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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1941-01-30, Page 3Iff •s* CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PACE ■4 A ; HON. T. , f ) of the Dominion-Provincial Conference on the Sirois Report (CONTINUED) of Ontario. This inaccuracy amounts to the Jftyge figure of $11,758,000, The reconciliation of these amounts is available and can be explained by top technical officers of the treasury department. "Wito respect to the present fiscal year, the situation is infinitely worse. If the Sirois plan were adopted 'and made effective for the present fiscal year, which ends oq March 81 next, the province of Ontario would be faced with a certain net Joss in revenues of toB sum of $17,000,000. This for the present fiscal year alone. The province will be required to give up annual revenue? pf ?,.$40,000,000 Deduct from this, expenditure as­ sumed by toe dominion, and the one mill subsidy to the municipal­ ities, which could not longer be paid, a total sum of............ 28,000,000 Leaves a loss pf................................. ,$17,000,000 One pf the first results pf this loss in revenue, brought, about by the giving up of the succession duty taxes, would be the Joss in revenue to the University of Toronto of the sum pf $500,000. I would refer you to the Revised Statutes of Ontario (1937) chapter 372, section 129, which is the statutory authority for pay­ ment from the proceeds of succession duties to toe University of Toronto in the sum of $500,000 per annum, , Set Education Back 50 Years But that is just one indication pf what the loss in » revenues would mean to education in our province. Education in Ontario Would bp set back fifty years. This would apply particularly to the "little red school house” and to the struggling separate schools, which under present conditions require the same as public schools—annual grants from the provincial treasury. The splendid work done by the department of health of Ontario in waging a successful fight to stamp out the menace of tuberculosis, which fight is being con­ ducted at an annual cost to the prpvince of upwards of $3,000,000, pould not pe carried on, unless revenues from some other source were forthcoming, This would involve some new type of taxation, but inasmuch as taxes on estates, taxes on incomes, taxes on corporations, and taxes on mining profits, would no longer be available to the province of Ontario, any additional burden of taxation required to raise revenue to continue a reasonable standard of education would inevitably fall upon real estate—upon toe farmer, too home-own^r and toe business man, I also bring to ypur attention toe fact that muni­ cipalities of toe province of Ontario will suffer for toe present fiscal year by the implementation of toe Sirois report, the Ipss in revenue exceeding $5,1)00,000. Npw, if you will add the net loss in revenue to be sustained by the province of Ontario of $1-7,000,000 to toe $5,000,000 certain loss to be’ Sustained this year by thp municipalities of Ontario, you have the enormous sum of $22,000,000—net loss to toe province and toe municipalities. This, Mr, Chairman, is only the beginning. These losses are bound t<5 increase, because the functions of government left with ^he province are, from their very nature, .increasing in their burdensome character, in so far as toe need for revenue is concerned. 1 Real Estate Burden Intolerable No one conversant with toe problems of public fin­ ance that beset the provinces and the municipalities in Canada to-day will attempt to deny that the 'burden on real estate' at present has reached aJ point where it 'is difficult for the farmer to ineet his rate® and taxes; " it is discouraging for anyone to> attempt to build a home; and, in fact, daily in Ontario discouraged home­ owners are attempting to salvage something from their equities, and are parting with their homes, which rep­ resent in, large measure their only life savings. The real estate owner to-day, who can barely raise the amount of his taxes, will find that for every dollar of taxes he. pays to-day in Ontario he will be called upon next year to pay $1.20. And this Under war condi­ tions, where the cost of living is already mounting, and is, generally speakiqg, ten per cent., higher than • it was at the outbreak of the war. As the ^rime Minister, has said, “You leave ua with the expensive'functions qf government.” ' And I hold that the figure? I have submitted prove that we will have insufficient funds to discharge, these ■ functions of government, that health and education in particular will suffer, and the standard of living of our' citizens who are in the class Of what might be described ■ as the lower economic scale wHl be akin to