Chapter 5
Merit* Lengel held his exhibition in
February. His pictures wen* hung
in a gallery on -Park Avenue and 1
Mim.si longed to attend. Yet some
thing held her hack; something like -
a curious shrink from a meeting
with Merit*.
*iut' m in (i ri ; v. «u k lunvrti iw:»tu
by White's friends and nearly fill of
them acclaimed Ids genius. She
understood that many of his paint- i
ings had been sold, and wondered if
he would give up the shabby studio;
on Madison avenue now for some
thing more in keeping: with Ids new j
!-'standing in the art world, tind his ■
^iew prosperity.
It was on the last day of the ex- '
hibition that he visited the prudery.
She went early in the morning, \
thinking to avoid an encounter with
the artist.
The hip rooms were empty and she
wandered ah out with keen enjoy
ment. She was fascinated by the
subjects and rather astonished by
their masterful handling. In u nook
she came upon woodland scenes
somehow familiar; .one showed a j
clearing among trees where the light
was yellow above a river. And far ,
away, among the trunks of white j
birch was the strif^d awning of « !
tent.
‘‘Why—it couldn’t be!” She
thought. “It just couldn't be! But
it’s ull here; all here before me. The
woods outside Tranquillity! There's
the river hank where 1 saw Trixie j
that day through the pine needles; j
there’s the knoll where 1 sat and (
watched the artist in his corduroys
and flannel shirt with the easel over
hia shoulder. Merle! And I never
guessed it; never guessed the tent in
the clearing was his!
“I wanted to go thorp that day.
Why didn’t l? Together in the soli
tude we might have won back the old
urglerstanding . . .”
Yet Merle hadn’t told her he was
going to Tranquility; he hadn't writ
ten as he promised. Was it because
he feured she might come there! that
she might find his camp? Was he
avoiding a meeting with her?
“But why did he go there? So near
my home—and there are other places
for an artist. He was interested in
, Tranquillity; he like the name so. I
don’t understand—”
She was turning to leave when she
felt him beside her. His success
hadn’t altered his appearance, at
least; he was the same did carelessly
groomed, boyish figure, with the
whimsical smile.
Tie stood holding the hand she had
offered in greeting and smiling at the
picture. “Do you like it, Mimsi? A
r lovely place by the silver river. I
ttnrgoing back again when the leaves
nt-e green.’’
Not a Word about Tranquillity! “He
'doesn’t want me to know,” she
* thought, and talked about the beauty
. of his Work; told how glad who was
i for him. She caught a look of eag
’ cmess in his eyes as she glanced up
unexpectedly, and something else
that she couldn’t explain.
“I’d say it was sadness, if I didn’t
fcfiow that he couldn’t be sad now
■When he has his success. How firm
his chin is, almost stubborn! And
there’s a little band of gray over his
temple. That has come since 1 saw
him last—’’
She toucneii tne narai c.i kiu.>
drew hack her hand, flushing.
Mimsi saw a tain the expression
She couldn't explain, waited breath
lessly for him to say the words she
felt were upon his lips. But he hes
itated, smiled, and declared he was
petting old.
She said, “Merle, there’s some
thing I’d like to have you know. I've
talked to you so much, told you so
many th'ngs. It’s about Perry. I ve
been earning, you see; doing com
mercial work and a little posing. I vc
discharged my debt. I've sent him the
money he spent for me. I sort ot
wanted you to know."
“That's fine, \lim*i. My gee, that's
fine! Nice, of you to tell me!"
Friendly interest in his smile and
it hurt her somehow. She didn’t
ktidw nuip*y£ut she had expected
him to sty—'what she wanted him to
say. Latet she was sorry she had told
him. What reason had she for think
ing he Would care because she was
free of obligation to Perry? She
bhiShed with resentment for what she
Saw as her own blundering.
He thanked her rather formally for
the visit and that hurt, too. In the
old days he’d have taken her pres
ence for granted , • .
