The evening world. Newspaper, December 10, 1921, Page 16

4: THE EVENING WORLD'S FICTION SECTION, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1921. he didn't—he never did, the poor dear. He just made me happier than any one ever was, I guess, I didn’t care whether we had any money or not, And then he died, two years ago, And just lately Mrs. Ransom—my Aunt Sarah—got an attack of conscience and invited me to come on and visit them here. And I thought it was sweet of her, and packed up and came as soon as IJ could, “Mr, Stockton—I've had to lock my-~- self in my room to laugh most of the time since I've been here! Aunt Sarah thought it would be so nice for me—I could live with them, and look after Ruth and Carrie's things, and help when the servants were out or had gone. And I'd have a good home. But they did think my clothes weren't suit- able for one in my circumstances—ex- travagant, you know! Aunt Sarah said she supposed I'd spent all the insurance money! And to-night, when I took it me with my play! I've seen everything you've written for Cutler and Jane Sherman. You’'ve—why, you've written real comedies for the movies!” ‘‘Wadt till I write this one!” she said viciously. “Oh, you just wait! ‘Cin- derella’ with a reverse twist!" “Let's collaborate!" he said, “Come on down to that dance—now!” “Oh!" she said. “I want to! I won- der if I couldn't scare up a costume?” She leaped to her feet, flew across the room, flooded it with light, She stood poised, staring at a heap of batik hangings that had been tossed with a studied carelessness upon the broad window seat. “You too!' ‘she cried. “I can take that stuff and throw two costumes to- gether—they showed me where the ma- chine was—wondered if I couldn't make some of the girls’ clothes! be Futurism and Cubism—you can We'll : was the loveliest creaturé his eyes had yet beheld. Masks were easily made, it appeared. “All right—come along!” she said at last. They entered as a dance began, “Let’s dance in,” said Peggy. “Quick —before the floor gets crowded’’— Only one other couple was on the floor as they slipped through the press at the entrance and swung out into a waltz. Gasps followed them around the room. Fantastic figures that had been about to begin dancing paused, fol- lowed Peggy and Stockton with their eyes, forgot their own purpose, A lit- tle ripple of applause started at one end of the floor, and spread like wild- fire. “You Pegey. dance beautifully!" said unmask at midnight—maybe they don’t, anyway. Most of the people haven't got masks, Come! You leave this to me!” Laughter made her too weak to re- sist. He led her straight to Mrs. Ran- som's box. Bowing, he removed his mask. “Mr, Stocktont”* It was Mrs. Ransom who spoke. Ruth and Carrie just squealed, “I ventured to go up and find Miss North and suggest a costume she could improvise,” he said. “And she was good enough to make some im- provements in mine,” “Margaret!” said Mrs. Ransom ter- ribly, “I am surprised—and shocked! This is New York, not California.” “I think ‘Peggy’ is much prettier than ‘Margaret,’” said Stockton. “And of course if you speak of her as Mar- garet, Mrs. Ransom, people won't SOMETHING DREW STOCKTON OVER TO THAT PATHETIC FIGURE ON THE COUCH. for granted I’ was going to this dance, they almost died! They’’—— Beasts!" said Stockton. to make a servant of you!” 3 “Oh, never mind—they can‘t!"’ she cried, “You see, Mr, Stockton—I made 628,415 last year! I know, because I bad to pay most of it for my income wx." He gasped. And before he asked any questions, he proved that laughter can, at times, be a contagious disease, Movies!" she answered, when he finally voiced his questions, “I write ‘em—write 'em-by the reel. I’m Peggy North—if it happens to mean anything in your life, It didn’t, in theirs, I think they feel that the movies are vul- gar.” “Peggy North!" he said reverently “My soul! No wonder you could help “Wanting wear yours over your clothes—we both can—just like your domino! Oh, wait— don't you dare speak to me or get in my way!” He obeyed her literally, smoking one cigarette after another, and watching her, dazzled “by the speed with which she worked, tagging after her at a safe distance, “Come here!" she called once per- emptorily, “Take off that domino—I've got to see if this fits you!” She flung priceless batiks upon him. “You'll do!” she said. “Oh, I wish I were a man—no, I don’t, either! No man could do what I’m going to do to my dear aunt!” She vanished presently, bearing her own costume with her; When she re- turned, he gasped. In the most gro- tesque costume he had ever seen, she “I can dance with you!” he said. “Never could before.” ‘“Look—will you look?” she whis- pered. ‘‘There—turn me, so you can see"——_ He obeyed, and beheld Mrs. Ransom and Ruth and Carrie. They sat in their box, staring. Mss, Ransom was clapping languidly. He tossed his fears to the winds. Brazenly he led Peggy straight past that box within two feet of the women he had abandoned and betrayed. “He must have gone home’—— he heard one of them saying. ‘I’m going to die—I know I am!" said Peggy. ‘I've got to sit down. Oh-o-oh!"” For the first time it was Stockton who was inspired, “Come!"’ he said, “We won't wait to know the famous Peggy North is your niece!" : RS. RANSOM’S eyes opened wide—so did her mouth, only to close again at once. She looked at Stockton as a dog might at a rabbit that had turned and bitten him. “Miss North, you see,’ he went on, ‘is a shining light of the higher branch of my own profession, Millions see her plays, not the mere thousands who may hear mine. And yet, we are, in a sense, collaborators’’—— “IT want-to dance!" said Peggy, “We'll be back, Aunt Sarah!" THE END. Copyright. All rights reserved Printed by arrangement with Metropolitan Newspaper Service. NE X T SATURDAY’S COMPLETE STORY THE WALLFLOWER By RUPERT HUGHES Idalene Noblein Was as Homely as Her Name and She’d Never Had a Beau, Though Her Heart Yearned for One—Then Came a Transplanting and She Blossomed—-With Her Metamorphosis Came a Lover and Then Her Story Began ORDER YOUR EVENING WORLD IN ADVANCE A se WES OIE gE Se NE NEN Se