Pleasures and Palaces
--By Royal Brown
Alot Every Dejtartmeirt Store Cleric Is
Courted by u Millionaire—There Are
Motor Curs and Motor Curs—But—
Even in khaki overalls, Jimmie
Cromartie was not without mas
culine charm. In evening clothub
as grand marshal of the annual
hall of the Plumbers’ union, local
No. ti73, he—well, Denise Luydon
had reason to look like the kitten
who has swallowed the canary.
For the sake of D. nny he even
dared the depths of Marston’s bar
gain basement whore she was “At
Home" from 8:30 to 5:30 every
weekday.
“Oh» I'll say you’ve got him
hooked!” acknowledged pert-lipped,
dark-haired Number 833. “My
Marty wouldn’t come down here
for a couple of farms. I hope,” she
added gratuitously, “that you aren’t
throwing yourself away on him
though. If I had your looks I’d
marry a million. You could!”
But Denny was beginning to sus
pect that she would rather have
him without a million than any
other man with. The only trouble
with Jimmy as a lover was that he
was red-headed and you never knew
when he was going up in the air.
, “And I,” as I>enny admitted to
Number 833, “have some red in my
hair myself."
Jimmy had just bought a second
hand flivver with what is known as
a speedster body. He explained that
he had picked it up dirt cheap.
"It's not good enough for you,
kid.” he said huskily. “And neither
am I. You ought to be truvf ling
around in a Lenhard Double-Six."
The smile site flashed at him was
worth traveling more miles to see
than that old pstiedo speedster of
Jimmy's had left in it.
“I'd look fine in a Lenhard Dou
ble Six, wouldn’t 17“ she mocked.
“Let's go!”
"Let’s,” agreed Jimmy, with re
mewed buoyancy.
This made It unanimous save for
the cnr. Its misbehavior, coupled
with the Impertinence of the young
er set ever in evidence in the neigh
borhood, had removed some of the
sheen from the morning, a Sunday
In May. But the irreparable might
not have happened If. after they
had swung Into the Fens, a limou
sine had not rolled by.
“Is that a Lenhard Double Six?”
demanded Denny, with interest.
Jimmy gave it an austere side
glance. ‘ Yep,’' he assented in a
tone that should have warned her.
“I'd like,’.’ she murmured, “to
ride in a ear like that—if only just
once!”
“I don’t doubt it.” ‘commented
Jimmy unpleasantly. Then as
Denny looked at him wide eyed
with surprise, ho added, “Don’t lot
noe stop you!'*
Denny’s lovely eyes narrowed.
“Do you mean you think I couldn’t
get the chance?” she demanded
forthwith.
“Not at all!” he retorted, but she
, knew ho meant her to believe just
that.
The pseudo-sjHfeder speeded on.
but romance had blown a tire. And
so it was that Denny delivered her
ultimatum. “I wouldn't marry a
man with a temper like yours for
a million,” fl ired Denny. “If you’ll
please stop this—this car. I’ll walk
honi4 ”
"I’d like to see a girl," observed
Jimmy, "who wouldn't marry any
thing with a million tagged to it.
That’s what all girls want nowa
days—money!"
"Are you going to let me out?"
demanded Denny frigidly.
He drove her horde instead.
"Sorry to have butted in where
I w'asn't welcome," he announced.
"I’ll see it don’t h 14*4** *n again."
"That," sweetly, "is dear of you,
Mr. Cromartle. Katie Kennedy
would love to go for a ride with
you. Why don’t you take her?"
Jimmy stepped on the gas.
"He’ll lg» around again,* Denny
assured herself serenely. "And
maybe I’ll he at home and maybe
I won’t."
Some hours later Denny was
seated by her window, overlooking
the alley, drying her hair, when a
bearer of tidings approached.
"Thought I’d drop In," said the
latter, too eanuultv. "Hay, Jimmy
took Katie K« iincdy riding this
afternoon."
"T told bhn D any riposted,
rerenely, and idd<»»: "Jimmy’s be
Him!* an a wi ul i f y l.'itely."
She rnairilalrud ti c- pose admir
ably. until her visitor departed.
But then Denny’s pretty mouth set
grimly.
“So he took her!” she murmurvd.
“Well, hr can have her. I should
worry.”’
“I' d like,” Denny informed Num
ber 833 the next day, “to have one
of those guys that write movies
about millionaires \v .ml-ring around
bargain basements, stand around
here a while. I'll bet their feet
would get more tired than mine do
before they saw one.”
Number 833 gave her a quick
glance.
v \ i
"No,” she retorted coolly, "have
you?”
Mrs. Winthrup Chisholm was eye
ing Ihe flushed loveliness that Den
ny presented her so unflinching
ly.
"She'll do,” she murmured. And
then addressing Denny directly.
“Pleas* get your hat—I want to
talk to you."
"Oh!” Depny protested. "I couldn't
get off-"
"That will he all right," Mnrston
intervened. "Do as Mrs. Winthrop
Chlsholm says."
“She’ll do.” sic* decided yet
again.
Then aloud: “I'm not craz^T,' she
announced grimly. “Merely in my
dotage. An old woman to he hum
ored until she has the grace to pass
on and leave her money to those
better fitted to spend it. But—
well. I’m not dead yet!”
“I'll say you're not,” thought
Denny.
“No,” Mrs. Winthrop-Chisholm
went on. “I guess I've got enough
of what my granddaughter call pep
to beat her at her own game. And
that's what I propose to do with
your assistance.”
“Now,” thought Denny, “for the
string.”
“What,” she demanded, “do I
do?”
“Act natural-^be yourself.”
Denny gave her a direct glance.
“Say, what do you expect: that I'll
eat with my knife? Ain I to be a
horrible example generally? Is that
the big idea?”
“It might be a good one,” re
( Ml I
AN6 ,1
“Sorry to liave huffed in where I
wasn't welcome,” .fimmio an
nounced.
“Have you quarreled with
Jimmy?" she asked with interest.
“I'm through with him," amend
ed Denny with dignify’.
Number 833 giggled. “And now
you're after a millionaire?”
Denny smiled In spite of herself.
“I'll admit I don't see any standing
around in line. Hut believe me, if
I got a chance
Abruptly she broke i.ff and as
abruptly her expression changed so
that she loofted more like a rosy
cherub listening to some celestial
choir than a shop girl who—the
truth must cut—had been almost
caught in the act of chewing gum.
Number 833 cast startled eyes
around
“Egypt's Queen!” she gasped.
“The boss himself. And look who’s
with him. Mrs. Wfnthrop Chis
holm—”
Denny did not know who Mis.
Winthrop-Chisholm might be, but
there wns no rjuestion but that she
was somebody.
No one, save herself, knew why
she hail descended to the bargain
basement. She had peremptorily
ordered Mars ton to take her there
and he had obeyed.
"Who," she demanded, "is that
girl—the one with the wonderful
hair?”
"i don’t happen to know." he
confessed. "But 1 11 be glad to find
out."
"I’ll find out myself," she cut in.
Now what, followed, as Number
883 told her Marty afterwards, cer
tainly beat the movies!
“What," demanded Mrs. Win
throp ('h nhoJm, "is your name?"
"Why Denny I mean Denise
Duydon,” Denny managed to an
swer.
“Have you any family?” persisted
her inquisitor.
The g la nee that Denny gave Mrs.
W’inthn»p-('hishoJm was a match
for that which the latter gave her.
“Don't be an ass, Marston,** sug
gested Mis. Winthrop-Chisholm.
Then, to l>enny, “I’m not going to
eat you, child. Don’t be afraid!”
Afraid! That w:ui enough for
Denny.*
“You’re on,” said she. “I’ll he
ready in a jiff!”
“Oh. gee,” breathed Number 833,
while Denny powdered her nose ami
adjusted her hat, “supposing sha
should adopt you-”
“If she does you can have my
gum,” retorted Denny coolly. “I
parked it under the counter.”
“Hhe,” Number 833 went on, “has
a wonderful place at Exeter l*ool,
greenhouses and tennis courts and
tows with class written all over
t hem—”
"I hope it hasn't bars on the win
dows,’’ commented Denny. "She
sounds as if she had escaped from
some such place.’c
Nevertheless she went along with
Mrs. Winthrop < 'hisholm.
"I wonder,” that lady suggested
abruptly, "what you are thinking
about all this."
"I ain thinking," retorted Denny
diplomatically, "that in about five
minutes the old alarm clock will go
off and I’ll wake up.”
Appreciation of that glinted brief*
ly in Mrs Winthrop Chisholm's
eyes
"Remember Cinderella, child.”
she retorted. "IVrhaps J’rn your
fairy godmother. Anyhow the mod
ern version of the coach and four
awaits outside."
It whs after all an American car.
the best, perhaps, hut at l**nst three
years old. The upholstery wmn lux
urious If sedate, and the chauffeur
and footman were smartly if »om
berly liveried. As Denny's quick
glance took all *hls in. the older
woman watched her.
marked Mis* Winthrop-Chlsholm
thoughtully. ' Yes—why not?”
“Excuse me I d rather go back
to the bargain basement.” This
Mrs. Winthrop-Chlsholm ignored.
“I don't know,” she said, "but
what I would do well to adopt you
at that. You might amuse me and
that"—ever so grimly—”i~ rtiore
than most people do.”
And so they swept on to that far
famed millionaires’ colony that lies
along the North Shore, and finally
to Exeter Pool. They stopped there
in the village liefore the specialty
shops.
“Well get you outfitted now,"
Mrs. Winthrop-Chlsholm said.
Soon they were on their way
once more. The car turned in from
the state road tip a poplar lined
drive to the house. Denny caught
her breath.
“Egypt’s Queen." she thought,
“it looks like the Art Museum.’’
“Now remember.” Mrs. Winthrop
Chlsholm reminded her. ”what I ex
pert of you. You’re Irish and you
have Irish wit. 1 rn counting on
the combination to carry you
through.”
In her eyes there was a certain
humorous suggestion of a good Joke
shared that kindled Denny.
"Leave it to me,” Denny promised
blithely. “I’ll be the limit. Say—
shall I shake hands with the hut
ler?”
The corners of Mrs. Winthrop
Chisholm's mouth twitched. “Try
it!" she said.
To the butler’s horror Denny did.
He withdrew his hand ns if an
adder had bitten it
“Is Miss Mildred at home?" de
manded Mrs Winthrop Chisholm
directly.
“No. ma’am Dtank you. mi »m
She’s gorp* to Hloiieest*r
. ‘T didn't ask you wlvte she had
gone " snapped Mrs. Winthrop
Chfsholm. "Send Moulten to me.'*
"Mrs. Wlnthrop Chishi Ini." be in
formed Moulton, "nearly look my
end *•£[ when l told lie- Mildred
'ad gone to Gloucester."
"I heard her tell Mildred she
would take a girl from the h.i u- In
basement and adopt her if she
didn't give up that artist ehap.'*
Moulton said. "Votl don’t mean t<»
tell me though that site lup, dona
so?”
"If Mitred persists w. 'll aye in
her place 'ere, Moulton, a young
woman who is utterly himpos-ible. •
he assured her.
The room in which Berio*- wo-; es
tahlished, with its soft tone- of
silver gray contris'ting with tt.o
vivid rose of the rugs ami the hang
ings, was exquisite enough to awe
her.
"Is there anything more I eon
d.i for you, miss?" the austereeyed
Moulton was demanding.
"Vou can stop looking as if >-.u
thought 1 had something mn'.ag
ious.” Denny suggested coolly.
Moulton started "Beg pordotij
miss?" she gasped incredulously.
‘tli run along"' cumin indt I Ben
ny impatiently.
Moulton obeyed an ; B-nny in
spect.-1 her room as a kitten miglit
inspect a new and strange garret.
Then die turned to her hath with
ll-- white tiled (1,,,,. |t „■ ,s
tut- itself hat stag;; red Benny.
T * mai l I. ; not cu 'hut
in * tile door, with ‘s'.-pa leading
down to it. From tin tub si,a
glanced ui* .at the .array of faucets.
"\\ * II." she decided. "Jimmy
would certainly f.-el at home. It
looks Ilk- a plumber’s p.n.adise "
Tu sum ndt ring her to Moulton
Mrs WInthropt 'hisholm had an
noun- d that she h> i - f . ... going
to nap.
My side concession t < ,,gc -ha
hail explained. “Dinner will I., if
? and your frocks will be lie .. bv t
Hntll then amuse yourself is yoi|
clusise."
From her window !> nny «. »
Ing the grounds.
Quite an Improvement . t Me*
Parth.Vs backyard," sh- elmi
Abruptly she turned from tbs
window and, emerging in'n ilia
long hall outside found the marble
stain ise that led down to tin- ie
eefitlon hall. At the foot of tlie
atairs she encountered Hawkins
“How does a person go about
amusing themselves here*" she de
manded.
Hawkins gathered his dignity
a!**nit him. ' There's tennis oourta
down by the boathouse And If you
’apiien to rare for golf—*•
"I don't 'ap|ien to. somehow "
Denny assured him ".Vext "
Hawkins bowed, like an atitiin.a
tinti, 'Perhaps you care for riding!
There's some very good saddle
horses in tlie stable, if you wish—"
If they were on a merrj in
round 1 might W interested," she
chi 'n. “On on What else have
you to offer?"
' I'm sorry Miss, but that's .«!] T
can think of at this moment. Is
then- anything else, Mies'*"
"No." Denny assured him. Hut
as he bowed again, mischief light* d
her eyes. "Unless you happen to
have a piece of gum about you I
don't often indulge- but I ni des
perate.**
If Hawkins had, he swallowed it
—anyway lie swallowed some
thing.
"I'm sorry. Miss
"Oli. don't mind" reassured Den
ny. "I didn't expect you would
ha vc."
Tin nod she dismissed him with
was worthy of n princes*
The boathouse was closed. Sits
surveyed the greenhouses and ga
rage. stables and kennels.
"I wonder," she mused, "if they
really have a good time with ill
this w»r Just kid themselves into
thinking they do."
"Hello!" came n blithe voice.
"I've been looking for you."
Denny turned A girl in a yel
low sweater and eport hat. with
linen skirt and low buckskin shoes,
was coming toward her. She was
very blond and very pretty.
"I'm Mildred Chisholm.*' she an
nounced "Ornnny just broke the
news to me and I told her I'd loot*
you up and take you over to the
Country club for tea Sin Mulled