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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1939-03-30, Page 6THURSDAY, MARCH 30th, 1939 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE i dangerous Cinderella BY EVELYN SHULER “Europe is the same as ever,’’ he said, with a touch of 'boredom. “I’d much rather hear about you. What’s happened since I’ve been away?” She tried to make light, airy talk hut felt ill-at-ease with him. What happened, she asked herself. Why was she so strainedly unnatural with him? Before he went a'way, she could talk to him freely and without reserve. Now hei- words sounded stilted with effort—but he didn't seem to notice. They discussed the opening night of -David’s show but he made no of­ fer to escort her. He seemed pre­ occupied—absent-minded—as if his thoughts were elsewhere. With a twinge she realized that the old Dean was gone. In his 'place was a distant, reserved^ gentleman whom she scarcely knew. When he left she hid him good-bye with a distinct sense of relief. David’s Show Opens The opening night of David's show was a gala occasion. Andrea, Mary and Sandy went together, occupying choice seats sent to them by David. Andrea had selected a new evening dress from the shop — a twilight blue creation that accented her youthful figure. Her hair, carefully arranged, was alive with gold. As they walked down the aisle of the theatre, many eyes turned to stare, attracted by her osft beauty. She stood out, distinctive even in this theatre crowded with beautiful, elab­ orately gowned women. As David entered the stage, pour­ ing forth his golden voice, the old thrill stirred her to the fingertips She felt alternately icy cold and then raging with fever-like heat. Her nervous hands were clasped so tight­ ly in hei’ lap the knuckles showed white. She whispered Iprayers that David would be triumphant this night. She knew he wasn’t her Da­ vid anymore. She knew that his en­ gagement to Eloise removed him forever from her, but still her hopes for his success were ardently alive. A fanfare of applause greeted his first song. David seemed to be smil­ ing directly at her as he acknow­ ledged the applause with a bow. At the first intermission Andrea turned and began an animated discussion of the play with Sandy and Mary. The show continued. David sang brilliantly, like a man inspired. An­ drea listened entranced. 'She was happy for him; happy in his success but she sensed something lacking in the iplay. At the end of the second act, the applause was perfunctory. The audience hurried out into the lobby. David (received no curtain call. x Andrea wondered where Eloise was—-probably in a box. Her eyes scanned the boxes with interest. Her gaze became suddenly alert when she recognized Libby Vanderstill— and hovering attentively at her el­ bow was Dean Gilthorp! Andrea listened to the closing act with a mind divided. 'She had looked forward so long to this evening, but now her enjoyment was spoiled. She could not rouse herself. David on the stage belonging to Eloise—Gil­ thorp belonging to Libby VanderstilT She suddenly felt alone — like an ou tcast. “I don’t belong to any one in the whole world,’’ she thought dismally CHAPTER XXIII With her engagement to David, the future beckoned more brightly for Eloise. His musical show was only mediocre; the critics had pounced on it vehemently; but she still felt that David was on his way up and she was determined to see' that nothing (prevented her sharing his good fortune. She was sipping the last of her breakfast coffee when the telephone rang. She answered it idly. Her old night-club job at the Jungle o! Gold, was open, a voice informed her. Would she care to take it. Ea­ gerly Eloise accepted, promising to report at once ifor rehearsal. “I’ll be Tamara, the mystery sing-' er, again,” she said aloud to herseli as she began a hurried search foi' hei masks and costumes. “The stars must be right for me tonight.” Opening night found her with a semblance of her old nerve and vi­ vacious spirit. The audience respond­ ed to her mood and salvos of ap­ plause greeted her dramatic, spot- Suffer No Longer from Headaches It is hard to struggle along with a head that aches and pains all the time. In nine cases out of ten persistent headaches are caused by some de rangement of the stomach, liver or bowels. Burdock Blood Bitters removes the cause of headache, by regulating the digestive and biliary organs, corrects acidity, regulates the con­ stipated bowels, tones up the liver, and promotes a perfect circulation of pure blood to all portions of the body, det fid of your headaches by taking B.B.B. The T. Milburn Go., Ltd., Toronto, Ont. lighted entrance to the dance floor. She had daringly chosen a program of simple folksongs—in sharp con­ trast to her former sophisticated selections. The