SYNOPSIS
THE STORY SO FAR: Janice Trent
runs away from wedding Ned Paxton,
rich, but a gay blade. Unbeknown to
Bruce Harcourt, a family friend, she be
comes secretary of an Alaska ramp of
which he is chief engineer. Millicent
Hale, wife of the man whom he suc
ceeded, is also attracted to him. Bruce
at first wants to send Janice back. On a
trip to the city, she encounters Paxton
and tells him she is married to Har
court. The latter hears It and insists on
a wedding that day. After a wedding
party arranged by the Samp sisters, who
run the Waffle Shop, Bruce and Janice
go home, only to be disturbed shortly
by Millicent who tells them her husband,
Joe Hale, has been shot dead. “If you
had only waited," she exclaims to Bruce,
ana crumples. Bruce spends the night
in Investigation. The commissioner ar
rives, and a probe Is on. Jimmie Ches
ter, Millicent’s brother, who bated Joe,
•eizes a plane in the meantime and
hops off.
Now continue with the story.
CHAPTER XIII
The Commissioner’s eyes were
sharp but reassuringly friendly as
he took command of the situation.
“Mrs. Hale, did you quarrel with
your husband before you went to the
dance last evening; did he object to
your leaving him?”
"Was it only last evening?” he
shivered. “He didn’t want me to
go.”
“But you went?"
“Yes. For a 9hort time.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“Not more than usual.”
“Mm. I see. Had he quarreled
With anyone at headquarters?”
“With Mr. Harcourt. You can’t
suspect him, you can’t! Bruce nev
er quarreled with him. He was at
the Waffle Shop every moment till
he walked home with me and then
he didn’t come in.”
"But the shooting was done with
his revolver.”
“How do you know?” The ques
tion was a strained whisper.
“It was found on the shore.”
She looked up with agonized eyes
at Harcourt standing by the mantel.
“Bruce! Bruce!”
"You and your brother were in the
H house helping decorate it. Did
you notice whether the gun was
there?”
"I—I didn’t notice.”
"Anyone there besides you and
your brother?”
"Kadyama brought in the greens.
Miss Mary was unpacking some
things in one of the bedrooms.”
Mrs. Hale, describe what you
found when you entered the cabin.”
“Joe was lying face down on the
rug. Wheel-chair overturned. I don’t
know how long I stood staring at
him. I felt something tugging at my
skirt. It was my little dog begging
to be taken up. That broke the spell
of horror. I raised Joe’s head and
shoulders, realized what had hap
pened and rushed for Mr. Har
court.”
The Commissioner fitted spatula
finger-tips together with nice pre
cision. “Any theory as to the mo
tive for the attack on your hus
band, Mrs. Hale?”
Her thin fingers tightened. "No.
Unless—unless it was robbery. Joe
always carried a lot of cash.”
“Why did you go for Mr. Har
court instead of your brother?”
“Go for Jimmy? Why he hated
Joe and—” she stifled a cry with
one hand. “You’re not trying to
make out that Jimmy did it, are
you? Bruce! Bruce! You know Jim
my. You know that he’s incapable
of a thing like that."
“Did he tell you then that he was
going away?”
“Away! Where?” She was on her
feet, swaying as she stood. Har
court pressed her back into the
chair.
"Take it easy, Millicent. Jimmy
went off in a plane.”
“Where, Bruce, where?”
“In just one hour he will be on
his way to find out. We won’t trou
ble you any more now, Mrs. Hale.
Good afternoon. See you in the
morning. Come on, Harcourt.”
Out of earshot of the Samp cabin,
the Commissioner stopped.
“That woman knows more than
she’s telling, a whole lot more. We’U
let her think we’re as dumb as she
thinks we are, while we go after
Chester.”
The Commissioner said Bruce
knew every field where a plane could
land. Harcourt admitted it.
“I do. We have three large camps
stocked with provisions for two
years. They have good fields. Un
less Chester had an accident, he
must have come down in one of
those. He wouldn’t go to a city or
town of any size. If he is running
away, he would know that you would
have his description broadcast.”
“We’ll start in an hour. Leave
someone in charge with instructions
to let Mrs. Hale have her head.
Get ’em all feeling secure, that’s
the idea. Going to eat at the Waffle
Shop?”
“No. At my cabin. I want to
talk with Pasca, my house-boy, and
leave Grant in charge.”
Tubby Grant was strumming a
mournful ditty on his ukulele as
Harcourt entered his cabin and left
instructions.