The next time she saw him she was
standing at the curb waiting to cross
Fifth Avenue. A resplendent limou
sftwf moved past slowly; Connie Duel
totted oh the cushions holding a cig
arette, Merle beside her.
•He bowed with his friendly smile,
but Miss Duer only stared.
Chapter 55
On a bleak morning of early Spring.
Mimsi set out for the publishing
S house with a bundle of fashion draw
ings. Her thoughts, as usual, were
busy with her work; she pushed into
1 the subway and stood in tin- crowded
! Vestibule. '
Everybody was poring over news
papers; she wondered idly what new
thing had happened to excite such
rather shocked interest. 'Two young
women, sharing a front page, kept
i jai Lilaling; ohe- of them said, ‘'Well,
:t's what they gotta expect girls like
that one!"
Then the folded page fell back mid
Mitnsi saw parts of headlines: "Wo
man slain; robbed . . brutally
beaten
The train halted at Fort" -second
street and the crowd poured out.
She found a seat, picked up a news
paper that someone had abandoned,
and began to read the account rf the
murder.
Out of the first paragraph a name
.jumped at her; it seemed to rear it
self and grow wider and blacker until
■t filled her vision. Nita Mo>i!
• No, No! Oh, no!" The words roared
in her brain; she tried to say them,
to deny what was printed oil the page
that waved as if blown in a wind. Hut
her lips were numb; the words would
n't be formed. And her teeth knock
ed together.
The train stopped at the Pennsyl
vania station; sho found herself wan
der ng about the platform, carrying
the newspaper. It was unfolded, and
it kept brushing against people, tear
ing at tin* edges.
She gathered it Up. shielded it care
fully in her arms. Then she was on
another train; she saw the corner of
West End avenue; she was in the
apartment—in the bedroom with the
door locked.
one npreau inc crumpled puper on
the bed; went over the story slowly,
dragging her fingers along the lines
as she read.
"It's true, then, I’m not dreaming.
She war, 'murdered last night. Nita!
They called her a “Broadway Butter
fly" and say her wings were broken.
Nita. killed last night! And I’m read
ing about it, and yet I can’t under
stand, someway—”
She worked again through the col
umns whispering the words. When
the colored maid who eared for Nitu’a
apartment arrived early in the morn
ing, the place was in disorder. Every
drawer had been turned 'inside out;
clothes were strewn about and things
broken. It looked as if a maniac had
been running at large.
And in the bedroom the maid had
found the “Mori woman, a familiar
figure in the gay night life of the
city," lying upon the bed with a silk
stocking bound tightly over her mouth.
The room reeken with chloroform.
The woman had not given up her
life without a struggle. The body
was br.uised and battered; rings had
been wrenched from the fingers with
such force as to leave them broken;
there was a long gash across the tem
ple. ,
Mimsi thought of the yellow faced
man, remembered the look in his
eyes when he saw the emerald on her
throat and came stealing forward.
Luck had saved her then, but Nita had
no such protector.
"It might have been me! They
might have found me lying like that
the morning after he came here!
Someone like him—some man prowl
ing in the night—found out about her
jewels. She’d bought a great many,
•salting something away," she said.
Perhaps Jimmy . . he might have
been drinking and angry— ’
She went down to the street, forcing
herself to seem calm, and bought noon
editions. They carried longer stories
with more details; pictures of Nita
were spread over the pages. Some
of them printed what purported to be
the life tale of the murdered girl,
though Mimsi saw that none of it
Corresponded with what Nita had
told her; one paper showed a blurred
picture of a man over the label,
“Peter Mori.”
As Mimsi read on. she sensed a new
♦urn in the story’s unfolding and her
horror turned to panic. Reporters and
pol.ee had dug up the record of the
slain girl's intimates. Bill’s name was
mentioned, but it had been ascertain
ed that Mrs. Mori had broken with him
for a mysterious “Jimmy.” Ardent let
ters s'gned "Jimmy” were printed.
