: 3 : THE LADY IN DISTRESS FPDP PPPPee PP PPP PPP oie P (Copyright) PAPE e Phere LICIA chewed the stub of the pencil. The carving Knife wasn't In reach and she firmly believed in the landlady's promise to spank her if she got out of bed. That was the disadvantage of being eleven years old and a recent inmate of a hospital. People bossed you. The pencil stub and a sheet of heavily-scented lavender paper had been inveigled out of Mrs. Glandon by a promise of impeccable behavior while t) week's marketing was being done, Alicia wrote the result with marked dissatisfac- tion, but there was neither time nor paper for another fort, Chick Ayers would be along on his bleyele any minute now and she mustn't keep him waiting. She hailed the telegraph messenger from her window, in a thin. high tre- ble that carried distinctly down into the street. Chick's head came op and he waved a hand as he sped by. Alicia frantically wagged the sqnare en- velope, and Chick nearly ran down a flustered old lady on the cressing. In two minutes he was up the stairs, panting. “What you want, Alicia? awful hurry.” Alicia held out the envelope. “Please, Chick, deliver it to him yourself. It's very 'portant,” Chick started at the “Cun ningham Reed!" he whispered in awe, “Why—why, Alicia, what you doing?’ “Please hurry!" said Aliela and fell back on the pillows. She was still very weak, A three months' siege with typhoid fever doesn’t much of even sturdy constitutions and Alicia had never been exactly husky. But there was a smile on the little white face under its mass of dark red halr which the win- dow stirred gently. Compton Niel put burnt cork and picked up the lipstick, view- ing the reflection In the mirror with complete detachment. He could put on & perfect make-up without giving conscious thought natter. He was thinking that this was Friday and t would be his last Reed laboriously and eyed I'm In an address, " leave breeze through the down the to the m that tomorrow nig! appearance at any thea- ters, t no spring.” told Brady had sai ] first week and Niel had straight interview with Reed. Niel ha new act that he helieved wonld over tig. If Reed would only listen to him! But Reed wouldn't. He word that a little new hiood wouldn't do the chain of theaters any harm, and Niel had gone away with a sinking heart. God kew that he was aware that there was not any spring in him! A man couldn't watch the only being in the world that he loved make an eight or ten weeks’ fight with death and not lose his spring. Besides, since coming from the hospital Alicia had not slept well and Niel had not heen his rest, And, of course, the gotten it out of him : to land a new contract. She always did. One eouldnt He to her. “And now,” she remarked gravely, “you are a gentleman in distress” Threnghout her illness, Niel had presented flowers and picture books and puzzles with the elaborate ceremony th delighted her and always to a “lady in distress.” “There will be a pair of us” he an- swered ruefully, “if 1 don't pet 8 new booking.” He had grinned and joked a good deal, but he was afrald that he hadn't fooled his small danghter much. She was an uncanny (little piece, She sometimes read his thoughts, as: “Daddy Comp, what rent do we have to pay the hospital?” the day he had drawn the last dollar of his savings account. He'd keep on his make-up when he went home tonight. Alicia always consid- ered that a special favor. It was not easy to perform for another half hour when every muscle ached, but it was worth It to see the sparkling eyes and flushing face. Cunningham Reed eyed his seere- tary sternly. That young lady was nearly in tears. “I—I couldn't help it, gir. He wouldn't take no for an an- swer. Said his orders were to put it in your band, and there was just no stopping him!” Reed dismissed her with a nod and turned over the missive that the de termined telegraph messenger had shoved at him, He wouldn't have been human if he hadn't been a little curl- ous. What pecullar urgency was there that a mere boy should storn a vie torions way through three offices? Why hadn't he held the boy? He looked at the penciled address, ripped open the envelope nnd scowled unbelievingly at the owlish characters that staggered uncertainly across the pale purple page. “Reed says you ain't ge the theater manager had Neil. of the way sough an brutally d that the 20 sent out toed getiing tittle imp had the failure bout . “1407 Bounant street. “Dear Mr. Heed, will you please comme here at 9 tonight. Not any Inter. “A LADY IN DISTRESS." “What the devil!” muttered Reed. “Hey, Welton!” A young man ap- peared from some inner recess. “What do you make of this?” Welton studied the note. “Doesn’t took good to me, sir,” ’ Reed's eyes softened with a twinkle he carefully concealed. “Why? “Well, they've made it look lke a child's writing and, obviously, no child would be wrillug to you I'd say that ft looks very much like a piot. Shall } get hold of a secret service— 17" “No-0," declded Reed with a serl ous face. “And you need say nothing about it to anyone, Welton.” “No, sir, of course not, The best way, no doubt, is just to ignore these things." Alicia was almost In tears, Here it was nearly ten o'clock and there had been no knock on her door. She had directed Mrs. Glandon to show up at once any gentleman whe should call, The landlady supposed that the child was playing some game with her fa- ther so was hardly prepared, when she answered a knock at nearly ten o'clock to confront a gentleman whose clothes, even to her unfamiliar eye, spoke that magle