sheer novelty of the old - fashioned, simple melodies brought her enthusiastic response. To her applause-hungry ears, it sounded like music from a celestial choir. Unwelcome Guest As she stood flushed and bowing gracefully at the end of her second •program of the evening, a waiter approached with a message for hei' “A gentleman at the far-cornei table would like to speak to you,' the waiter whispered. “He says heh an old friend of youjrs.” Still in the glow of success, Eloise walked toward the corner indicated She skirted the polished, gleaming floor where a corps of scantily clad dancers were now entertaining. She had almost reached the table before she recognized the man who waited for her. Tito Bardini! Her heart stood still. Her legs seemed sud­ denly to lose the power of locomo- ton, but it was too late to turn back Dismally she hoped that with the mask he had mistaken her for some one else—but his opening words dispelled even this faint hope. “Still wowing them, I see,” he said sneeringly, as he politely as­ sisted her into a chair at the small table. “What do you want?” she asked, fearfully, tensely. “What do you think I want, you damned double-crosser? Thought you fixed me for good, turning me in to the police, didn’t you? Well, I served my time and I'm out. You will pay well for that little trick Ellie. I want money. I want a lot of money.” His smile was sardonic as his eyes surveyed her. Eloise glanced uncer­ tainly at the surrounding guests. “I can’t talk here,” she said in an assumed friendly whisper, attempt­ ing to placate him. “Meet me at my hotel tomorrow morning.” She gave him her address, and rising, said aloud: ‘Nice to have seen you again’ But she looked as if she had seen a ghost. The next morning. .Bardini arriv­ ed at her hotel room early, without being announced from downstairs. She had barely time to slip on a becoming new hostess gown before admitting him. His swarthy face was surly. His dark hair still show­ ed the crude prison clipping. “We won’t waste time,” he said grimly. “That prison term didn’1 help me any, I’ve got to get on my feet — and you’re going to help me.” “But I haven't any money, Tito,' she began falteringly, “I lost what money I had.” “Liar!” he retorted. His black eyes were deadly. “I want $500. If you value your life, you’ll give it to me—now.” Gives Him Money His mood was ugly. Eloise could sense that beneath his threat was a loathing he could not sweep awaj with charm. The man stared at her with a sinister, diabolical hatred. Fear clutched at her breast. Obed­ iently, with the manner of a woman whipped she walked to her desk- With trembling hands she wrote out a check for $500, It left little in the bank—’but she was more afraid o the man who waited before her than she ever would be of poverty. Bardini tucked the check with elaborate care into his wallet.- “I’ll be1 back,” he said ominously as he closed the door. Exhausted from her encountet Eloise sank into a chair. Things were just beginning to adjust for her; her future looked promising; and now this man, indelibly linked with her past, had to intrude in her life She burst into hysterical tears. She was afraid of him, afraid of his threats. But she could not turn to David for help. She must solve this problem alone. Bardini haunted her daily. He came constantly to the night club lie arrived at her hotel early in the mornings. His demands for money became fore insistent,' more men­ acing. >Sh.e had no more money in the bank to give him. In desperation she began sharing hei’ salary. She tried sneaking out the rear entrance of the hotel to avoid him. She left word at the telephone desk to say she wasn't in. But still he crossed her path with fiendish consistency She must have a showdown with him. They were seated in her hotel room. “I’m cleaned out of money,” she pleaded. "I have no more tc give you.” “Then you no longer love life?” he questioned grimly, staring at hei intently. His face Was dark with repressed fury, His voice was cold. “I have given you nearly a thou* sand dollars,” she retorted, her Voice trembling with nervousness. “It is oiily a drop in the bucket,” he said sarcastically. “You haven’t started yet,” “But you must wait,” she beseech- ed, “Give me time.” “As much time as you gave me for instance, down in Miami?” His lips curled in a vicious sneer. Unreason­ able .cruelty gleamed maliciously from his eyes. Her pulses pounded with fear. He wasn’t fooling. A dead­ ly earnestness was evident in every ■ movement of his hands and body. He might kill her—now, In desperation, her mind grasped at a possible way out. In a flash of revelation, she thought of Sandy's patent. Hei’ breath coming in ner­ vous gasps, she told Bardini of the patent, of its value, of the papei which David held giving him sole rights to it, Bardini listened to hei recital, his eyes alive with greedy interest. “You will get this paper for me,' he announced with determination. “And no stalling. I will give you exactly one week.” A Shot in the Dark Eloise, beset by frenzied fears saw David as often as she could in the following days. By artful ques­ tions, she led him to discuss the co­ veted paper, but she realized it would be no easy task to get it away from him. He was in the habit of dropping into the ifight club aftei his show and waiting for her, usual­ ly arriving in time for her last per­ formance. Near the end of the week, he dropped into the club as usual. His heart thrilled to the vibrant, mel­ low quality of her voice as she sang1 a plaintive melody, The silence she commanded from her listeners was phenomenal among that group whe usually move with carefree abandon As Eloise finished her song, her last note seemed to hang suspendec trembling on the silence. From a far corner of the room, e man’s figure detached itself from the gloom. As he strode toward Eloise, David’s attention was at­ tracted by something that gleamed like silvei- in his outstretched hand The man suddenly stepped into the full glare of the spotlight. It was Rufus .Burchette! With horror, Da­ vid saw that he held a revolver Burchette started toward Eloise whose smile appeared frozen as she recognized him. Obviously drunk he brandished the revolver and ut­ tered a wild, guttural shdut. David leaped across the room to­ ward the raving man, while other guests sat too stunned to move. With an oath he tore at Burchette’s throat and threw him to the floor. Women screamed, there was a sound of crashing glass. .Frenzied shouts filled the room as excited guests called for light. The two men, locked in primitive combat, tussled and .struggled, as they rolled over into the shadowed semidarkness of the room. 'Suddenly a single shot rang out! It was like the kiss of death. An. electric silence filled the room. At that moment the lights were turned on. David, his blond hair tousled, his shirt torn and rumpled, stood, reyovler in hand looking with dazed eyes at the still figure before him. Eloise, unmasked, instantly rush­ ed to his side and cried hysterically: "David, what have you done?” “This Man Is Dead1” The entire room, as if released from terror by her words, sprang in­ to activity. The perspiring manager his sa'Uvity completely erased by’the tragedy, was shouting orders ap­ parently without any sense of-direc­ tion, Two of the waiters lifted Bur­ chette’s prostrate form and carried 4iim into an ante-room. David, Eloise and the manager followed. A doctor among the guests came in to offer his services. The physician bent low over Bur­ chette, listening to his heart. He felt for a pulse. Theij he rose and in a voice gravely quiet said, “This man is dead.” David stood motionless as if he hadn't heard the words, as if they hadn’t penetrated lisi consciousness. The revolver still hung limply from his hand. 1-Ie made no sound as two uniformed policemen entered the room and importantly began to ask questions. He stood statute - like While one of the policemen came to­ ward him and with a handkerchief carefully removed the gun from his inert fingers. “You’ll have to come along with .me, sir,” the officer said gruffly, taking David’s arm and shaking him in an effort to break his trance. Da­ vid stared at him with a strange de­ tachment. He’ felt light, airy, disem­ bodied as if the tragedy had numb­ ed all his sensabilities, Eloise, unnerved by the tragic ac­ cident, had collapsed in a chair, where she sat sobbing softly. “Don't take him away officer,” she pfoteStly wildly, “He didn’t mean to do it.” CHAPTER XXIV White-faced with terror, David stared at the throat specialist, who stood before him like an executioner. The (physician rested his hand on the iron-grilled door of the prison cell, where David had been confined since the killing of Rufus Burchette. “You forbid me to sing?” David repeated, incredulously, ”1 do.” The specialist was crisply authoritative, ’You’ve been under an intense nervous strain. Your throat is in a hopeless condition, These things happen as the result of ner­ vous shock.” David looked stricken as a map condemned. “Take my right arm,” he blurted, “but don’t tell me I can­ not sing again!” “If you sing it will be at your own risk.” David’s lips were drawn in a thin disdainful line. The brooding of his eyes altered his youthful face. His former carefree, happy nature seemed to have vanished. In its place stood a surly, embittered man. “How long must I wait?” he asked, his voice toneless, empty. “Only rest, if anything will cure this condition, the physician re­ plied, slowly. “It may take months —it may take years.” “Years?” iDavid said hollowly. His face was haggard, grey. His eyes became sunken pools of blue in an ashen face. The physician nodded and abruptly took his leave. The iron-grilled door clanked shut be­ hind him. For days after David brooded alone in his cell, obsessed more by the fear of losing his voice than ot his approaching trial. On the day of the trial he was led from his cell to a crowded courtroom. Hundreds of spectators, lured by the hopes of sensational revelations, thronged the room. On Trial For Murder David took a seat at defense-coun­ sel table. He nervously intertwined his hands, but gave no other sign of emotion. Deep lines of weariness at­ tested he hadn’t slept. There was nothing left in life for him. If he couldn’t sing songs. He thought of the trial only vaguely. The killing of Burchette had been purely acci- dentl; but he wondered indifferently as he saw the jury-box fast filling whether any of these women and men would believe in his innocence. He glanced back into the court­ room. Eloise, stunningly attractive in a new outfit, was seated in the front row among defense witnesses. She smiled reassuringly at him. Heartened slightly by her smie, Da­ vid straightened in his chair. (To be Continued) Even if it is true that one of every seven marriages end in divorce, there is hope for humanity as long as the other six, don’t. The chances are the average of­ fice would employ elderly women in preference to ‘jitterbugs’ if there was some way to distinguish between them. * * Two girls were discussing men— and Dorothy asked: “Which would you most desire in your husband — brains, wealth or appearance?” “Appearance,” responded^. Alpha, “and the sooner, the better.” Birthday Cards for every member of the family I Thank You; Going Away; Wedding Anniversary; Sympathy; Friendship; Convalescent; Gift Enclosure; Baby Congratulations; Birth Announcement. Show me the people with whom you feel at ease and I’ll tell you what you are. * *. * 'Cn you modernize this one?: ‘Sit a beggar on horseback and he will ride at a gallop’. 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Brown, Amberley; fxetrr ®tatiw-Aii|incatr Established 1873 and 1887 at Exeter, Ontario - , Published every Thursday morning SUBSCRIPTION—-$2.0'0 per year In advanceRATES—Farm or Real Estate for sale 30c, each insertion tor first four insertions. 25c, each subse­ quent insertion, Miscellaneous ar­ticles, To Rent, Wanted, Lost, or EPUdd 10c, pgr line of six words. Reading notices 10c. per line, Card of Thanks 50c. Legal ad­ vertising 12 and 8c. pei line, I» Memoriam, with one verse 50c. extra verses 25c. each. Member of The Canadian Weekly , Newspaper Association Professional Cards GLADMAN & STANBURY (F. W. Ghidman) BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, &c Money to Loan, Investments Made Insurance Safe-deposit Vaults for use of pur Clients without charge EXETER and HENSALL CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, LOANS, INVESTMENTS, INSURANCE Office; Carling Block, Mhin Stree*, EXETER. ONT. Dr. G. F. Roulston, L.D.S.,D.D.S DENTIST Office: Carling Block EXETER, ONT. Closed Wednesday Afternoons Dr. H. H. COWEN, L.D.S.,D.DS. DENTAL SURGEON Office opposite the Post Office. Main Street, Exeter Office 36w Telephones “ Res. 36) Closed Wednesday Afternoons ARTHUR WEBER LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Phone 57-13 Dashwood R. R. No. 1, DASHWOOD FRANK TAYLOR LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY Prices Reasonable and Satisfaction Guaranteed EXETER P. O. or RING 188 USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office, Exeter, Ont. President ........... JOHN HACKNEY Kirkton, R. R. 1 Vice-President .... JOHN McGRATH Dublin, Ont. DIRECTORS W.. H.. COATES .................. Exeter ANGUS SINCLAIR ... Mitchell, R. 1 WM. HAMILTON ... Cromarty, R. 1 T. BALLANTYNE ... Woodham, R. 1 AGENTS JOHN ESSERY................. Centralia ALVIN L. HARRIS ... Mitchell R. 1 THOS. SCOTT ................. Cromarty SECRETARY-TREASURER B. W. F. BEAVERS .............. Exeter GLADMAN & STANBURY Solicitors, Exeter HURON CONTINUES BID FOR PLOWING CONTESTS A definite move toward bringing the international flowing match to Huron County in 1941 or 1942 was made at a meeting of the Huron Co. Council, agricultural advisory com­ mittee, held in the agricultural of­ fice. L. E. Cardiff, reeve of Morris Township presided. Huron sought the 1940 plowing match, but this was awarded St. Thomas, when the Provincial Plow­ men's Association met in Toronto re­ cently. The comittee also recommended that the short courses in agriculture and home economics for 1940 be held at Belgrave and at one of the following (places: Carlow, Dungan­ non or Ethel. DEAD LIVESTOCK Pftorte Exeter 235, Collect DAY OR NIGHT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK Our drivers are equipped to shoot old or crippled animals DARLING and Co, of Canada, Ltd. ' CHATHAM, ONT.