Police regarded of utmost import
A VIRTUE
OF
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When an eye strain obliges,
you to wear glasses for the
pru'ecV’un of your eyes—let
us help you obtain all the
gratification possible from the
necessity bv fitting you with
glasras which are becoming.
We prepare the lenses and,
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■ I;
Dr. D. M. Morrison ,
Eye Specialist & Optometrist.’
Nbxt Door To1 Kelly Clothing
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Telephone 585.
SHELBY, N. C.
—GOOD GLASSES PAY—
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1 a nee the story they hoped soon to ob
tain from a former close friend of
the slain butterfly, a young woman
who had been seen with her constant
ly as they both fluttered under the
White lights. Broadway characters
were of the impression that the two
had quarreled. Police wished to ask
the young woman why.
She would be easily found, it was
said, since she was everywhere con
spicuous by reason of her extraordi
nary red hair!
To Be Continued .
Copyright 1926 Kin.'i Features Syn
dicate, Inc.
Science says that, of all sounds, a
baby’s cry has the greatest carrying
power. Aral dad i the carrier.
Trying to impart knowledge to the
fellow who knov/s it. all is wasted en
ergy because he can’t absorb it.
Vote for Spurgeon
Spurling for Solicitor
Saturday, July 3. A man
reared here in Cleve
land and a Christian
gentleman and m a n
worthy of your support.
Pleasant Grove Items
Of Community Interest
(Special to The Star.)
The crops are looking fine in this
i community since the rain which fell
about aweek ago. * WJ,
Mr. Lowell Barnett of Shelby de
livered a fine sermon at Pleasant
drove Sunday night, his subject. be
ire “.Jesus Christ and Him Crucified”.
Miss America Hendrick spent Sun
day with Misses Callage and Wray
11 nvle.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris Wil
liams a fine son.
Miss Marie Costner visited Misses
Valirec and Vetus Costner Sunday
afternoon.
Miss Kula William spent Sunday
with her cousin Miss t.ena William*.
Mr. Clem Costner and family sr~nt
the week end with Mr. and Mrs. Cle.n
Kendrick of near Shelhy.
Misses DoveTelina Glagcoe and Ruby
\yright spent Sunday with Misses
Lovetta and Virgin Hoyle.
Mrs. Yates Costner and little
daughter Corinne Were visitors in the
community the oast week.
Miss Vprtie GlaSfo s.nent Sunday
with Misses Jmrue and Kudora Hoyle.
Misses Veins and Lucv Mae Cost
1 '
ner spent Wednesday T»ijrV»t with Mr.
and Mrs. Grady Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Grig's and lit
tie daughter 'Aileen spent Sunday
with Mrs. Gfigg's parents Mr. and
Mrs. Kim Williams.
Little Miss Norma Canipeof Shelby
spent last week with Her grandmotii
er, Mrs. W. P. Costner.
Rorn to Mr. and Mrs. Vertis Wil
liams a fine sun, Jack.
Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Hamrick o;
Fallston spent Sunday with Mr. Ham
rick's parents, Mr. an 1 Airs. Thomp
son Hamrick.
The B. Y. P. U. is progressing
nicely at Pleasant Grove they met
Sunday night and elected new offi
cers, as follows: President, Miss
America Hendrick; vice president,
Miss Lena Williams; secretary Mr.
Dcwrel Glasco.
TRY STAR WANT ADS.
BOILING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
Situated at the foot of tho Blue Ridge Mountains.
A standard co-ed ucational high school with brick
buildings, steam b at, electric lights, college trained
teachers, unsurpassed literary societies, well organized
religious activities, and an active athletic association
under direction or an able coach.
Two literary courses are offered with special depart
ments in Piano, Voice, Art, China Painting, Household
Arts and Bible.
Expenses, including board, tuition, room rent, heat,
lights and incidentals, $198.10 for the entire nine months.
