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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1924)
. THE TAZZ TESSALYNS By IDA M. EVANS Illustrated by CHARLES ARCIERA The Blim, graceful whirling body of Jarvis Jessalyn, satin-clad, satin shod, is a fillip to the most blase Lroadwayite. Jane jessalyn's black fringed blue eyes, set in a small pink and white face, divide public favor with her tiny white-flashing ankles and expert toes. The sleeked-back black head of the one, the pretty flying corn-colored bob of the other, unite to collect for viie nalr between $2,500 and $4,000 weekly in revue, roof garden, musical comedy or whatever the pair choose to favor with their graceful double presence. Nevertheless, Jarvis scowl yl down at two long satin cardboard boxes. '‘Levre's soaking us lately.” Jane sighed. “I've been thinking the same. If white satin didn’t soil so soon!” “It does." “I'll say if Levre does charge, he knows color.and line better than Edi Bon know* electrons.” "yes," agreed Jarvis reluctantly. "And you can’t support a first-class reputation on tightwad costume ef fects.” “Should say you can’t! Still—we ought to begin saving money, Jarv— sometime.” “Haven’t I been saying that for sev eral years back?" “Well, I've said it as often as you." Jane's pink-and-white prettiness could affect petulance. But it was tho care less petulance of a wife of several years' standing. “That’s my lip-stick you're using, Jarv.” “Looked like mine.” "I’ll say a few stocks and bonds ^0rlp two people meet old age with a '1^ smile,” observed Jane. “Without some of such stuff, it's nothing to meet,” said Jarvis curtly. He was staring into his mirror. "What do you see, Jarv?” “That hair-tonic Is not what It’s cracked up to be. Jane. Day by day, in every way, my hair's getting thin ner and thinner.” "Let mo look, Jarv— II m—I don t think so.” Months and heels twinkle down an eternal incline. It was in May that the two, making graceful and viva cious exit hand-in-hand one night, as was their custom, flinging smiles on the upturned faces and applauding palms of crowded after-lenten tables, hurried in white satin ruffs and per spiration to their dressing room and paused to face each other unsmillngly. Behind them, at the table nearest the stage at the right of the runway, a tall brown-eyed young thing in white embroidered crepe and a sable coatee, was still applauding. Her gloves had split. Her handsome face was turned toward the wings which had received Jarvis Jessalyn. ‘‘Talk about popularity! I’ll hand It to you, Jarv," said Jane. "Now, listen, Jane! If you're going to start that again—” "I’m not starting anything. If there’s something you'd rather not have mentioned at all, say so'.” “Go ahead, then.” "When It comes to he the sixth night, and her still gaping up at you with eyes like half-dollars, and her mouth open like her father’s coupon scissors—” "Doesn’t hurt the act any. doee it, have old Morgan Bloke's daughter appreciative of It?" Jane emitted short, staccato, exag gerated laughter. "Go on,” encouraged her husband suavely. "These dressing roo'm walls aren’t sound-proofed, you know. Let everybody about the place, Including the orchestra, hear you." "Everybody including the orchestra knows It already.” “We can use any publicity that re sults.” He smirked a little. "She seems to think she can, too.” "She has a shapely head.” "And pocketbook." "What do you mean, Jane?” "One of these family’s pets that has had almost everything she wants— that money could buy!” "Go slow, Jane!” She did not go slow. Like a palpi tating arrow of emotion, she shot out of her scanty costume. Her perky blue eyes were dilated and dark. In front of his own dressing table, Jarvis was more leisurely getting out of a white satin ruff. He laid the delicate article away carefully before removing any of his makeup. "Daub ed it this afternoon. Four dollars for the cleaners.” Jane was silent. A maid who had entered was discreetly helpful without words. For all ms apparent lejsurwunu™, Jarvis was dressed for departure from the theater before she was. In the door of the dressing room, he paused, lighting a clgarete. "Gcdng right ^ home?” he asked. She said briefly that she was. "Na dine, don't bother with my hair till I S«t home.” "See you later, then.” She looked after the