a condition of servile dependency. Now, Mr. Prime Minister, I have finished with my presentation of the financial effect of the report as. it appears to this province, and I am authorized on behalf of the premier of the province of Ontario, the Ontario delegation, and the people of the province, to. announce that our association with this so-called conference is over. Some other members may take this opportunity to present their rfjply'to the financial address of tod, Hon. Mr. Ilsley, and to withdraw as we are doing. We leave it to the rest of the members to continue their efforts to do what we are bound to Say would result in wrecking confederation,t as we understand it, and in destroying provincial autonomy and rights. We are returning to' out business, and oiir final word to the dominion is that word with which we opened: If tho dominion decides to. prosecute toe war on a basis of cooperation we shall be ready, as wo haye always been in the past, to cooperate in every known way and to throw the full weight of our great province into the dominion’s War endeavour.” B. McQUESTEN, K.C., ONTARIO MIN- AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, (Vol, 2t pages 83 to 87) J “Mr. Prime Minister and gentlemen, before this conference dissolves, the. province of Ontario would like to place before it its financial position with regard to the offqots of the Sirois report on the province’s finances. Perhaps I might properly preface what I have to say to-day by referring to two points touched upon by the Premier of Manitoba (Mr. Bracken) in the pre­ sentation of his argument before the opening session of the conference yesterday, Ron. Mr, Bracken made what I plight call an, earnest plea to the delegates of this conference, and particularly to the Premier of Ontario, tp consider the attitude taken by the late Hon, George Brown at the various conferences leading up to confederation. In bringing Mr, Brown’s name into the conference he has suggested that Mr, Brown very properly forgot his own personal feelings in thp matter and joined hands with Macdonald and ethers in shaping confederatien as expressed by the British North America Act, I consider it rather an unfortunate choice of argu­ ment to ask that the Premier of Ontario emulate Brown. I hold that in taking the attitude he has, Hon. Mr. Hepburn has been but living up to the traditions of Brown, and has defended and upheld all that Brown stood for, and is safeguarding the rights and responsi­ bilities vested in the separate provinces by confedera­ tion, I prefer to support and adopt tlie material structure which was created by Brown, rather than attempt to interpret its spirit, as Mr. Bracken has pur- ported to do. If Mr. Bracken’s argument were to pre­ vail, history would be degraded, our ideals shattered? and the names of onr public men cast into the ossuary of time. ■ Mr. Bracken was on better ground when,he advanced the idea that provincial autonomy, without adequate revenues for discharging the functions of government for which provinces are responsible, is but little more than a farce, To put the game idea in another way, without fiscal independence there can be no provincial autonomy. I am prepared to-day to review the financial history of the province of Ontario, particularly relating to the years since the present government has been in charge at Toronto. . * * • . « b Ontario Balances Budget Briefly, let me state that we have followed since the 1st of April,<1936, a sound financial policy, as shown . by our budgetary position. In 1936-37, 1937-38, and 1938-39, We had balanced budgets. This year we are promised by our premier who is also the provincial treasurer, a balanced budget, a surplus and a reduction in debt. This wholesome and enviable budgetary position has placed us in a position to carry out a policy of assist­ ance to the 900 municipalities which form the local government administrations of Ontario. ’For example, the province has assumed the entire capital cost of construction of our great highway system, the financial burden of which formerly rested in part ’upon thp municipalities. The province also’contributes in various Ways toward highway construction, expenditures by municipalities. In matters of public health, Ontario has made great strides and has, since this government took charge, at an an qua! cost of millions Of dollars, assumed the entire burden Of the care of indigent tubercular patients. Public health in Ontario costs the province of Ontario a sum exceeding $900,000 per month. Th^n, in exchange for the income tax, which, was formerly collected by a few of the 900 municipalities, we have substituted a provincial income 'tax, and have assumed the entire cost of the share formerly borne by the municipalities of old