"Keep your eye on Janice, will
you?”
“What a heck of a honeymoon!”
“By the way, Millicent suggested
robbery as the motive of the at
tack on Joe. No money was found
on him or in the cabin, you remem
ber. Kadyama will bear watching.”
Smoke rose from the chimney.
Out of earshot of the Samp cabin, the Commissioner stopped.
drifted lazily into the pink after
glow, as Harcourt entered his cabin.
He stopped on the threshold.
Was that really an embroidered
cloth and shining silver on the small
table laid for two, or was he seeing
things? The plates and tumblers
of the warranted-to-withstand-wear
and-tear variety were his—he would
swear to that. Who was humming
to the accompaniment of an egg
beater? He flung open the kitchen
door.
•‘Janice!”
The girl in her gay smock, furi
ously beating eggs in a bowl, bobbed
a dancing-school curtsy.
‘‘What are you doing here?”
“Here! Didn’t milord send word
by Miss Martha that if I did not
return to the H house pronto he
would come for me?”.
"I didn’t send for you because I
wanted a cook.”
“Don’t bite. Miss Martha inti
mated that as a chef Pasca left
something to be desired. ‘I seen
my duty an’ I done it.’ Look at that
asparagus with sauce vinaigrette. I
found a basket of gulls’ eggs. I’m
making an omelette, a plump, yel
low omelette, not one of those thin
things with a soap-sudsy filling.
Something tells me that I have mor
tally offended your house-boy. He
cares so awfully for himself as a
cook.”
Harcourt looked gravely at Janice
seated across the small table.
"For the first time in my life I
understand why my father always
said grace at his own table. Mother
was something for which to give
daily thanks if he had nothing else.”
He cleared his voice. “Where did
all this elegance come from?” He
touched the beautiful cloth with a
shining silver spoon.
"I told you that I had not real
ized quite into what I was adven
turing. Thought I might have an
occasional afternoon tea.”
"And you drew this. It is all
wrong, Jan, but we won’t go back to
that now.” He looked at the clock.
"I am taking off in just thirty min
utes.”
"Where?”
"After Jimmy Chester.”
"Oh, no! Not nice Jimmy Ches
ter! Does the Commissioner think
he did it?”
He told her of the interview with
Millicent Hale, while Pasca served
the simple supper. As the Eskimo
set cups of coffee on the table, Har
court smiled at the girl.
"This has the restaurant at which
we dined beaten a mile. Feed Tong,
Pasca. Fuel the Tanager. I will be
at the field in ten minutes.”
As the door closed behind the man
and dog, Janice asked:
“Why are you taking that particu
lar plane?"
“Because I can take off after a
run of less than three hundred feet,
and come to a complete stop one
hundred feet from the spot where
the plane first touches the ground.
As I don’t know where I may have
to come down, it’s the best bet.”
He looked at her steadily. “Do I
need to tell you that Millicent’s in
timation that it would matter to me
if she were free is a figment of her
crazed imagination?”
Janice was intent on the pattern
she was etching on the cloth with
the tip of a silver spoon.
“Imagination! It sounded like the
real thing to me.”
He caught her shoulders. “You
know better. You know that I—
Good Lord, is that the Commission
er knocking? Can’t he allow me a
minute with—with my family?”
He opened the door. The smil
ing, impeccably dressed man fac
ing him said suavely:
“I was told that I would find—”
“Ned!”
The choked exclamation came
from Janice. Harcourt glanced at
the clock. Five minutes before he
was due at the flying field. Only
five minutes. He looked straight at
Paxton, whose eyes were on the
girl.
“Come in. Jan, here is a friend
from the outside world." As she
took a step forward he glanced un
seeingly at his wrist-watch. “Sor
ry that I have to leave headquarters
just as you arrive, Paxton, but Jan
ice and Grant will show you the
wonders of this north country.”
He caught the girl in his arms.
“It’s like tearing my heart out to
leave you. Beautiful!” He kissed her
eyes, her throat, her mouth. She
struggled for an instant before she
relaxed against him. He pressed his
lips to her hair. “Dearest!”
“Ha-ar-court!”
The Commissioner’s shout outside
crashed into his husky voice. Jan
ice caught the back of the chair as
he released her. Her long lashes
were a dark fringe against her col
orless skin. Paxton was staring out
of the window, a fighting set to his
shoulders.
