Evening Star Newspaper, December 4, 1934, Page 26

DAILY SHORT STORY: STACE CLAMOUR Leonard Had Used Lola for a Meal Ticket, So She Exposed Him to Her Beautiful Understudy. BY FLORA SNYDER. OLA, featured dancer with the newest a n d smartest musical revue, was seated at her dressing ta- ble, making up An orchid silk ki- mono only partly concealed her ex- quisite body. Hester, her elder- ly colored maid, was arranging blond ringlets high on her mistress’ head. The muffled sounds that pene- trated the small brilliantly lighted room were distin- guishable as voices, the thump of shifting scenery and a violin obl- but were with a romantic scar — talked of marriage?” l “Yes — then as my manager—he'll m e me a great success. “I see” mur-| mured Lola from behind an enor- ! mous puff and, smoke ecreen of | powder. Then her| tone and manner | changed. “I've de- | cided to give you i chance, my dear, in your own way.” ¥ “Oh, you dar- ling!” “Go bring this wonderful man in, here, quick, so we| can get rid of him | before they call| half hour — you/| know the rule.” | ly as notice- IS YOUR DISGUISE GLIPPING?" The girl fairly! able as the odor of grease paint with- in the room Lola finished aplying rouge and nz into the mirror a moment oke in her throaty voice, vou've raised a family—did you ever have one born dcad?” “Oh., no'm, mine was all born a kickin', praise de Lawd!” ‘ Lola’s mext words were tremulous, “Mine was born dead—five years ago —but I often see some lovely youn2 girl such as I hope she might have become—if she had lived—" A knock at the door interrupted and Hester answered it. A slim girl in a green sport outfit hurried past the bulky figure to speak in nervouse haste. “Miss Lola, I want | to ask you something—a great favor —but it means, oh, so much to me—" | Lola met the wide blue eyes re-| flected in the mirror with a quick, responsive, “Go ahead.” “Will you let me do your solo num- | ber in the first act tomorrow matinee I'm Betty, your understudy.” | Lola impatiently waved Hester into the background and drawled sarcas- tically. “Well. that's the most amazing request I ever heard!” She looked up into the eager face beside her. *Oh. you're the line dancer who stands in wings during my numbers.” “Yes, I know every move of your routine. I practice mornings in the thea 1 must succeed——" P , “Well. you see. I chose a career— instead of marrying the boy I was engaged to—back home ™ “Is he going to be out front to- morrow matinee?” “No, it’s my dancing teacher, who thinks I have a great future—and if I prove to him that I can hold an audience—alone—and g0 over big— he’ll put me in a New York produc- | tion. He arrived in town today and | is waiting at the stage door—now.” “The nerve of him to put you up to this!” “Oh. it's my own idea! I spoke to Phil. the stage manager, first, but he laughed and dared me to ask you.” “Are you in love with this man?” “I hardly know—I'm not sure—I! haven't known him long. He's at- tractive—charming manners—has a | romantic-looking scar on his cheek— got it in the war—he told me about it.” | Lola took time to place a dot of red | in the corner of each eye before she spoke sharply: Has this man | SNEERED THE MAN. | to you—under a different name.” | Betty. we don't have to listen to the | to go, but Lola backed against the | door and faced her. | back with a red-hot curling iron— danced from the room “A lovely—young—girl,” Lola soft- 1y commented. “She suah am. Miss Lola, but you'all bettah quit dreamin’ and git into dis yeah rumba dress 'fore dey gits ba heah —it takes some wras- tlin'—" While they worked in frantic haste, Lola said. “Hester. vou leave the| room while they're here.” “Yas'm.” When the knock came. Hester ad- mitted the girl and a tall, distin- guished looking man. Then she went out and closed the door. Lola stood, gorgeous in her sparkling dance costume, ready to say, “How do yvou do, Leonard Sargent?” “Mildred!” exclaimed the aston- ished man. *“I didn't know that you—" “Probably not. After our divorce I went abroad—as a brunette, and came back a blond success—no thanks “Is your disguise slipping?” sneered the man. “No. but yours is—since I've dis- covered that you are using the same technique with this lovely young girl that you worked on me at her age— with a career as bait—it’s your meal- ticket racket——" The man was furious. “Come, ravings of a jealous woman.” The frightened girl made no move “Hear me, Betty! The time I was ill—had to be carried off the stage —he struck me, and it wasn't the first time, either. but that time I hit and gave him that romantic-looking scar, which he tells you he got in the war.” “You she devil!” The man’s face was livid. “Let me go—let me go——" cried the girl, wildly. “No. wait!" commanded Lola. “You wouldn't have believed me if I'd told you behind his back. Now he's at liberty to tell you his side—in my | hearing.” The man’s anger blazed. *“To hell with you!" He thrust Lola aside and flung himself out of the room. Lola gathered the sobbing girl into | her arms. “There, there, pull your- self together now for the performance, and smile—see how I'm doing it!” “I can’t! I can't! I married him this morning.” (Copyrizht. 1034.) JUDGE FINES HIMSELF | NICKERSON, Kans. (#).—The first man caught after the Nickerson City Council adopted an ordinance forbid- ding parking in the center of Main street was Justice of the Peace J. P.| Freeman. | City Marshal Stafford escorted Jus- tice Freeman into his own court, where he pleaded guilty, fined himself and paid. PEER \ CLERIC-SCIENTIST DIES LONDON, December 4 (#).—The death Sunday of Rev. Thomas Henry Espinell Compton, clergyman and noted astronomer, was announced here today. PFor many years he was the vicar of Towlaw. In 1910 he discovered a new star, “Neva Lacertae,” which greatly interested astronomers, and also found more than 100 double stars. LEJSS DOLL CARRIAGE Sturdy metal bound Ghre with rubber tire wheels. $1.89 PAY NEXT YEAR Finished GATELEG TABLE Choice of mahogany or wal- nut . , . » real value for $9.85 PAY NEXT YEAR 31250 W, dhfi ; COFFEE TABLE | Beautifully made of solid walnut. Greatly reduced to $7.95 PAY NEXT YEAR FURNITURECO. 821 TTH STREET Washinjtan's Largest furniture Store TrE EvisninG STAR, WASHINGTO! , D. C, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1934 a. 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