age pensions and mothers’ allowances, The annual cost to the government of Ontario for old age pensions, as represented by the present fiscal year, amounts to three and a half million dollars. This in­ cludes the province’s share of pensions for the blind. The annual cost to the province of mothers’ allow­ ances this year will exceed the sum of five and a quarter million dollars. All of these items—that is, old age pensions, pensions for the blind and mothers' allow­ ances—are annually increasing in amount. I 'quite agree with the estimate made by prominent actuaries that they will continue to increase for the next fifty years. It is difficult at this time to estimate the final limit of the cost of these three social services, which, as you are aware, were ’never dreamed of by the Fathers of Confederation. We also pay t<S the municipalities an annual subsidy of one mill, based on the general assessment of the municipalities, and this amounts in round figures1 to the sum of three million dollars per annum. Another function of government that is growing annually is education, and it is estimated that for the present fiscal year the province will spend upwards of thirteen million dollars. , ' / •I* ) xd ' Compares^Relief Costs One of the services that has. cost enormous' .sume[dur­ ing the past decade is that of the cost’of relief. "Under the present basis of contribution -the doniinion pays 40 per cent, of direct relief costs, excluding medical services, Including medical services the dominion con- , tribution is, 38 per cent, of the total expenditure. For the present1 fiscal year, that is, the period ending March 31 next, relief will cost Ontario the sum of ted million dollars. Of this the dominion's share will be $3,800;- 000, the ptoviilcial share $4,300,000, and the muni* cipalities' share $1,900,000. , Estimating the cost Of relief for the fiscal year which begins April 1, 1941, calculated on the present basis of sharing the cost of relief, and estimated; from the best available information, the relief picture in Ontario will be represented Us follows: Dominion shore,................. $2,555,000 Provincial share ...................... 2,892,000 » Municipal share ........... 1,278,000 If the Sirois basis be adopted, for the fiscal year 1941-42, toe cost is qstimated as: . . Dominion share ............ $ 566,00 Provincial share ........... 4,927,000 Municipal share ........... 1,232,000 Thus it will bo observed that by adopting thp Sirois basis the dominion Would enjoy a saving of $1,989,000, while the province of Ontario would bo called upon to increase its expenditures by the sum of $2,035,000, and too burden of the municipalities Would bo Pfac- tidally the same as Under toe present plan, the differ­ ence being lots than . $50,000. Tlio officers of too treasury and welfare departments arc here, and are supplied iyith all details With respect to relief figures, and in fact other relief figures, and we are prepared to discuss these matters in detail if and when required. At this juncture T desire to make a statement with respect to the estimated spying or gain to the province of Ontario;,' as contained bn page 96, Book II, of the recommendations of tlie Sirois commission. Thb estimated savings or gain to the province of Ontario, on too 1987. base, is $5,326,000 per annum. But a carefur analysis Of the figures indicates that in­ stead of a gain of $5,826(000, the actual net loss to the province for the 1937 period would be4 $6,432,000. Thus it will he seen that too information given on-page 96 of the Sirois report as to the expected improvement ’in the financial-position Of the province on the 1937 base is inaccurate and nbt in accordance With the findings of the treasury department of the province 4,927,000 RT. HON. ERNEST LAPOINTE, MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF CANADA, (Vol. 2, page 10d)s "I read the Ontario newspapers " and this morning I read a statement in a Toronto newspaper to the effect that this commission report was a Quebec report,1 prepared by and for QuebeC; for the benefit of that <• province. That article urged the people of Ontario to oppose it, My friends who are here know that at the same time in the province of Quebec this report is ’considered by some as leading to the destruction of provincial autonomy and the sacred rights of the citizens of that province. It has been stated that the French-Canadian race will be enslaved if this report is adopted and accepted," XT. HON. W. L. MACKENZIE KiNG, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, (Vol. 2, page 112): "May I say this next. When my colleagues and I Con* sidered tlie calling. Of this conference there was between us a great diversity of view as to the wisdom Of having such a gathering at