Harcourt picked up jumpers, hel
met, rifle. His blood raced. He had
intended to kiss Janice lightly, a
mere gesture to impress the late
fiance with the reality of their re
lationship. The feel of her in his
arms had set him aflame. He had
kissed her as though he were
starved for her—as he was. Would
she forgive him?
She followed him to the door in
true wifely solicitude. Said in a
voice disconcertingly steady:
“Good luck to you, Bruce.”
As he stepped to the board walk
she leaned forward to whisper furi
ously:
“Your technique is superb. You
must have had heaps of practice.
But why martyr yourself to impress
Ned?”
He caught her hand. She twisted
it free. Stepped back.
The door closed.
* * *
Harcourt was still stubbornly
clinging to the conviction of Jimmy
Chester’s innocence when on the
third day of the search he left the
northernmost camp. Not one of the
three he had visited had yielded a
clue. The Commissioner was irri
tated and air-worn. He had ordered
a return to headquarters, had radi
oed Grant to expect them that aft
ernoon. As Harcourt climbed to
cruising altitude the first uneasiness
as to Chester’s safety seized him.
Once he thought he heard the vi
bration of an engine ahead. It
couldn’t be the Commissioner, must
be a sound mirage. He sent the
plane up again and came out into
the sun. The altimeter registered a
mile.
He kept above the clouds till he
came into clear sky. Descended to
get his bearings. Was that a camp
below? Men, looking no bigger than
beetles, moving. Digging? Probably
archaeologists in search of the first
Americans. He looked at the com
pass. His heart stood still. It had
gone dead. Some electric current in
that prickling rain storm had done
the trick. Where was he?
A buzz in his ear warned him
that he must have more forward
speed instantly or the plane would
stall and spin out of control. As
he climbed swiftly he looked round
the horizon to get his bearings. To
ward the south the sky was black
with smoke. Old Katmal tuning up.
Now he knew the direction in which
to fly.
He mounted into the clouds. They
were moving south. They would
serve as compass. The drone of an
engine? Was he really hearing it?
The effect was weird. Suddenly fog
caught him.
To his astonishment he came out
into brilliant sunlight. What an in
fernally queer world! The berg-dot
ted sea was over his right wing.
In his relief he laughed. The plane
had flopped on its side. He righted
it and took his bearings.
How long had he been flying aim
lessly in the storm? He glanced at
his wrist-watch. Noon. He frowned
at the gas gauge. Couldn’t do much
more experimenting with that sup
ply. He peered over the side of the
ship. An ice-floe. Big as an able
bodied island with acres of plateau.
He wing-slipped nearer, wires hum
ming. Dots! Three of them! Two
moving. One inert. A plane on its
side! The phantom of the clouda
cracked-up? Could one of the dots
be Chester? No. Jimmy went alone.
Engine shut off, he side-slipped
down. Landed, bumped and skid
ded over the rough surface to a stop.
The floe stretched away inimitably,
not a collection of cakes but acres
of grinding, heaving ice-fields, their
smoothness broken by an occasional
crevice choked with loose frag
ments, by swiftly running rills. He
pushed back his helmet. The vi ip
pled plane! Good Lord, what a
wreck! Propeller smashed, one wing
gashed into fringe by the ice. Where
was the pilot?
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Short Length of ‘Ballerina'
Skirt Offers New Style Trend
——————
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
ONE of tiie most fascinating style
trends of the season is the “bal
lerina” influence seen in dressy
frocks for “noon to midnight” wear.
This flattering mode has been ap
pearing lately in stunning street
and midcalf lengths styled entranc
ingly for both afternoon and eve
ning wear.
The degree of formality of these
festive frocks which are so charm
ing for daylight dancing and eve
ning party wear depends upon their
styling and upon the type of fabric
used. Emphasis on luxurious weave
is the rule. Your new ballerina
frock may be crisp and perky in
checked rayon taffeta (a newly im
portant fabric), or it may be ethereal
and fairylike in misty rayon mous
seline or in such glamorous rayon
fabrics as handsome faille, or filmy
marquisette with very special em
phasis on the importance of black
sheers and laces.
These daylight dancing dresses are
at their height of glory for imme
diate wear. They will be helping to
bid farewell this summer to skirts
using yards and yards of material.
The new fabric conservation pro
gram begins with fall and winter
clothes. It is interesting to note that
in the njodels pictured in the above
illustration the silhouette is faithful
to the original ballet inspiration in
bodice as well as hemline. Necklines
are flatteringly low in cut and are
likely to be squared, heartshaped or
slashed in a deep plunging V-shape.