thin, supple figure. In Its sleek, black garb. Often enough she went home directly the last curtain came down In maroon velvet folds. Sometimes she joined late dancing or card-playing parties that didn’t tempt Jarvis. Often enough he remained downtown for an hour or so to eat and play around without her. Thoughtfully, ahe slipped Into the satin-lined cape which Nadine held out. Silently she sank Into tho back seat of the conspicuous ash-colored car which all Manhattan and Long Island knew by sight. Against the gray cushions her face tonight was not vivid. She spoke briefly to the man. "Joe, did Mr. Jcssalyn tell you to return for him?” “No/Mrs. Jessalyn. He said he'd take a taxi home.” Under the calcium Jane can pass for 17. At a bedroom window, with the dawn breaking In cruel, re vealing grayness, she Is older. Hud dled even In a silvery chiffon negli gee, her graceful body betrays her thirties. Jane once said sincerely IhHt she detested dawn time—that Is, the pro grayness which falls over the sleep ing world like an Imitation shroud. And Jurvls had Hgreed that It wa* neither fish nor fowl time, knowing not the velvet beauty of night nor the healthy hustle of sunlight. flesldes, it came at Jane's ebb time often enough, too soon after work’s ^^atigue, and spirit knows a letdown r after smilingly sustained effort. She often privately admired Jarvis for Ills adaptability, hia flair for primping ana posing—unchanged un deineath, she had always believed— cool-eyed, a little selfish, but loyal to her and fonder of her than he would ever be of another. Of course, the world wouldn't be lieve this. There had been his affairs in tho past, to be sure. Publicity stufT, as when he sent flowers daily to that Hungarian prima donna—and every other day forgot, and Jane her self had to telephone the florist! But that was some time back— Dawn Is a chilly hour. She turned away pettishly from the open, silk hung window and got Into bed. In bed, because sleep was not at hand, she turned on the small side "Bloke place. On the Hudson.'• Jane flung herself up from, her pil lows with that Inconceivably swift ef fect possible only to perfectly trained muscles. "How sweet of Helena! Parents out of town, I suppose! Too bad that Helena's feelings are going to be hurt by our declining." "We're not declining it, Jane.” His eyes were direct on hers. "But we are!’’ "Going to hurt the Jessalyn act any, Jane, for us to swim Saturday and a Sunday in old Morgan Bloke's pri vate pool? Walk over his golf course? Or lighten his sideboard’s private load? Think, Jane!” folds, Jane smiled carelessly at the crowd, at individuals. She smiled up gracefully at her hostess, whose hands were extended hospitably, while a footman came for orders. Neither by twitch nor overcomposure did Jane betray her Inmost feelings over Helena's divided greetings. Careless single shake: "Hullo, Mrs Jessalyn—glad you came." Quick, eager, outflung two hands: "Ah, ducky boy got here after all, didn't he!" It rippled—the mirthful, sharp laughter. The younger Tucker shout ed: "Heard you called a lot of names. Jarv! But never ducky boy until now.’’ I Tucker. "Shs seems to want the world to stop and take notice of whomever her fancy’s fixed on. Tou’d think she asked the rest of us here chiefly to watch her and tell other folks what she's doing." "She didn't have to ask us here. It was going the rounds In town before we got away." "Well." — grumbling, — “you real ly couldn't blame any man. Think — simply think of the Income tax Bhe'll hand some lucky fellow." The two apologized In concert a few moments later. “Jane! That stone balustrade Is so huge—and your hair in so nearly the color of TUla's!" the lovely light head in the chair nearest: ‘Tilla, you’ve looked bored for 40 minutes. Do you miss your megaphone? Here’s a substitute." Neither Tilla nor De Frere was par ticularly pleased. And half an hour later Tilla repaid Helena’s little atten tion by motoring back to town with Harry Hemp. Hut Jprvls, Jane noted, was faintly smiling with -his eyes, a way ha had when pleased with him self and events. Dressing for dinner, the Jessalyns exchanged their first full five minutes’ conversation of 30 hours. "Did you pheine Duzy Crane of the Weekly Revue that we’d be here over Sunday, Jane?" "Helena, I’ll give you just one hour to clear this rilTraf out of the house—and that dancing fool goes first!" “He isn't a fool, Dads. He’s sweet!’’ light. Her nerves were uneasy. Sud denly she got out of bed and slipped out of the room and across the hall to the living-room. A gaudy heap of magazines lay on a hand-carved wal nut table. She searched for one a month old. I Cm—what page? Nine teen—here! Sl\e had not been mis taken. As she read the paragraph her lips mrled. "We are sure our readers will be nterested to know that H-a, the -oung and red-blooded daughter of a veil known rail man, no more lunches >n Thirty-third street with Harry 3emp, son of the oil king. It seems v railroad president does not welcome i Texan oiler as son-in-law. (H-a vas solaced with a brand new twin dx Hyllndrtc. She has been fined wlce this week for speeding. We vould beg to remind Father and Vfother B e that in H-a's favor, :tarry waa preceded by Dan Willis, he song writer, end Dan was pre- j :eded by Jean de Frere of no visible vccupaiion. We fear that some day he warm-hearted H-a will enter-1 ain a fancy too strong for parental' !orce to overcome." Jane flung the sheet back on the able. "Rag!" But In her thin silk dghtgown she shivered slightly, and 'ormed & wish that young Semp had seen more of a Lochlnvar—or Willis, >r De Frere. There was the faint click of a atchkey. She crept quickly back Into ,ed, and her eyes wero closed when larvls entered his own room adjoin ng hers. 11s moved about rather carefully, is If not to awaken her. There was he click of a clgaret case, and pres sntly she felt, rather than saw, that le was standing In the doorway look ng at her. "Asleep, Jane?” "Dozing—that's all.” "Guess I better spill It right away.” She was up at once on a propping vhlte elbow. She knew that tone of larv's. Business! "What?" she demanded. There was n her voice the fear of every profes ilonal worker. Was It at hand? "Stamm was In the Algowan grill J onlght. Mentioned next year's con tact.” "It's about time!” "Mentioned $2,000—and a new Rus lan pair he's going to bring over." "Two thousand for us!” "I laughed in his face, of course.” "HeS—he's Insane!" Jane’s cheeks were scarlet. "No. Just oversharp.” “Why, we’ll go—” "Where. Jane? Not many miles front this home town. It happens that big money doesn't grow on a million bushes. Wish we owned a theater." “You mean you ro going to stand for-—” "Not this year. Of course not." In tho doorway lie was silhouetted —slim, graceful, his black head at tractive to the woman who was his wife. Clever ns well as graceful, she knew. He would match wits well enough with men like Stamm. Bui tonight for the first time she was a little nfrald of that cleverness. Just what was he thinking now, Ids nar rowed eyea not focussed on her? "Not this year,” he repealed to him self. "But we'ro not baby chicks. Jane. Bear that In mind. Some day—” "Don't!” she cried sharply. “You know It's bed luck to predict!" "I’m not predicting, Jane." lie laughed. "Merely thinking." He turn ed back Into his own room. "And wishing!’’ Me strolled bark to the door. "My the way, Jane, we’ve a Juicy Invitation for our first off week end Isist of this month, you know.” "Where?" sho asked sharply. •’la that what you’re thinking of?’’ she sneered angrily. "And Stamm,’' he said coolly. "And a new pair of Russian dancers;.’’ But his eyes were a shade too narrow. ”1 won’t go,” she declared sullenly. "I made it the twenty-ninth,” he observed suavely. Approaching Bloke Dace by motor car one has an Impression of a great orderly sprawl of white stone, dusky water, blue sky and huge green shrubbery. Besides a noble view from all Its four sides it lias splashing fountains, sumptuous driveways, garages, tennis courts, a polo field, a golf course, greenhouses, a great vegetable gar den in the English style, and Druid groves. "Some place.”’ The exclamation was low and In voluntary. Jarvis Jessalyn’s • long white hand tightened on his car’s wheel. •! Jane's face expressed something be sides pure admiration of a white-and green view. "Books like a new movie star's idea of home, sweet home,” she said brief ly "No movie star draws enough in this country, even by report, to pay for this Joint." His voice drawled a little. He drove slowly. "Must have stripped a marble mine." snapped Jane. "All that’s white isn't marble. Jane. Some of It's mere stone. But we couldn't even buy a back porch of this kind of stone." "What's that beside the turn?” ‘‘Early Grecian slave fountain,” he said unwittingly. “You’ve been out here before?” In quired Jane sweetly. “Forgot to tell you. Crowd of us one afternoon while you had a fit ting at Bullth's. Harry Semp”—ho smiled faintly—“motored us.” Business of one Jessalyn, her eyes dark, staring over at s green cas cade of hand trained shrubbery. Busi ness of the other Jessalyn, slightly constrained of manner, ostentatious ly keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead on the road unwinding before the big ash-colored car like smooth brown ribbon. Jane spoke presently. "You should have gone in for rail roads, Jarv." There was the touch of a sneer. "Yeah.” "But old Morgan didn't do all this with his heels," said she sweetly. “It took a head.” “Glad you got that off your chest, Jane?” Hhe bit her lip. Then. “Didn't know you knew Harry Semp?" “Boat eighty dollars to him one night on a four of diamonds. That’ all. He's lucky—at curds.” Very faintly, straight ahead, Jarvis seem ed to smllo to himself. A green banked turn, nnd they drew up at the huge stone porch, cool roofed nnd massive pillared, whereon were noisily and confusedly mingled many guests, many glasses, many servants and one tall, young hostess In nn orange silk sport suit. With Inwiinl cynicism Jane noted the gnests, one by one. In the brief months since emerging from her fash lonahle school, Helena Bloke hud picked friends fast and promiscuous ly There was Til In Kloane, the film beauty; Do Frere, a pantlly plump Idler of doubtful antecedents and light blue eyes; the swift Tucker sisters; Willis, honestly successful In his own line, but rodent eyed; Gnbri ella Dunn, six limes divorcee; and a sen tiering of wives nnd husbands who did not belong to each other. From under her white chiffon veil Dan Willis began to bum. “But she ones was a pal of mine, to-o-o!'' ac centing the last word with a wave of a thin hand. And 20 minutes later, in what was known as the daffodil suite and which did not suit Jane's pink-and-whlte charm, Jane confronted her husband wrathfully: “Flattered! J,eone Tucker—** “Now, Jane—'* "Usten, Jarv, I don't pretend to be finicky. 1 never made my living by duncing for censor boards. But left to myself. 1 wouldn’t pick the Tuckers and that De Frere for seat mates at the same dinner-table.” “I’ll admit that Helena's taste needs pruning.” it was not so much what he said, but the way ho spoke, thoughtfully, with a little Inflection of intimacy. Against the feelings that threat ened to take possession of her, Jane fought mechanically. Professional wisdom and professional training were strong. Facial lines mustn’t be created: temper mustn't be permitted —not this week-end. Ah. not now! A curious mist formed In her eyes—she willed It away and pressed a button for her maid; a frightened little twist took her lips—she forced it off by the time the maid appeared. But she aged In the next few hours —and knew It. The crowd was openly Interested In watching Jarvis and Helena. Thia did not seem to annoy young Mias Bloke, however. Nineteen was tho girl, no more— even in the broad glare of afternoon. Her face was firm of flesh, like an apricot hardly ripe. Her heavy blight hair was young and rampant In the afternoon breeze. Her incessant laugh ter and movements had the rush of pure vitality. But. grimly conceded ■lane, the girl also had the makings of a dowager and a strategist. At dinner. Jane had a partner whose name she did not know. After dinner, when tho moonlight became a white shawl for Bloke shrubbery and a w-hlte torch for Hendrick’s noble stream, Jane sat at a card-table with Do, Frere. Somewhere out of doors were Jarvis and Helena. For all her fortitude, mist came to Jane's perky blue eyes. I alter there was dancing—Jarvis and Helena still out of doors. Against Be Frere's too plump arm, Jane danced mechanically. She did not talk much. It was in their second turn together that De Frere murmured to her: "If you -ever need a professional partner. I'm ready.” Partner! That pasty plump adven turer! In Jarv'a place, in Jarv's white satin ruffs, in Jarv's spotlight! The thought was sickening, horrible. "You’ll hear in mind?” he mur mured. “You flatter me." she mocked. Tho following morning Jnno Jcssu l> n lay on her pillow and stonily watched (lie yellow sunshine filter through daffodil silk hangings. Two more days—two more long days! From somewhere out of doors Hel emu's laughter sounded. And Jarvis was awsk» Hnd dressed—Jarvis, who held twelve thirty to bo tlie Ideal breakfast hour! When Jano presently descended, “he was annoyed at finding that Ua brlelia Dunn and tho pasty De Frere were her only companions outside the huge luxurious tnnrhls imiosure which tho Hlokrw called a pooh Oahtiella and the younger Tucker later broke the unwritten law <>f salt by dissecting their hostess. Thin was surly in the afternoon while Helena and Jarvis played tennis. “Kilo rushed that young Kemp the same intensive way." shrugged Colly ■'Don't get excited.'' murmured Jane with indifference. After that, however, Helena's af fair with young Semp was rehashed to its last bunch of violets. Gabriella related how Helena's father appeared unexpectedly from Florida and laid down the law. The younger Tucker Idly retold how the same unexpected father had expurgated De Frere and Willis previously. Jane wished, as she had wished be fore, that one of the three had proved a better Lochinvar. With each hour It grew harder to mask thg small ! deadly fear that assailed her. "You I couldn't really blame any man! That Mlehiavellian Tucker mouth! She couldn't really blame Jarvis—J nr vie. V.ho was past first youth, and who so loved luxury and beauty. Rapidly Jane winked her fringy black lashes. Heavens—what if Gab rlella saw her wet eyes? Presently the afternoon was enliv ened by the appearance of fresh i guests—among them Harry Semp, a tall sandy-haired young man In gog gles, brown cap and huge brown car. Tho makings ot a strategist In Helena? She gave Harry two limp white fingers to shake, and turned with a hostess' entreaty to De Frere. j "Take 'em in and give 'em something to drink, like an obliging boy?" To; ' Forgot- Revue doesn't go to press till Tuesday, Anyway." "Don’t aee my pearl studs.” "Surely they were In the gray case?” • "Ye ah. They're here.” Not much inclined to small talk, was Jane. In silence she finished dressing, keeping N'adine at hand until Jarvis had gone downstairs. He did not offer to wait for her. She went down later—a small, lovely woman who smiled easily, as a guest should. Dinner—more laughter and cock tails. More generalship from Helena. Da Frere again at Jane's white elbow. The younger Tucker shamelessly amused. It was perhaps 9:30 and the phono graph was tinkling out one of the Jessalyns' own numt>ers. when Helena In Jarvis’ arms whirled to a tenta tive pause In front of a doorway in tome to confront her entering father. He was a large man with a domi nant nose and a full face. Helena blew him a daughterly kiss, and then, resuming her whirling prog ress. shook a white finger at him. "Naughty, naughty! You said you wouldn't be home, Dads, for 10 days.” Said Morgan Bloke, grimly: ‘‘I got a telephone message last night that changed my plans. Your mother asks I you to excuse her to your guests, as she lias gone to her room with a headache.” "They didn't expect Mums, so they'll excuse her,” called Helena gayly. By that time she was -half across the room. Morgan Bloke withdrew. But im mediately a maid entered the room and murmured something in Helena's ear. Helena laughed. "Tell him after a while, Marie.” And she continued to dance. Jane saw that once Helena whis pered something to Jarvis. Jarvis smiled faintly. Five minutes later Helena was missed from the room. Two minutes after that, Jarvis was gone. Morgan Bloke appeared again, but It was C.abrlella whose wits were quickest and whose incautious eager confidence to the younger Tucker, a tone too audible, reached Jane's strained ears past De Frere’s black shoulder. "Quick. Celly! They'll meet out there, past the tennis court and the Grecian slave fountain. And Father's roaring at a maid to tell him in wfilch direction Helena went. Let’s not miss the fun." Jane finished the turn with De Frere and then murmured that she was tired of dancing. His back turned, she herself slipped out an open window. Past the greet stone porch she sped, past shrubs and fountains, hurrying—whither? Sho skirted the main driveway, and then was aware of murmurs just ahead—the