this time. In saying that I do not think I am betraying any cabinet secret which I am sworn to respect. I for. one took the, view that it was very doubtful whether it would be wise to have a conference in War time." HON. ADELARD GOPBOUT, PRIME MINISTER OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, (Vol. 2, page 117). (The Prime. Minister's remarks were given in French, the following is the English' translation) : "Should the continuation of this conference con­ stitute a menace to Canadian unity, I would suggest, Mr. Prime Minister, that it bo dissolved." PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE $W»O, MWI »», « LETTER BOX I ,1 This interesting letter was receiv­ ed last week hy Mu stud, Mrs. My­ ron dillbent of Inrcatt from their son, dpi, Ivan H, Culbert, who has been in England the past year, It tells of a six-day leave to Bideford, North Devon and Sevenoaks., also Spending a day in London, England, Seeing the destruction that has been done there in the past two months. It will be of interest to our readers! * * # England, Nov. 27, 1940 My Dear Home Folks: It seems quite a little while since I actually wrote you a ■ let­ ter. I have sent cards and a parcel, which no doubt you have received. First of all I want to tell yon every- thething is going fine, though weather is rather damp. My six-day leave started Tuesday at noon. I caught ti'aln at Rugate al 12,30 and made my way to Dldeford, N. Devon. It was rather a tong Tide, making two changes, I arrived th RidOfotd at 1(1 p.m. Mt. Hobbs ( a relative of Mrs. (Hev.) & R, Johnston) Was there to meet m6j. and we made oar way in the blackout to their home. They last the .................. ' ..' have a very eomt'ortobto home and a little girl of lour years. With them live a S’ShooI teacher and his wffe, evacuees from London. They are a very fine couple about the age of fifty-five. Mrs. Hobbs is a very kind lady and Mu Hobbs, who is full of life and jokes, reminds me of ho Johnston, The school teacher and his wife lived and taught in South Africa for several years. I believe you will be hear­ ing from them. address. after sleeping until nine -o’clock. I had breakfast and Mr. Hobbs and I went down town to do my Xmas shopping, He the merchants, best 'places. I to -buy, but J chose answer the problem as Xmas gifts. I mwt.eay during the past two weeks I have sent to Canada nearly seventy Xmas cards. Let’s hope they reach theii' destinations safely and in time for Xmas. On Wendesday afternoon Mrs. Hobbs’ little daughter, Margaret, and I went for a bus ride to West­ ward Ho. It is a little seaside ie- sort, noted for the many foreign pebbles -of various sizes and designs. It was a springlike day and we strolled along the sea shore for some distance, giving us a wonderful petite for suppov, which, by way, was roast chicken. It was first fowl I have tasted since one you prepared for me before I left, ten months ago, (On Wednesday evening we at­ tended a concert in the church, pre­ pared by the school children, where this man. teaches. It was all sing­ ing. arid you can well imagine what the English, children’s voices of 3 to 12 years of age are like. I en­ joyed it very much. Thursday morn- • ing I, again slept in until nine, of course with permission from the hostess, having breakfast, I amused myself up town until noon, After dinner'Mr. Hobbs and I went by way of the bus to Chevelly. You will get an idea what this place is like from the snaps I enclosed in -your Xmas parcel. It is. a little village of only one street, which is all down hill, running. right into the bay. The walk is* entirely cobblestone. Donkeys are used for transporting the fish up from the sea, delivering the mail, and other odd jobs, have seen -pictures .of donkeys with a basket on either side of their body? Well, that is exactly what these are like. There is., not an­ other place in the world like it. From here we rode about half ; way by bus, got out and, visited Mrs. Johnston’s grandfather's farm: where ] living, chapel attend, to her. farni home-like one, at that, we re­ turned to Bideford and spent the evening playing games and talking. ’Friday afternoon Mr. Hobbs and I went to a place called Appledore, a real, typical fisherman’s village, very' narrow streets and quaint' little archways, etc. We spent about an hour there, then crossed the river by row boat, This was a similar village to Appledore.. Time marched on and we took the bus back home. I thought I had spongejj. long enpughv on these kind 'people, so caught the 8.