In sleeve lengths you will find every
type from brief shoulder caps to
wrist length, fitted or bishop styles.
Shown to the left in the above
illustration is a daytime-length ver
sion of the smart ballerina frock
fashioned of fine rayon faille in a
flattering shade of “plantation”
green with a graceful overskirt of
exquisite rayon lace in matching
color. The fitted bodice, with its
long-torso style and becoming V
neck, is typically “ballerina.”
A charming multicolor floral cut
out design of the flower print of the
softly draped rayon crepe bodice is
repeated in applique on the filmy
rayon marquisette skirt of the en
chanting midcalf-length ballerina
frock designed for gala evenings
shown centered in the illustration.
Pictured to the right is a dramat
ic interpretation of the midcalf frock
for dining and dancing that uses ro
mantic black rayon lace with un
expected and very effective ruffled
cuffs of snowy marquisette at the
wrist. A black rayon taffeta slip
adds crispness to the full flare of the
skirt. It is dresses of the type of
this black beauty that will be worn
by guests attending fashionable wed
dings this summer. Huge-brimmed
hats, also in black, will top these
adorable lacy sheer black frocks.
Pompadour versions of petite flow
ery bonnets misted in beguiling col
orful veils will also be popular.
From all indications the “pretty”
black frock is destined to triumph
anew this summer. These sheers
will practice their “black magic” in
beguiling feminine versions drama
tized with tiered skirts, detachable
apron fronts, transparent yokes and
fringe and lace trims, to which will
be added delectable pastel or vivid
color accents. No smart summer
wardrobe will be complete without
at least one of these black frocks
of fragile beauty.
The new "black” vogue is also
evidenced in stunning suits softly
tailored of handsome faille or moire.
For the most part these suits sub
scribe to the new slim short sil
houette that is making conversa
tion these days.
(Released by Western Newspaper Union.)
Hand-Crocheted
This flattering brim and beguiling
mesh scarf look as if they had just
left the workrooms of an expensive
designer, but you can crochet them
for yourself. The brim looks like
straw, but it is actually cotton cro
chet treated with a starch solution.
The fish net open mesh as seen in
the scarf has become a hobby with
fashion. It is used for the mak
ing of the now-so-fashionable fancy
snoods in which young girls are so
prettily caging their curls. It is
stretched over linen handbags. The
newest idea is to top your summer
blouse with a fishnet sleeveless bod
ice. For a dramatic note for simple
summer frocks, the hand-crocheted,
scarfed wide-brim hat as here shown
is Just about iOG per cent perfect.
Part of looking your best this sum
mer will be keeping yourself looking
fresh and cool and, even after hours
at work, as crisp as a lady of leisure.
Bathing Suits Are
Draped and Ruffled
You may swim this season in a
softly draped and molded-to-the
figure dressmaker suit styled of fine
rayon crepe or sleek rayon jersey.
Or you can be gaily outfitted in a
trim bare-midriff halter and shorts
costume of sprightly acetate rayon
sharkskin.
You’ll see “little girl” ruffled suits
in crisp rayon taffeta, as well
beautifully tailored princess styles
in rich rayon materials. The new
failles and shantungs offer a lovely
range of brilliant or dusky colors.
Black play and swim clothes are
given drama with vivid color touches
and accessories. The dressmaker
influence is very much in evidence.
Casual Dresses Designed
For Stay-at-Home Life
No more long drives in the car.
So we will have a new program of
“stay-at-home” entertainment. Al
ready invitations are being sent out
to “come and enjoy yourself” at a
backyard barbecue party or picnic.
Of course you will want to dress
to the occasion, which will mean pic
turesque, young and refreshing cot
tons done in rustic style. For these,
gingham, flowery chintzes, cham
brays, mattress ticking stripes and
an endless list of sturdy cottons will
fit picturesquely into the scene.
Glass Jewelry
Jewelry, as well as handbag and
shoe ornaments, is being made of
colorful glass. Flower motifs in
jewelry are favorites. You can get
earrings, bracelets and clips to
match. Very lovely necklaces clus
ter flowers about the throat. The
colorings are superb in these attrac
tive glass “Jewels.”
AROUND
th. house;
Items of Interest!
to the Housewife |
As dried fruit is usually soaked i
before cooking, save the soaking
water to cook the fruit in, thereby
saving much of the food value of
the fruit.
• • •
Keep butter covered in the re
frigerator lest it pick up flavors
from other foods. Also keep but
ter in the coldest part of the re
frigerator. Eggs should be stored
in the refrigerator but they do not
need the coldest spot.