Tucker shrillness of whis per. Another swift step, and she would have been in their company. In the shadows Jane hastily hid herself. Across the illuminated driveway Helena came alone. Jane and the other eavesdroppers saw the slim form of Jarvis advancing over a wide space of velvety sod. But be fore Jarvis got within 50 feet of Helena, who apparently did not see him, Morgan Bloke came crunching heavily down the driveway toward his daughter. He was bareheaded, and the moon Fhone down on his passionately pur ple face. Jane saw Jarvis slip into the black shadows. Morgan Bloke spoke in a furious voice. "Helena, I’ll give you just one hour to clear this riffraff out of the house. Or I'll clear.” Even then Jane was shaken by helpless jealousy of the girl's aplomb. "Not all are riffraff," she explained gently to her father. "Borne of them are awfully amusing. Dads—and rather nice." "I'll give you one hour—and that dancing fool goes first!” "He isn't a fool. Dads. He's sweet!” " ‘Sweet!’ ” Business of a father partially choking to death. "This is the limit from you. Helena! A married man—” “Dads, you're so old-fashioned! Doesn't a mar ever seek a divorce?-’ “Helena!" “And don't threaten to disinherit me.” she went on. "Because I've learned there’s money in heels as well as in rails. Jarv says I'd create a sensation on the New Centurion Roof.” Numbed for a moment, Jane missed some of Morgan Bloke’s rejoinder. But she caught the last words: ’’— what are you doing, Helena! A mar ried man—you with the whole world to choose from!" She cut in swiftly, sweetly: “Ah! But I chose once. Dads—the only unmarried man I'll ever really want! And you didn't like him, either. I'll take this opportunity of letting you know. Dads, that it wasn’t be cause I wasn't an obedient daughter, but because Harry is stubborn, that It didn't come off. Harry's waiting for your welcome before he comes in to the family.” Morgan Bloke gasped. “That Texan oiler!" "The only unmarried man for me. Dads! And if I can't have him. I'll Ploy around with the married ones. (ABE MARTIN On Dreams ytfU'iWz&iyi i urs Yto?i fom vin'"utsSPlh noMWrtjfi&; if onnflf tow* After Year* O' Waitin'. “Th1 remarkable thing about these scientific days o' goat glands, coast t* coast flights an’ diabetes cures. Is that some pryln1 master mind hadn't discovered somethin' about dreams," declare* Itov. Wiley Tanner. "Dream lore In placed under lit' head o' psychic phenomena, but th1 atudents o’ psychology an’ other scientifically Inclined folks don't seem t’ tako « hit o stock In the’ strangeness o' dreams, an’ whether It's because they don't know which end t' begin at or how t tackle 'em. wo don't know. Hut It seems t' us somethin' oiiKht t’ be done about dreams. There's no war f guard again ’em. Ther liable t' »nt* t’ anybuddy. nn' liter mighty liable t' be scary, We know o’ mnttj nstances o' prophetic warnin'* that ■time with dream* I hat are almost |tl redlhle, hut our gclentl > highbrows lest laugh at 'em an’ call 'em tncro coincidence*. A young lady friend tells me she dreamed that she wu* t' marry a tall, dark stranger un‘ that her mother tried t' break It Up. Th’ next dnv she wu* pnssln' th' New )’nines hotel an a tall. dark, hand some stranger accosted Iter an* asked her tf he hatin’ met her before. A nlet e o' mine dreamed that she wu* presented with a set o' furs an' In a day or two later, she wins hutted by a goat In front o' th' livery stable In 1917. 1 wu* In a city an' dreamed that 1 wit* pickin' up money by th' lint full. Th' next day, a street car conductor ga\e me change fer a ten In nu kcls. A friend o' mine ti lls me that on two nltihls In succession, he then ini'll that he wu* goln’ t- have a .lot o' trouble What It wu/ t be win purtv vague, hut It wit* goln' I * be awful. I tut he thought no more about It, an' before bo kmoved It [soniebuddy had tulked him lnt' buylu' a big, heavy seven passenger, second hand car that had only gone 300 mile*. One time after I'd been out o' th' thelogtcal seminary for three or four years. I dreamed I wu* goin' t’ meet aomebuddy I hadn't seen fer a long time, so in th’ mornln' 1 put on my best clothes an' got my hair cut an’ wua je*t leavin' th' barber •hop, when a stranger accosted me. "Hello," he said, "1 heard you lived around these part*.’