
the elusive society man, and she fear
ed the outburst that would follow
should she announce that she had ne
ver even seen him. But how was she
going to keep up this farce any long
er? How could she go on pretending
that she was personally acquainted
with one of the city’s wealthiest men,
when she might be called upon to pro
duce him at any moment?
Slowly as she walked, she arrived
at Paul Harris’ office at last and her
sudden wild hope that he would not
be there was clashed by his invitation
to enter. She stood before his desk,
her eyes darkened with worry. ;
“Paul’ I’ve been talking to Zam
brini. He — lie 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. I’ve been wanting to have a
talk with you for quite a while and I
think this is as good a time as any.
You’ve been around here long enough
to know that I don’t usually do things
without a reason. You .are a fair danc
er and your voice is good. But there
are a hundred other girls who are just
as talented, or perhaps more so. Yet
I picked you without a trial front
among the hundreds of girls who
would have considered it on honor to
be ,a star in the Devon Arms’ Christ
mas show. Why did I do it? Because
I like the color of your eyes? Or be
cause I always see to it that my em
ployees — and their sisters — have
one of the best suites in the hotel?”
Paul’s teeth gleamed at his own hum
or, but the smile'vanished quickly.
“Why do you suppose I did it, Miss
Payson?”
“I — I don’t know, Paul.”
“Well, I’ll tell you. I did it because
of your friendship with on$ of the
best known men in town — William
Anthony Deverest. I’ve seen, it hap
pen before — a girl in the show
knows a man like him, he brings a.
lot of his friends in to see her; they
bring their friends and,” he threw up
his hands in a gesture, “there you
are.”
“But—”
“But what happens to me?” Paul
said, “I hire the girl, I put her in the
show and she, never asks her boy
friend to come in even once. He stays
away; his friends stay away; every
body stays away.”
Paul threw down the paper cutter
with which he had been toying and
walked over to the window in disgust
Jan dared to raise her eyes finally and
studied his slim back in its faultless--
ly tailored morning coat. She was
trying, m the space of a few seconds*