word, success, “I was told,” said the “to eall at 1407 Bonant evening.” “Yes—oh, Well" fluttered Mrs. Glandon, ber landladyisb aplomb for once completely shaken. you right up. This way, this street yes! sir,” “Oh!” said a voice that for the life of him tell He en tered the room to see an raised from a pillow, He around expectantly, There was no one in sight, except Mrs. Glan don, the door. why. else Reed looked at door and they could hear her retreat down the hall, “It can't be Alicia, “that you are the lady ’ sald Ileed, smiling at in dis tress.” “Oh, please, git dewn? yon am! hurry be Comp yes, sir, | We must Daddy you cause, Ree, you hera 1 don't know what he think I” The most In were ont 3 say next, words came tumbling breath and when Alicia did not one know entertained. He ste for mystery and the the pillow was very fip pealing. He leaned comfortably back in his chair the act had the ef. fect of upsetting licin's equilibrium completely. She had for uncompromising individual who would have to be won. But this man seemed go ordinary that for a few minutes she was literally tongue-tied. eed was dramatist’s ta face against pnd lnoked While they sat pazing mutely st one another a the hall and Alicia sat despair, “You see!” she cried hfully, vou come hefore!™ involuntarily, *1 step sounded In up in ! reprond why didn’t Reed couldn't get awny The words mouth the hand of a most t 3 fryer % " x in flopping overalls answered were not out vil and a vio lently checkered shirt teed had seen this apparation before, but for minute there was no connection in his mind and he came to his feet, startled, Alicia clapped hands Involuntar- ily. “Oh, Daddy Comp, yon kept ft all on! Compton Nil was grinning ont of h there wasn't a particle of thoughts, What daing here? Then recollection began to assall Reed and he elaculated slowly, “Well IN be The tone, for some reason, rendered Niet forious. It implied something outrageons and he retorted. “So will IL for that matter.” Alicia looked from one 19 the other, understanding nothing but their tones, but sufficiently alarmed by those, “It wag a clever dodge, Niel” sald Need deliberately. “1 don’t know negro her feebly though grin In his Reed possibly is impossible mouth was cially susceptible to children. 1 dont deny the weakness, but it is the first time I have ever had anyone try to play on it. You" But Alicia had suddenly compre- hended the spirit If not the words of Reed's charge and she flew out of bed, stumbling over her nightgown as she confronted the dJdumfounded theater owner. “Oh, aren't you horrid! You knew my Daddy Comp didn't—didn’t-—1 told you! What makes you so mean?" and she burst into tears and quietly fainted, Niet had her back in bed on the instant. He took the water Reed handed him, then commanded savage. ly, “Get out ™ Reed sat down and when Niel again turned on hint spoke quietly : “When she 8 feeling all ghe ean watch, too, we'll listen to that new act of yours™ For His Purpose, Car Young Feasley not long ago bought an old “used” ‘sport roadster. The dealer didn’t have the nerve to enll kt “second hand” for everyone knew #t had belonged to at least a dozen dif. ferent people. Feasley pald only £3 for it. Nevertheless some of his neigh bors couldn't understand why he had invested even $30 in such a back-num- ber proposition, which was too anclent to be ealled an automobile and not quite old enough to be classed as an antique. “What do you suppose Feasley wanted to buy that old roadster for when he knows he can’t depend on ft to get him back from anywhere?” asked Lambert, the druggist, “Oh,” explained young Day, his head clerk, “he don't want it to get him back from anywhere. All he wants lg to drive a wile into the country and then park by the side of the road. It's a wonderful ear for parking pur poses." —athfinder Magazine, Plaids Youthful, Also Very Smart Bright Printed Materials in Little Sports or Trot- teur Frocks. Plalds are always gay and youth- ful. This season they have the added advantage of being very smart as well, French designers, writes a correspondent in the Press, are making lavish bright plaid printed silks in little sports trotteur frocks, which are very much in the fashion picture. For color i3 lmportant as before fashion Detroit Free use of or never or three colors is much more in vogue han the monotone effects of u season or more ago. A new version of the omnipresent cardigan sult skirt of bright brown and gold diagonal plaid print. ed slik, finely plaited, silk makes a scarf which worn shows a The same may be Plaid Silk. or knotted lon nn the brow i i a woven supple, 4 f brown and gold d in and metric figure o The git may be and green 1d gold and white, and each of these samo bine white, tions offers many possibilities of smart acce sxoriox gt Far gn FOr i tator sports brown and gold a new T strap shoe of brows to match the eardigan. Th costume | with attractive brown lzard Handstitched smart. In facet ti for sports The suggested is In a shade of kidskin handstitehing. gloves are always ey have classic and informal street wear. glove with darker for Dainty Cameo Pink Rose, and other varying shades of charming model In rose volants forming the skirt, each ular. The bodice has the same idea, ness and youthfulness, For au French client who made the firet of the year, Worth lovely frock In pink in the meshed tulle which has her wide Thizx frock has a fitted full skirt of two layers of the tulle over a heavy erepe de chine founda- tion. Two points of the hem dip on Its only trimming i= a narrow line