* He proved C l>e a book agent I'd met while *ttll In college, a feller I'd bought a set o’ Wilkie Collin* of on payment* Th' latlanoe due Wm somethin' like three or four dollar*, but th' dream struck me as bein' most wonderful, Th' night before Kate llud's home wua tallied, he dieamed that a mouse had belt'd through th' cheesecloth cover in th' hung hole nn' had dtopped u>t' his wine." iCrpjitfht, list ) Jarvis Jessalyn isn’t Harry, but he happens to bo the best substitute I’ve found so far. And possibly In time—’’ “In other words, you're threaten ing—" ’’.Not just that, Dads! Call it—call it using hook or crook. Harry said by the one or the other he'd have to be given a bona fide invitation into the Bloke family." j "I see, my daughter." Quiet. like show, seemed to fall from a waiting sky. “I hope you see. Dads!" And she added in a little whimper: “Harry’s ail right—if you only knew." A sharp and lucid brain had Mor gan Bloke. “If I get,” he began rumbling, “a marriage license for you and this Texan before tomorrow noon, mil! you promise—” Bubbled Helena, waiting not for him to finish: “I promise you'll never have to worry over anything the rest of your life but golf, grapefruit and grandchildren!" Somehow Jane made the house and daffodil suite ahead of Jarvis. But she had only twenty seconds to spare. Apparently as imperturbable as usual, he entered the room. But he was breathing rather hard. Their years together—she remembered them, and she had no deelre to hurt him. He looked about for her maid. "Want to pack and get back to town tonight, Jane?" Jarvis asked. “Welcome worn out here?" Flip pancy was the best note. Surprisingly enough, he said lacon ical!^: "yeah." Within the hour they were in the ash-colored car which all Broadway and F.fth Avenue knew. Behind them the Tuckers and De Frere were tumbling into Gabriella Dunn's low black car. A cool young person. Helena! Jarvis sat silently at the wheel, his eyes fixed straight ahead on the road. Jane huddled in her seat, turning the silken collar of her rnotor-coat high to hide her chin. A treacherous fea ture, the chin. It will wabble and be tray. The miles wound themselves back under the wheels. And then Jarvis laid a hand over her two. "Got a piece of new s for you, Jane." "Yes?” She spoke listlessly. "Like to have your own theater— our theater. The Jessalyn—onyx walled foyer, blue velvet hangings, drops by Durban?" "We’re not apt to have It, Jarv,’* she said languidly. "We are. Jane. Friend of mine* promised to build It for us. Fifty fifty—his dollars and our name. He’s got lots of the dollars. Made ’em In oil." Above the silk coat-collar .lane peered with wet, wondering eye*. "What friend, Jarv?" "Harry Setup.” "Jarv! You knew—you knew all along? You weren't tricked?" "Know what?" he said blandly. "I don't know what you’re talking about, Jane—except that Harry said one good turn certainly deserve* aa other, and hia worst enemies had never accused him of ingratitude or breaking hi* word." "You knew! Oh. Jarv," — vole* breaking, — "why didn’t you tell me? I thought my heart was broken—you might have given me a hint.” "You see,” he explained, "as an ae tress. Jane, you're such a good dan cer." He confided presently, hand attec. tively on wheel: ”1 saw you In that statuary group. Jane." "1 don't care," Voice quavered. "She—she's your.g. And I’m not — very." His free hand tightened on her two. "Don’t believe all you read, Jane." "All I read. Jarv?" " 'Bout marriage being a weak ani mal this century." "I didn't Jarv,"—a small sob,—"un til lately." And presently with anger: ‘‘How dare he call us riffraff:' "Don’t remind me of that, Jan*.” said Jarvis with a faint grin. “1 said 'Ouch' at the time. But”—voice wa* somewhat wistful—"all of us can't b* in rails." (Copyright, llil » Advancing years should not mean th® approach of s period of dependency—of crutchea and canes—of worry, care and fatigue! Don't dread the days ahead! Be prepared to grapple with the hench men of Old Age—with rheumatism —with undermined health—with feebleness. The system that is free from Impurities — through which rich red blood tingles need not worry about advancing years. En list the aid of S. S. S.—th# builder of red blood cells—to fight off the Infirmities of Old \ge. " ith the aid of S. S. 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