For catalogue and information apply to—
J. D. HUGGINS, Principal,
BOILING SPRINGS, N. ( .
I
Take a tip from the
Six famous cooks who
tested Perfection.
Be cool!
Hot days are coming! Escape sizzlingI
kitchens and wood or coal drudgery. 5##
famous cooks recommend the Perfection
for cool cooking: Here's what they say.
rpHE food gets all the heat—the
A kitchen none,” says Miss Rosa
Michaelis, New Orleans cooking ex
pert. “in the Perfection burner,” she
explains, “the heat is confined directly
to the bottom of the cooking pot. That
means cool cooking!”
Mrs. Belle DeGraf, the San Francisco
authority, suggests Perfection “top
stove” cooking for hot summer days.
Least Time, Least Heat
“When I fried chicken, glazed sweet
potatoes and boiled pineapple pudding,”
she relates, “I used only the top of the
Perfection.The food cooked quickly and
efficiently — and of course, the shorter
the cooking time, the cooler the
kitchen.” That means cool cooking.
“Y es, and remember,” adds Mrs. Kate
B. Vaughn, famous Los Angeles Home
hconomist, “the least fire in your stove
through the day, the cooler the kitchen.
With Perfections no time is lost in heat
generation because cookift& begins with
the toufch of a match to the wick.”
No Hot Extra Work
“Then, too, the Perfection saves a world
of extra work,” says Mrs. Sarah Tyson
Rorer, pioneer cooking specialist of
Philadelphia, “no wood or coal to carry
in nor ashes to carry out.”
At Battle Creek College of Home Eco
nomics, the nutrition expert, Margaret
Allen Hall, speaks of still another “no
extra work” point.
“The Perfection,” says Miss Hall, “is
easily moved from one room to an*
other. Move it to the summer kitchen,
out on the back porch—wherever it’s
coolest. \ ou don’t need to bake yourself
while cooking meals.”
Cool to Work With
The “single row” arrangement of Per
fection burners gives you another^ad
vantage. Miss Lucy Q. Allen of the
Boston School of Cookery notices this.
“With the Perfection,” she makes clear,
there is no reaching across hotHames
as with a gas or coal range. You stay
away from the direct heat, yourself.”
Tom can fcscape all those things ’that
make summer cooking the most un
pleasant of hot tasks. Your dealer wilt
show you the Perfection'today—from
the one-burner model at *6./5 to the five
burner range at *!20. Six famous cooks
tested this stove thoroughly and now
pronounce it ideal for hot
weather. “Buy a Perfection,”
they say, “be cool!”
Manufactured by
Perfection Stove Co.
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W ARNING: Use only genuine Perfection
>vick9 on Perfection Stoves. They are marked
with red triangle. Others will cause trouble.
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I
PERFECTIONS
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In the Kltihen
01*^6 Famous Groks
i EASY MEALS FOR HOT
WEATHER
| < Editor’s Note: This is one article in fcn
j. unusual rooking series contributed to this
1 )>aper by six famous cooks.)
| Where is the woman, who
enjoys cooking hearty meals
in hot weather ? We doubt if
such a woman exists. She
may cook big meals because
miss Rosa
I * michaeus
some members
of her family
who toil hard
demand them,
but certainly
not because she
herself derives
any real pleas
ure from hot
weather cook
ing.
With a little planning and
forethought, however, many
of the discomforts of cpoking
in hot weather can be avoided.
For instance, as Miss Rosa
Michaelis, New Orleans domes
tic science specialist, points
out, an oil stove is much
easier to work with than a
coal or wood range.
“It is rhuch more conveni
ent,” she says. “It needs no
dues,” and hence may be taken
to the coolest part of the
house easily, as it is not very
heavy.
Juit a Little Planning
"The woman who gets her kitchen
work done early in the morning, and
moat of her rood prepared," con
l tinuea Miss Michaelis, "i» the coolest
cook. She just needs to do a little
simple planning.
"The fewer roasts and baked
dishes ir. the summer, the cooler the
j kitchen. I recommend uncooked
I desserts mostly, too. Fruits are all
I one needs during the hot w'eatlier."
In the summer tjme Miss Michaelis
does as much of her cooking as pos-,
slble on the top of the stove, using
only as many burners as are abso
lutely necessary. '
"If a woman feels she irks to
hake." Miss Michaelis says, "she
should not use her oven every day
in i lie week during hoi weather, but
j ka .e enough to last several days or
I a week.”
A dinner which Miss Michaelis
, recommends as particularly easy to
prepare in hot weather is all cooked
in one pot. It conserves utensils,
| time and fuel.
I
A Dinner in One Kettle
I To prepare it. take a soup pot
filled wftli enough water to cover
i three pounds of brisket. Season
» ith salt. After the soup has boiled
j for an hour, lower the tlartie and let
it simmer for half an hour. Add
i one bunch of carrots' a bunch of
I turnips and a pound of potatoes,
| and cook for another half hour.
Y.'hen ready, take out carrots.
* Dice and sprinkle with chopped
parsley. Take out turnips and foasli
with butter, addins; a teaepoon of
sugar if desired.
Serve potatoes mashed. Take out
meat and fry with onions, or ssrvs
with a tomato sauce.
Add a Salad and Dartert
Sow with a salad, dessert, and
beverage, one has a complete meal.
Including soup, and all cooked on
one flame!
For salad. Miss MIchaelis suggests
pears halved, on lettuce lekves, cov
ered with French dressing. Fruit
makes a good deSBeri to accompahy
this easy meal.
Another Every Meal
Mrs. Sarah Tyson Rorer. ths
famous Philadelphia cooking expert.
gives the; menu for a simple meal
which takes hiu. an hour to prepare.
It's a vegetable dinner. Mrs. Rorer
gives proportions for - seevtar fbtor.
Fried squash
Hutched cabbage
Chili sauce
Candied sweet potatoes
Panned apples
Watermelon
"Go to the kitchen at o'clock, if
dinner Is to be served at 12," says
Mrs Rorer. "If you use oil, your
stove is ready for Immediate use.
Light two burners, and put on two
saucepans half full of water.
Cover, and turn to full heat.
"Wash five medium sized sweet
potatoes. Chop fine one gmall hard
head of cabbage. The water is now
boiling in both pans. Put the po
tatoes in one and cover Add a tea
spoon of salt to the other, and put
in the cabbage.- Turn flame down
and cook cabbage uncovered for
naif an hour.
"Slice three tart apples in a bak
ing dish. Add half a oup of sugar,
and partly cover with water. Light
oven burner, and aft?r three min
utes put apples on upper rack, cov
ering the dish.
10 Candy (A* SuMeft
"The sweet potatoes are now ten
der. Drain, peel, and cut them m
halves. Place In shallow baking
pan. adding two tablespoons of
butter, four of sugar, ahd four of
water. Put pan In oven under the
apples.
"Put four tablespoons bf cooking
fat li> a shallow frying pan over
one burh'er. Drain cabbage and re
turn to MUoepan. Add a tablespoon
of butter, three of vinegar, half a
teaspoon of. Salt, and a dash of
pepper. Cover to kee warm.
“Fry the sqaash and drain on
brownpaper. Turn the sweet pota
toes. Take out the apple* Dish the
squash. Dish tne cabbage and
sweet potatoes. Turn out all the
burners.
"This Is a very simple meal to
prepare." Mrs. Rorer conclude*
“And,1 even though you do use the
oven, it Is for such a short time
that the kitchen does not become
excessively heated.”
If you take the advice of famous
cooks, you will keep your'summer
cooking as simple'as possible.
doesn’t pay t.o work too hard in the
kitchen In hot Weather.