-20 a.m. train Saturday morning and made my way ’ to , Sevenoaks, ar­ riving at 5 p.m. and again it was a lohg ride. I stayed in Seven­ oaks from Saturday night until Thursday morning. They had com­ pany on Saturday night and we all played games and had a very en­ joyable time. I might ,say they didn’t have a single air raid all the time I was in Devon. Sunday morning we went to church and after dinner went for a- stroll, with a sing-song at night around a jovely log fire. Mon,day a friend' and I spent the whole day in London, walking the streets to see t|ie damage that had been done in the last two months. Words cannot describe it. In some places there are actually four and five buildings, similar to5 Eaton’s in Toronto, right to the ground. Some are new and others old, We walked all day and the destruction we saw is hard to believe -and de­ scribe. I feel safe in saying there Was not a pane of* glass, left in an area the size of London, Ontario, so you can Imagine what the streets were like before the ruins were cleared away. We attended a case in High Court just for the fun of it*, the first one I ever attended and found it most interesting. We returned home in the early evening, after which we enjoyed Ourselves with games and a general conflab. I rode to Loi>, don the next morning With a friend, then on to Rugate where I have-re­ sumed my duties. W'e are to go to the coast for three weeks in the very near future, to be' on guard, while the English soldiers go home for Xmas. I will Write later and tell you about it I received a Xmas parcel from one of Miss Gillespie’s friends and one : from the Young People of St And­ rew’s Church, Whera I used to at- t tend. I will Write again over the week-ehd real well all. I gave them your Qn Wednesday morning knew so many of so took me to the hardly knew what hope the things I ap- the the the You Mr. Hobbs’ brother is now I1 als.q:;. visited•»the’ little that Mrsi; Johnston used to and several families related . Having ‘ tea, and a real and and I hAjte you are all may God bless you IVAN i ri IIIIIIIIIUIIIII SYNOPSIS Jilted three days before her wed- ring to Lyle Butnam, lovely Jill Morton plans a trip with her Aunt Lucy to escape the subsequent scan- Lucy and Jill go to New York for Rio. Jill -carries with letter of recommendation by her father, that?, will se- position in Morton’s New dal.- to sail her a written cure a York store for Joan Merrill, a pennb less schoolmate of Jill’s. When Jill discovers her friend has left town, possibly for good, she -decides to use the letter hereslt. She persuades Aunt Lucy to sail alone while she. having had her red. hair dyed blond, goes to her own father’s store and secures a position as a model under the name of “Joan Merrill/’ There she meets Toni -Drake, an­ other model, with whom she be- comest friendly and whose apart - 'ment sh© shares. She also meets* Gay Roberts, who dislikes her on sight. , (QO ON WITH THE Jill thought: There much you need to tell man. Slick continued idly. had a. valet, name of Andrew. , cook was his wife. right?” Jill stiffened With fright. Where in the name of heaven had he learned so much? And,,- knowing so much, did he’also know that the girl who stood before 'him, a smile glazed on her face, was not- Tom Merrill’s daughter? Slick laughed tet her amazement. “Easy.” he enlightened her with , a Wave of his eternal cigarette. ‘‘iPal of mine used to be a bootlegger in prohibition d'ays. Andrew was one of his best customers.” Jill ventured an\amused smile, felt her lips grow stiff with, the ef­ fort “That was a long while ago.” ‘fNo.t so long,” he said, and changed the subject without further comment, Jill exhaled a sigh of relief. Apparently, lie did not know Later she questioned Toni adroit­ ly about Slick. Toni was voluble “Smart boy, Slick. Came u,p from nothing. Sold' papers on the East ' Side when he was a kid. Look at him now/’ * “What, does he do for a living?” “He’s an importer,” Toni Said proudly. Jill wondered, for a fleet­ ing instant, just what he imported. And from where.. She did not ask. Jill’s New Experience* Life went on serenely at Morton’s till the day Mike Daly burst into view, laden with camera, flash bulbs, flood/ights and all the dread­ ful appertenances for picture tak­ ing. ’? Tho twins looked bored. Toni sighed, “I thought it was about time for another .bout of this.” Only Gay seemed pleased. “What’s it. all about?” Jill’asked puzzled. '“Fashion pictures,” Toni moan­ ed. •< “Hundreds of them. .Thous­ ands • of them. Mortons service to the select women’s pages.” Jill stared open-mouthed. “You mean—newspapers?” Toni expounded in a patient voice “About once every month or six weeks—-when we get a new ship­ ment of -gowns, a photographer— usually Mike Daly—comes around and spends a day or so with us.” “It’s an awful ordeal. What John Morton likes to call ‘recording the trend in fashion.’ He’s fussy about the photos. Hand picks ’em per­ sonally. We’re photographed in all the latest shrieks, and prints of the pictures are sent to newspapers in the cities__where Morton has stores, And Morton has stores practically everywhere. An advertising tie-up.” .Till Was aghast. “Do you mean.” she felt hei' voice .growing shrill With a rising terrorj “do you mean —the pictures x go into—-the news­ papers?” “Yeah,” Gay tossed the word in­ sultingly into the conversation. “And won’t you jtist hate that? I guess not ” STORY isn’t very this young “Your dad The Queenie, Am I Chest Wheezing Means Bronchitis The principal symptom of brom chitis is a dry, harsh, hacking cough accompanied with a rapid wheezing and feeling of tightness across the Chest There is a Hsing of phlegm, espe­ cially in the mornmg. This phlegm is at first of a light color, but as the disease progresses becomes yel* lowish or greenish, and is sometimes streaked with blood, , Yon will find in Dr, Wood’s Nor­ way Fine (Syrup a remedy to stimu­ late the weakened bronchial organs, subdue the inflammation, soothe the irritated parts, lobsen the phlegm and mucus, and help nature to easily d> b.dge morbid accumulation. Tiw Y. .. .ba*:. Jq.ji XiHito, i.v*qr*to, Ont. 18 by ANNE MARY LAWLER Jill shivered. -AU these weeks gone by—for* hothing. The work, the worry, the prlvatiens, the tone- Hness, She had planned on being re­ cognized by her friends. She ha<l been ready with a chill stare of non­ recognition. She had watched her words carefully, that no stray syl­ lable betray her, And now, through no fault of her own, the lie she lived was about to rise up and en­ velop her. Ill a Wedding Gown Mr, Brinker erupted into their midst, shouted incoherent direc­ tions, sent the girls scurrying. Jill fled to the fitting room, stood for­ lornly while she was swathed in-— mocking irony-—a wedding gown. A soft, white, gracefully draped wedding gpwn. suspiciously kin to Raouls masterpiece. A close cap of orange blossoms-—Jill felt she would have screamed if they had been white violets-—and the long froth of delicate veil. Satin san- dais-—a string, of finely graduated pearls—and the bouquet, a credit­ able stock arrangement of artificial roses. Brinker poked a frenzied face in* to the room. “Hurry, Joan, you’re first!” Brinker seized her arm, hustled her down. ing room, pre-empted for the occa­ sion. He muttered even hear. she walked, room where the young photograph­ er was fussing with lights. . He gave her • only a passing glance. ‘‘Wait a minute.” He sprinkled a few syllables of profan­ ity over the floodlamp, stepped back to survey it critically. “Now,” he said over his shoulder. “If you’ll stand here—” Jill followed his in-' structions time he closely, stick.” Jill trembled visibly. “You’re scared,” he said. “New here, aren’t you? Don’t worry. You’ve had your .picture taken be­ fore. It’s the same thing. I’ll pose you. Be natural. Lets of people freeze in front of a camera. Just take it easy,. . Turn ,,this way.” His finger under her chin was firm and reassuring, “Fine. Now the bou­ quet—” he tossed it airily on her arm. “Don’t clutch it. It won’t get away. Lightly, that’s right.” He busied himself with folds and lights. “Now just think you’re get­ ting married. Just think that only man in the world has told that you’ve beautiful, which you Just think—” Jill Neayly Faints He stopped in horror. The had crumpled to <her knees in a frenzy of weeping. “What the devil—” he patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Get up. If Brinker flits in you’ll be fired. Get up.” He pulled her to her feet. “What’s the matter with you?” Jill turned toward him, her face marble white, “If you take this pic­ ture of me—if it gets into the news­ papers—” He stared at her. 7If this picture gets published,” her teeth chattered. “It’ll ruin my life. You don’t understand. I can’t explain but— His square, pleasant jaw harden­ ed, and he tightened his grip on her arm. “Let’s get this straight,” he said slowly. “I want the truth. You can trust me with it. Are you afraid this picture will be seen— by the wrong people?” Jill whimpered, “Yes?’ The young man stepped back, looked her over from head to foot. His glance locked with hers. “Have you got a prison record?” he asked. “Is that why?” CHAPTER XII Jill looked at him in horror. Was the man mad? A prison record! Then, in that one terse Sentence, she saw her way clear. She nodded. ‘*1 thought so,” he said. “Look if I’m going to cover you up, I’ve' got to know Something.” Jill desperately groped for the proper word, the right reassuring phrase. ■ “It isn’t exactly a prison record?’ she said, “not prison. But— ” ‘‘But you’re on the spot with the law?” He bit his lip thoughtfully. “I’m on the spot all right/* the Sincerity in Jill’s voice was unmis- takeable. Mike gnawed the lower lip, then the upper, ran a large,' capable hand through his unruly hair. Thon his face lighted with sudden inspira­ tion. “Don’t worry, kid/* he re­ assured her. “I think I see a way out. Just stand over there Hinder the lights. Like I told you before.” Ho picked ti> the bouquet, lying neglected on the floor, and thrust in into her arms “But—” Mike Makes a T'romise “No huts.” Ho beamed id triumph. tbe liall to a small sew- left her at the door, with instructions she did not Through the doorway icily calm, into the For the firstnumbly. actually looked at her “You'll need more lip- the you are. itiliCiEiiililtiHiiiiilEiMiiOUlLaitliiiitnilltrf leave it io me. HI take the pic- ture-—I’ve got to, W® my jlQl?—- but It’ll never kit ike. papers, Yqi^ve got to trust me a little^ you fatoTV,” Mike looked like, the comfortable efficient sort of person a <lrl with a prison record could trust. Jill turned obediently ansi stood beneath the floodlights. The amazing young man patted her shoulder fraternally, know,” he sympathized. “It’s tough. Only don’t go hysterical on toe or we-ll both be in a jam,” . Profile, full face, three-quarter view, glancing up, looking down, Jill went quietly through all the motions. The camera clicked me-i- odicqlly. The young man sighed regret­ fully, “You’ve got a photogenic face, if you know what that means.” Jill didn't. He explained, “Good camera features, It’s a shame, tpo, Lots of times the lens plays awful tricks on beautiful girls,” Brinker exploded into the tcmwl all sound and fury and electric en­ ergy? “How’s it going, Dajy? Tak­ ing you a long time. Make the most of this dress. Most important num­ ber of the season. Mr. Morton par­ ticularly wanted-—” Calling a Substitute Daly interrupted. “I was won­ dering. Mr, Brinlter, if we couldn’t do better with a brunette model. None of the detail of that veil and cap shows with such light hair, Haven’t we got a brunette some­ where? I hate to take a chance with such an .important number. Not sure how i|fll turn out with this girl.” -Brinker was devastated. “There’s only Toni,” he said miserably, “and she’s too small. Maybe one of the twins— ” Mike hastened to the rescue. “You’ve got the redhead. Red hair photographs black and these aren’t color photos.. Besides,” a malicious glance at Jill, “I’m not at all sura this young lady is a good photo­ graphic subject. Good figure and good features but I don’t like the coloring. Eyes and hair took too light to me. Sometimes we have trouble and the camera washes them out. Looks don’t mean a thing tote lens. I've seen beauties photograph like custard pies. And Ive seen really homely women take magnifi­ cent pictures. (Brinker said, “I suppose it could be arranged, but—” ■Mike droned on. ‘‘Now this girl would be perfect, II think, in big hats with veils., would lend color shadow. I think Miss—-Miss—” hats, or little Something that and depth and we’d better saVe looked at Jill, waiting for her supply the name. Joan Merrill/’ Miss Joan. I don’t want he. tQ/ to waste plates until I know how well she gets on with, the lens. Her eyes thanked him. Brinker agreed eagerly, “Soon’s you’re finished, Joan, turn that gown over to Gay.” Brinker made his usual noisy exit. Mike grinned at Jill. “Smooth?” “Very smooth,” Jill commended. “I — want to thank you.” An Unexpected Invitation He made embarrassed motions' with his hands. “It wasn’t any­ thing. Everybody deserves a break once in a while. Anyway, it w.ts fun putting something over oh that guy Brinker. I don’t like him.” Their eyes met in complete ac­ cord. “Neither do I,” admitted Jill. “Bui I’d better get back now. I’ll—see you later, I guess. Thanks again.” .Mike caught her arm. ‘‘What— what are you doing this evening?” She stared at him in surprise. “I’d like to take yon to dinner—■ if—if you’d let me.” She looked at him closely, weighing him with care. He reddened, then flashed his bright, (crooked grin. “A polite- form of blackmail, you know.” It’s dangerous, Jill thought, dan­ gerous. (But he has a nice face. And it might be fun. Besides, she could use another friend. “I*d love to,” she Said hurriedly. “I’m through here at 6.” Mike dropped her arm,, became businesslike and brisk again. “Meet yo;u outside,” he said. Jill left the room, her heart sing­ ing with delight. Gay was impa­ tiently pacing the - dressing room, find to her Jill sui'rfendered the wed­ ding gown without a word. Gay toqk: it with a malicious smile. “Hear you couldn’t make the grade,” Was ail she said, as aha -departed regally tor the tilting T<mm. Surptisei AintottACemeht Jill watched her sweep grandly through the doorway, and stitled a laugh. She turned to 'Toni, wrig­ gling into a microscopic play suit, “I didn’t make the grade with the camera, but I get by with the photo* grapher. He's taking me to din­ ner.” {To be continued)