• • •
To clean window screens, lay
them on a flat surface, rub them
gently with a small brush dipped
in turpentine, then in benzine, then
wipe them dry. This cleans and
helps prevent rusting.
PREPAREDNESS
h ♦
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Volunteer for Victory — offer your
services to your Red Cross.
“WHAT can 1 do?” Now that
* * we are at war, that is the
question that every woman is ask
ing herself. For those women who
want to do a real job where they
are urgently needed, there is the
Volunteer Nurse’s Aide Corps of
the American Red Cross. One
hundred thousand Nurse's Aides
will help relieve the acute nursing
shortage at home, according to
Mrs. Walter Lippmann, who is the
volunteer director of this Red
Cross service. Trained nurses
are daily being called for service
with our armed forces.
A Volunteer Nurse’s Aide per
forms many routine hospital du
ties and relieves the trained
nurse for more technical work.
She bathes and feeds patients,
makes beds, takes temperature
and pulses, assists in keeping
records, does unsterile bandag
ing and attends to many details
essential to a patient’s comfort.
Eligible for enrollment are
American citizens or friendly
aliens, between 18 and 50 years of
age, with the equivalent of a high
school education and in good
health. A Nurse’s Aide must com
plete an 80-hour intensive training
course; 35 hours of class room in
struction and 45 hours of super
vised practice on hospital wards.
She also agrees to serve 150 hours
per year without pay in hospitals,
prenatal, industrial or other clinics
and public health agencies. The
standard first aid course is a req
uisite for the first year of service
and the Nurse’s Aide may be as
signed to Emergency Medical
Field Units set up by Civilian De
fense, to speed to the aid of ci
vilians, wounded in air raids or dis
asters.
More than 12,000 Volunteer
Nurse’s Aides are in training or
already trained, but many more
are needed. It is too late when
the bombs fall or an epidemic
strikes. Prepare now and help
safeguard the nation’s health. Con
tact your local Red Cross chapter
for information as to nearest train
ing facilities available.
Prepared exclusively lor WNU.
To save steps and energy in a
two-floored house, double up on
cleaning equipment. Keep one set
upstairs—floor mop, cleaning pow
ders and cloths, dustpan and a
broom—and another downstairs.
This much equipment will last
twice as long as one set, so it is
not impractical.
• • •
Individual service table mats
save lots of laundering. Use them
in place of luncheon or tablecloths.
For outdoor or porch serving try
the prettily decorated oilcloth
mats; they only need a daily wip
ing with a dampened cloth.
• • •
Cinnamon toast may be made
without sugar by blending
tablespoons of honey with two
thirds tablespoon butter. Increase
amounts as desired.
* • •
If the summer porch rug looks
rather forlorn give if a good scrub
bing then, when dry, a coat of
porch paint. After two days
spread with clear floor varnish,
and you have a rug which will
probably give you another year’s
wear at small cost.
• • •
Small pieces of toilet soap that
accumulate in the bathroom should
not be thrown away. Add water
enough to cover them and put on
stove until dissolved. This makes
an excellent soft soap.
• • •
If one-half level teaspoon of bak
ing powder is added to every four
eggs used in making a souffle,
it will not fall after it has been
removed from the oven.
IN €3 B .C. MARCCC TIIUJUC TM0 - I
INVENTED A SYSTEM 0E SHORTHAND
USED IN THE ROMAN SENATE"
AND CREATED A
urm wav of
RECORDING CREECH.
THE BETTER WAY TO TREAT
CMSTIftKTIOtl DUE TO LACK OP
PROPER'BULK* IN THE DIET IS TO
CORRECT THE CAUSE OF THE
TROUBLE WITH A
DELICIOUS CEREAL,
KtLlMB’f
AU.* BRAN. EAT
IT EVERY DAY
AND DRINK PLENTY
OF WATER.
• Enjoy Better Results when
you use Clabber Girl for quick
breads, biscuits and other nour
ishing foods... Enjoy Better
Value when you buy Clabber
Girl.
SHE KNOWS
A CYCLE OF HUMAN BETTERMENT
■ advertising gives you new ideas,
/Y and also makes them available
to you at economical cost. As these
new ideas become more accepted,
prices go down. As prices go down,
more persons enjoy new ideas. It
is a cycle of human betterment, and
it starts with the printed words
of a newspaper advertisement.
A •
JOIN THE CIRCLE (~) READ THE ADS