“THE
GOOD BAD
GIRL"
—BY—
' WINIFRED VAN 1)1 ZEN
- i ——— J
Chapter 2(>
■ There was a flay m April when
grotesque fever images 'scurried
away and disappeared behind an ivory
tinted wall.
Sweetness hung where they had
been. By a tremendous effort M imsi
moved her head. She saw a hea: of
roses on a table by the bedstead i'nor.
The roses were deep red.
Instantly a starchy cap was mid
ding above her. .The nurse said,
“Well, that’s fine. Well,, dear me,
that’s fine! He’ll be delighted sure
enough.'
With another effort that spread a
cold band of moisture across her fore
head, Minisi whispered, “Wliats hap- 1
pened to me? Whose place is this?
Merle—’’
“Well, don’t talk now, -dearie.
You’ve been ill. Well, go back to
sleep now—.’’
She was already drowsing when she
beard the nurse at the telephone
“ , , conscious now . . well,
you11 come right away .
When she awakened again she felt
stronger, less as if she were in a
dream. Someone was sitting beside
her, pressing her hand.
“Perry? Why Perry!’’
He held her hand to his lips; she
saw that he could not speak.
“Dear Perry! She said I’d been ill.
I feel so weak—heavy—’’
' “Dear Mimsi^Iftimsi! God'! I’ll
never forgive myself! If you'd let
me known—just u word. You—I love
you more than anything in the world
—and you like that. While 1 had so
much. Your foolish pride!
, “It was my fault. I was hurt *
your letter hurt—and 1 d'dn’t stand
by. I’ll make up to you, though. Ah,
forgive, darling; . .
Sh'e laid her fingers against his
cheek, held them over his eyes. They
were wet. That Perry should mind
£$! She began to sob miserably
,‘,“No Mimsi—oh my Lord, don’t do
that! You’re never going to cry
jigain!” He took hold of her arms,
•soothing her as if she had Ween a
baby.
“This is your apartment. Perry.
How did 1 get here- I don’t remem
ber—has it been long—”
. “Oh weeks and weeks, sweetheart.
'You came—I don’t know how. They
•saw you sitting in the Park all that
afternoon. It’s your apartment now.
Anything I can give you—everything
,is your. Lovely little kid!’’
“There must have been doctors and
’the nurse ... I can’t repay you.
Oh, what ant I going to do? Things
all went wrong—’’
’ “You’ll repay me by not worrying.
.‘Better have a little nap now.’
She learned from the nurse that
Perry had moved out hte night she
came there. The place had been
turned into a small hospital and
there’d been a famous specialist each,
day for a time. Everything had bee n
.done for her; no expense spared.
‘Perry was a real friend, the purse
declared.
When hfc came the next day it was
t.o say good-bye. lie was going to
Bermuda and later would spend some
'dine, months probably, in California.
, I The nurse was to remain with
Mimsi; she would look after the
I h|ouse later on, see that his “lovely
little kid’’ got well. She was to take
her time recovering.
, "My roadster is in a garage around
>the corner,’’ he said. You’re to use
’ it when you feel strong enough to
drive. A run up into the country
every day—I’ve left directions.
. "And don’t be offended, rwcethcait.
You’ll need things. I’ve opened chavg '
. pccounts for you. 1 want you to have
■ the best.’’
, “Oh, Perry!
“Just to please me. It isn't much
' for you to do—just have pretty
things. I love you, Mimai!”
. She was too languid to move ..oort.
100 listless to try to think things out
< in the days after he left. She sat i t
the window all day, grateful for ihe
warm sunlight that set her hair
n-ilatne, contented to drift along m
. \he tide of fortune.
! ( Sitting thus, with the nurse dusting
bric-a-brac, pushing up satin pillows,
putting to rights the colorful luxury
pround her, Mirasi saw her life in
JNew York ds a series of crazy pic
tures.
. It was rs if everything had hap
pened to romeone else; as if she had
re*d of it in a book. Sometimes she
thought of Merle. But he, too, was '
one of the pictures, only more poig
nant then the rest . . .
* When Perry was beginning to seem i
vague and dreamlike, the collie came.
• A superb creature, pure white, with
«* sliver plate on his collar, engrave!
.vvith the name, “Luck,” Mimsi put
*h«r arms around him and he thiust u
cold muscle into her neck,
i, That Afternoon she said she w uld
walk out intp Washington Square.
^The nurse sets about making elabor
ate preparations for the venture. A
Jn*p, an alcohol ruby.qoantitles of hot
chicken broth.
. Then she brought out a fur wrap,
a garment of soft golden pelts beau
BSr3®85™®*™*''
tifully matched .with deep collar and
.•uffs. It was like the cnyt Mined lira!
.cin in a Fifth Avenue window one
night and coveted, contlasting it with
hoi ihrend-hare ulster.
Hut I can’t wear anythin? so <rer
r (on:-,"’ she protestoil.
‘•Weil indeed you t-anf Mr, Willy
brought it litre hiiosc!". lie said i'
Niited you, .*11(1 so it ovc-. Well, put
d on now, dearie.”
So Mimsi again sat on the pnik
bench where she had shivered .hrmgh
r.n outcast aiternocn. Hut. now she
warmed by precious furs, ar c! a whhv
ccdlie romped at her feet.
< hnpter 27
Spring canto slowly to N’ew Yi rk
that year. There would be a few lay s
ef warm sunshine and then a period
of January-like fold, with lowci U.g
skies and bitter winds.
And Mint«i’s spirits^ like the
strength returning slowly to Ik r
body, rose end fell with the mercury.
-On bright days, she wrapped her
self in the fur eoat and put on a parky
little ha. -copper tinted to blend viMi
her hair—and strolled on the avenue
with Tuck stepping at her side.
• She was one of hundred* of women
in fur coats who spent their ali.-i
noons leading dogs up and down the
Avenue. They were all of a stamp.
F.ut some—those , who moved with
rather forced strightlinc ■ -were too
massaged, too carefully* coif fed, too
sleekly groomed, too patently gasp,
mg at impatient youth. And these
had a certain look in their eyes,
Mined came to ( all it, to herself, I be
“waiting look."
Occasionally she stopped in s. e
eVotic little tea room and ordwcl
food which she left untouched.
The e were the days when thoughts
whirled round and round in her head:
thought: never to be caught and f< re
ed into orderly procession.
One thing -one set of words—kept
recurring. Night and day they beat
at her ears, flashed as, if on a print
ed nnge before her eyes.
“Destiny is drawing close. He will
come hack and 1 must listen to him
then. 1 must accept him. It was wlmt
I
lie had in his mind. He was kind and
I must repay.”
It occurred to her that she mi^i.t
dodge the issue; run away, even drop (
out of it all. Those little white tab- j
lets the nurse doled out so charity,
an extra little, white tablet ■ .eh ;
what use? Something luyound her j
control drove her. That something
would send Perry back, and she woutd i
accept hint . . .
A woman rushed up to her on the '
itreet me day and kissed her with )
gurgles of enthusiasm. It took he - a
moment to recognize Nita.
“Why you clever little kid! So yen ‘
put it over—at last! (!:>?h, you look j
sniffy!” !
‘‘Put. over what, Nita? What arc1
you talking about?"
“That’s all right, dear. We’re all in j
the same bout. Things get around, j
Folks chatter. But say, didn't I fell i
yen Perry was a good number?”
Mini -i understood then. Already
they were saying—but what difference
(,id it make? A little sooner or later i
. . .She tisked Nila about her
self.
“tint the grandest little snuggery
you ever laid eyes on,” confided Nita.
“Not quite so much coin as Bill si ting
- round but enough. And believe i :f>
I've got better sense these'days. Salt
ing something away, you bet. Fur
instance—” She loosed her collar and
displayed a string of pearls. “Set
Jimmy hack something but I should
care!”
After than an intimacy was struck |
up, lack a daisenl on the part of
Mltnsi. Nita was exuberant enough,
however.
They walked • together afternoons,
leading Luck, and mornings when
Nita was not engaged with various
beauty doctors, lounged among
Perry's satin pillows. Nila smoked
iocessartly and Mimsi gradually took
on the habit. She hated the taste if
tobacco and the smoke burned bee
i yes. But she constantly fought a
gnawing restlessness and lighting
cigarettes was something to do.
They wandered up to Broadway one
afternoon, crossed Forty-second street,
L. E. RUDISILL
Democratic Candidate For
Solicitor.
Born in Catawba County, 1882,;
and reared in Lincoln County,;
son of Confederate veteran.1
Graduate of Lenoir • College, i
University of N. C. and Colum
bia University, New York City
Law training, University of N.
C. and Columbia University.
Instructor in High Schoolt
Newton and Lineolnton, one
year each. Professor of English,
Lenoir College, one year. Prac
tised law at Lineolnton and
Morganton 8 years. City At
torney, Morganton, 2 years.
Volunteer Private in U. S. Army
in 1918.
Resident and Practicing Attor
ney of Lineolnton, since 1925.
i
IF NOMINATED AND ELECTED:
I will not engage in Private Practice.
I will have no Partnership for any purpose.
I will not act as Private Counsel for any person, Firm or
Corporation.
The Salary Of The Office Is Sufficient.
I I shall not Prosecute because of Fersonal Hatred;
I shall not refuse to Prosecute because of Fear, Favor or
Reward.
I shall strive to bring the truth to light whether it helps 1
the State or the Defendant. . ;
'YOUR SUPPORT WILL BE APPRECIATED;
U._j
CASH FOR POULTRY
The Bureau of Markets, Raleigh, An
nounces the loading of a Car of Poultry at
the Seaboard Depot, Shelby,
THURSDAY, MAY 27TH
The following CASH prices to be paid:
Heavy Hens.. 25c. lb.
Leghorn Hens . 23c lb.
Colored Broilers.35c lb.
Leghorn Broilers.. 30c lb.
Cocks . .... ... 12c lb.
Remember the date: Thursday. May 27th,
at the Seaboard Depot, Shelby.
and dropped into one of the smart
restaurants where a tea dance was ,i.>
progress. The music and lights and
general air of careless gayety took
Mimsi out. of herself, cheered her as*
lonishlnglv.
“Oh, I love it, Nita!" she cried.
We must conic often. I've been too
long by myself. Tomorrow I’M go
shopping; get something pretty to
weai.”
“.lust like that, eh?” grinned Nita.
“1 told you Perry was 'pgulnr. Tak«
my advice, dear; salt it away. A
string of pearls or ^'aniond or t’vo.
Specially at the start when they're
loose as feathers.’
Mimsi felt red creeping up her
throat. After all, this was tinsel pay
ed y. It tarnished quickly. There were
new lines in Nita’s face and her eh:r
v.as beginning to sap. That look,
the “waiting look" soon would be ir
her eyes,
“She is on the down grade,” Mimsi
thought. “Only n few wears and or.
the down grade. Am I going to be
like that?"
Nevertheless even tinsel gayety
seemed better than blankness. “Tho '
thing the moment sends—’” So j
Mints! visited the Avenue shops and !
ordered with a prodicn? Iint.d.
There were simple and staggeringb"
expensive little afternoon frocks, leaf 1
green and red gold; evening gowis 1
of satin crepe and chiffon; slippers
with flashing buckles; small, pelt j
hi ts; a silk wrap trimmed with cm: i
eh ilia.
“Charge them, Ma’m’selle?” mur
mured the saleswoman, pencil above I
her pad.
“Oh vos, please I—I’m Mi . si
Marsh.”
“Yes, Ma'm’selle."
Mimsi heard her speaking to some- j
one—the manager probably—benir/l
a partition.
He said, “It's all right. Miss Mur.-h !
i* a model. Perry pays her bids.''
A rustling followed. It might have !
been smothered laughter.
To Be Continued.
Copyright lf»26-Kings Features Syn
dicate, Inc.
Says James B. Duke
Saw Far Into Futur«
Wanted To Make Piedmont Greatest
Industrial Center In
World
Charlotte, May 22.—Through Die j
mind of Janies B. Duke as he built in
dustry after industry in Piedmont
| Carolina was running the visions < * j
| what he intended to do with the funds
created by these industries!* declared!
| W. S. Lee, viee-presient of the Sou
thern Power company and for 20 years
i;,r* intimate .'“sociaie of Mr. Duke in
i n address Thursday before the Ki
j wan is Club, "lie always told us,"
said Mr. Lee, “that he never intend
ed taking a penny of the income of
the power companies. Gentlemen h
never did. Up until this year the Duke
Power company, which is the holding
company for the power groups, had
never paid a dividend. Instead the,
earnings have been turned back irto
creating more industries. Now funds j
from all these holdings will go to pro
M,.e hosprtalliation equipment for the
Carolina*.
“It was Mr. Pil e's : 'brtion to
make Piedmont Carolina the greater
industrial center of the world. To
ward that ehd he gave his energies
without sparing and without gain to
himself. In ihe end he turned the.-e
industries to the use of the social
body.
“Mr. Duke discussed the disposal
of his fortune with us, his business
associates, for ten yearn before the
creation of the Puke Endowmnent..
Every detail received his attention
He studied the situation- fend knew
exactly how he' wanted tbe' fund al
lotted:
Religion, war and politics unite
people, but lew ties compare with
that between fellow chicken fanciers.
Never puncture the e|fo of a n-an
who Works for you. You can’t travel
far on a flit.
The making of a great nation re
quires either great resources or cotrt*
plete obedience.
'J1.AJ.1 WLij—jest?
A New Motor Fuel
BEGINNING today an entirely new motor fuel ie a*
sale at “Standard” Service Stations and Dealers. It it
called ESSO.
We distinguish it by a name of its own because it is mere
powerful than gasoline. However, ESSO is not intended
to displace “Standard” Gasoline. “Standard” Gasoline is so
reliable and satisfactory a product it is the ideal fuel lor
normal motor conditions. ESSO is manufactured to meet
special conditions such as the following:
For Motors that Knock
For Motors with Carbon Accumulation
For High Compression Motors
For Motors that Have Lost Efficiency
Through Long Service
For Motors Operating Under Excessive
Loads
For any Car from which the Owner
Demands Super-Service
The only way to determine ^whether you need ESSO is to
test it in your own car. Use the gasoline in your tank dotoit
to the last gallon or so. Then fill up with ESSO. Test your
car in traffic and note the pick-up. Test it on the hills—pref*
erably on some hill where you already know how the Car
has performed with gasoline. This will give you a direct com*
pari son. Then after a few days decide whether you Want to
buy ESSO regularly or stick to “Standard” Gasoline.
Many will find that “Standard” Gasoline meets their need»
perfectly. It is a matter for each individual to decide, according
to the condition of his car and the service he demanda of k.
ESSO is red in color to distinguish it from
Gasoline. Costs 5c a gallon above gasoline * .
—but worth it. Look for the ESSO pump.
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STANDARD OIL COMPANY (Now Jersey)