In a «lightly darker shade of pink. for Slender Misses One-plece dresses are very much in favor for slender young girls, par. ticularly because they are softer of line and more flattering and because they may be worn with the warm tweed and fur topeoats. Wool fabrics, which have been neglected in recent gensons, are again shown In models from the best houses. Many new de. signs in these frocks are shown with the" irregular neckline, the bloused bodice and the skirt with the fullness nssembled In front, Side Trains Dipping skirts on evening gowns snow a preference for greatest length on one side, usually the left. The other side dips also, but the left side may reach beyond the floor, providing a smart little train, New Half-Cape Effect Designed for Spring A Showing an advance spring model in printed nuvolaine washable silk. It is brown with green and black. Note i the new half-cape effect formed by the scarf at the neck, | Tiered Frocks Appear in Patou Spring Show an Paton true prophet, silks and tiered skirts on be a or another som er, shion correspondent in the His manikins pn les far ide spring made with of black or navy reps across the und eq Doncet and Worth favor for the | ple morning frock a skirt with grouped narrowly at the front and at the but stite jown to a hipline, they a piquant flare. plaits hed « jon are hack, where released to give Valvet, Crepe, Taffeta, Voile for Young Miss Frocks of velvet, crepe, taffeta and voile are most popular for general | occasions for in one of these a young | girl is ready for almost any daytime nffalr, a fashion writer in the Cleveland News, A model in which are introduced several of the new points in vogue for women's dress this season is made of pastel blue crepe de chine on which are printed small conventional! flowers in rose, with a touch of leaf green here and there. The oblique neckline is accom. plished by slashing the material across the yoke in front, snd tying the strips into a bow at one side. Be tow this the blouse is gathered in the middle front and is strapped about with a narrow sash ol the crepe. The skirt, which #8 modish and al most mature, is comprised of two tiers gathered only part way around, with the fullness clustered to one side of the from and back, This sweetly feminine little frock ha= an additional touch of daintiness in little strips of the crepe with which the sleeves are closed in hows at the back of the hand. says Hemless Finish Liked for Frocks and Suits he hemless finish on nearly all frocks and suits coming from exclu: give houses is the telltale note, This finish fs always associated with the skirt cut on circular lines, whether In cloth or silk, and again, whether the garment ls a tallored or softly fash foned type. In cloth skirts, the practice is to finish the very narrow, turned-back edge which serves in lien of a four or five inch regulation hem with sev. eral rows of machine stitching. In frocks of flat, satin or canton crepe, a narrow bias binding is employed, giving practically the same effect of bemlessness. the incomparable uper-Heterodyne 147 (less Radiotrons) Everywhere acknowledged the finest achievement in radio. Super-sensitive. Super-selec- tive. Operates from A.C. house current at very slight cost. Ask the nearest RCA Radiola Dealer to demonstrate the "60" for you and tell you about the RCA Time Payment Plan. RCA RADIOLA MADR ey THe MAKERS or THE RACIOTRAON Jarring Colors Their Mistake r new 1 xe 7" de | Young Husband-—-1 ms i to get rather « nage sie I can't iry-yek How many people you know end their colds with Bayer Aspirin! And how often you've heard of its prompt relief of sore throat or tonsilitis. No wonder millions take it for colds, neuralgia, rheumatism ; and the aches and pains that go with them. The won- der is that anyone still worries through a winter without these tablets! They relieve quickly, yet have no effect whatever on the heart. Friends have told you Bayer Aspirin is marvelous; doctors have declared it harmless. Every druggist has it, with proven direc- tions. Why not put it to the test? Aspirin is the trads mark of Bayer Msvufecture of Momoaceticscidester of Balleylicuedd SPIRIN Hen Mothered Kitten The mistress of a Hinsdale (Mass) farm bad a hen sitting. Going out to inquire as to the comfort of the ex- pectant mother, she found the eggs uncovered, and, in the nest a tiny kit. ten. The hen took to the nest again after feeding, and covered eggs, Kitten aad all, Khe continued her care of the kitten after the eggs were hatched, says the Boston Glebe. Two Species What is described as a walking fish from Africa has been brought to Bos fon on a visiting ship. Humorists may now do their worst in comparing the peripatetic fish from overseas with the poor fish who already walk Bos ton street — Boston Transcript, Complete Washout New Author—Could you use W, story if 1 were to boll it down? Hard-boiled Editor—-No chance, Doll down a gallon of water to a pint and it wonld still be water, wouldn't it? tecatc evctiteb cnc ny If all the statisticians were placed ond to end they would reach another foolish conclusion. DERIVED from DAILY Usk of the Cuticura PREPARATIONS THE Soap, pure and fragrant, to cleanse the skin; the Ointment, an ic and healing, to remove pimples, ras! and irritations; and finally the Tal smooth and pure, to impart a pleasing fragrance to the skin. Soap 23¢. Oinrment 25¢. and 30¢. Talcam 2%¢. Sample each free. Addven; “Caticurs,” Dept. B6, Malden, Mass, BEE Cuttewrs Shaving Stick 28e.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers