Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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%. E W.HU' setviCLl SMti6thU&Bm CHAPTER XI—Continued —14— He frowned at hi* younger sister who, in a diaphanous white eve ning frock sprinkled with gold leaves, appeared in the doorway. “Lucette, when Jerry Field quotes Islands Arise,’ look as if he were saving something serious, not as if he were inviting—” "I’ve followed exactly the busi ness in my sides, Master Reyburn.” “Don’t apologize.” "I’m not apologizing. I’m explain ing.” “Remember, klddo, that tomor row night will be the last re hearsal” "For which blessing, praise be to Allah I I’ll tell you right now, Sam Reyburn, you’ll never get me in another play of yours.” "Boy, I won’t want youl ‘Islands Arise’ will be a smash hitl I’ll have the best actors in New York camping on my trail for a chance in it! I'll—” He looked at his sisters watching him with fascinated eyes. Dark color surged to his hair. "I suppose you two girls think I’m a darn fool" Lucette made a little dash toward him and patted his arm. "Don’t let old inferiority complex get you, Sammy,” Brooke warned. "Lucette and I know that this play of yours will be box-office, that it will set your name in lights on Broadway. Can’t you lust see Mother flying across the ocean—if necessary—for the premiere? We’ll all have ravishing costumes and—” Memory side-tracked her voice. She and Lucette couldn’t go to New York tor the opening. Suppose she didn’t get the Palm Beach job? She would have no money. She shook herself mentally. "What an emotional gal you are. Brooke. You've gone white with ex citement over what may never hap pen. ’Tisn't likely a break like that will come my way,” Sam prophe sied gloomily. Brooke swallowed the lump in her throat Sam mustn't suspect why she had gone white. She said in a voiced drenched with mystery: "Listen, you two. I’m getting fed- up with country life. The day after the play we'll open the apartment." That’ll make a big hit with me, but first, unless we want to be late for Trent’s party, folks, we’d bet ter start with a hey-nonny-nonny for the big city." Sam added, "You two certainly have the million-dollar look, girls, if you are my sisters." CHAPTER XH Mark Trent glanced at Brooke Reyburn seated at his right in the dim Mirror room of the recently open'd Supper club. Light from the illumlm ted table-top brought out the copper glints in her hail, the glow in her radiant eyes, and laid a pinkish sheen over the gleaming silver of her frock. Why wasn’t she wearing his orchids? Doubtless the answer to that was that she pre ferred gardenias. Had Field sent them? What chance had he, a man whose life had been twisted and tangled by a tragic marriage, against gay, debonair Jerry Field? None, he answered promptly, and as promptly told himself that Brooke must love him. That mar riage was years behind him. Why allow the memory of it to creep back tonight when for the first time in days his mind had been free of the haunting vision of Lola as he had seen her last? He forced his thoughts from the past to observe his guests. The rhinestone straps of Daphne Field’s blossom-pink satin frock scintillat ed with rainbow sparks with every movement of her body. Lucette was adorable in a fluffy white and gold thing which accentuated her rich brunette coloring. Sam was observ ing the crowd through narrowed eyes; Jerry Field was talking in a low voice to Lucette. Jed Stewart was on the other side of Brooke. The orchestra glided into a rhyth mic invitation. The diners sprang to their feet. Old men slipped an arm about women who snuggled. Young men slipped an arm about women who laughed; tougn men planted well-groomed hands on the enameled backs of women who stumbled. One couple kissed linger ingly as they passed. Lover’s eyes sought lover’s eyes; white hands clung; hushed voices questioned. Jerry Field and Lucette left the table. Sam groaned and held out Jus hand to Daphne. "Come on, let’s get it over. I suppose you’d like to step?” "Of course I would, martyr!” She slipped a white arm about his neck. "Nothing unsteady about her to night,” Mark thought He pushed into the background the memory of the night he had had to steady her to the car. He had liked her, she had been amusing, but he had not invited her out after that She had taken little wine tonight Lucette had barely touched hers, Brooke had re fused it Now her eyes were fol lowing her brother. Was she wor ried about Daphne’s influence on Sam? He watched her, watched the throbbing pulse in her throat which made him think of the beat of tiny wings against bars. As if she felt his intense concen tration oh her, Brooke looked at him with questioning eyes. Mark smiled in response. "Did you know that I was think ing of you? I was hoping that you were not worrying about Sam and Daphne. If you are, don’t” "Thanks, I’m not If that were all I had on my mind, my heart would be so light that it would be bumping against the ceiling like a runaway balloon.” "What is troubling you? Can’t I help?” "No, thanks. No!?* "That was emphatic, almost as if you were afraid of me. Care to dance?” Brooke motioned toward the cou ples packed in so close they could barely move. “You don’t caD that dancing, do you? But do dance yourself. You must know every attractive girl here. You have risen to bow at two minute intervals •ver since we arrived at this table. I’m just being noble, setting you free to dance with someone else.” "Thanks for the consideration, but the only girl with whom I care to dance is sitting at this table. You wouldn’t encourage a host to leave his guest of honor, would you?" H. glanced at the gardenias on her shoulder. “Don’t you care for orchids? I should have sent violets. I know you like them. You wore them the first time we met; no, it was the second time.” 'The orchids were beautiful." Brooke traced a pattern on the il luminated table-top. “Sometime I’ll tell you why I didn’t wear them to night” “Are you engaged to Field?” She shrugged lovely shoulders and glanced up provocatively. “You fairly gnashed that ques tion. You are miscast in ’Islands Arise’; Sam ought to write some thing for you in which you could play an ogre. You’ve just the voice for it” “All right. I’m an ogre. Mean while, how about answering that question?” ”1 said that sometime a would tell you why I didn’t ’ear the orch ids; that doesn’t mean tonight; it means after the play and your par ty. However, had I been a perfect lady, I would have said. Thank you billions’ for the flowers long be fore this. Curious how accustomed we have become to thinking in bil lions, isn’t it?” “I don’t want your thanks, I want — ” Mark disciplined his stormy voice. “Remember that aft ernoon in Jed’s office?” "The afternoon you refused to marry me?” "Haven’t you forgotten that?” ’There are some things one doesn’t forget.” "Then here is something to put beside it in your memory book. Will you marry me, Brooke?” She looked up with startled eyes, then laughed. "That proposal—if it is a propos al?” “It is.” "Has all the Are and ardor of a silent policeman.” "Shall I give a demonstration ot fire and ardor?” “No! Of course not! Don’t look at me as if you were trying to see the wheels of my mind go round.” "I hadn’t gone much deeper than your eyes. Have you never been told that you have beautiful eyes? You haven’t answered my question. Will you marry me?” The orchestra was playing a soft swaying accompaniment to a bari tone voice singing before the micro phone: "I only love one and that one is you, And that one is you.” There was a burst of applause from the dancers. Mark reminded: "You haven’t answered my ques tion, Brooke.” Her eyes were brilliant with an ger as they met his. “I answered it the second time you refused to marry me. Perhaps you have forgotten that I haven’t" Mark crushed back a mad im pulse to kiss her contemptuous lips until she went limp in his arms. Repression sent the dark color to his face. "No, I haven’t forgotten that you said that you wouldn’t marry me if •I he Mather shoes He looked Italian with a streak of Turk; be spoke American with a French accent "Good evening. Mr. Trent Glad to see you here, sir.” "How are you. Franchot? This crowd looks like prosperity back to stay.” "Business has been good ever since we opened. We had so many reservations for this evening we had to reinforce the staff of waiters and bus-boys. I don’t like strange help in a Jam like this, but what else could we do?" The lights in the room dimmed The dancers returned to their ta bles. The singer in her glittering sequins stepped to the stage. The orchestra leader nestled his violin under his chin, laid his fingers on the strings and drew his bow with a flourishing sweep. The spotlight traveled about the room, whitening faces, setting rhinestones on a shoulder-strap agleam, brightening already too bright eyes, striking rainbow fire from the Jewels on the breast of a grande dame. It lin gered at a table. Brooke gripped Mark’s arm. She leaned close, whispered: "Quick! Where the light is! The waiter! He’s the man who ran through my room!” Behind the scenes in the Club House theater, Brooke, as property woman, checked her list for the last time. Every article which the char acters would need to take to the stage was present and accounted for. Almost time for the curtain. If only her heart wouldn't pound so. It shook her body. But hadn’t her body shaken with excitement whenever she had seen Sam act? He 'V It’s Zero r, Breoke. was coming. He was almost as white as the shirt-front of his eve ning clothes, his eyes were like flames as he stopped beside her. "Just had a cable from Mother wishing me luck. It’s zero hour, Brooke. Locate the producer and manager out front. Watch ’em. If they go out after the first act and don’t come back, the play’s washed up; if they sit through the second, it’s got a chance; if they come back for the third, boy!” He turned to Jerry Field who was like a stran ger in his make-up. "Go on to that stage, Jerry, and whang the ball” Field nodded to Brooke before he disappeared into the wings. Should she wish Sam luck, his sister won dered? Better not The hand which gripped his blue-covered, dog-eared script, lined and criss-crossed with cuts and changes, was white-knuck led. The stage was cleared. Lucette, Daphne and Jerry Field went on and took their places. Sam was in the wings! Jed was at the switch board! The curtain man was wait ing for his signal! Sam raised his hand. The house dimmed. He wig wagged with two fingers. Jed brought up his lights. The orchestra stopped playing. Another motion of Sam’s hand and the curtain rose slowly. Brooke’s heart parked in her throat, running on high. Lucette waited for the greeting of applause to quiet before, without a trace of nervousness, she spoke her first line. Sam nodded approval,, frowned as Daphne answered shak ily. Brooke couldn’t see the stage, but she could hear the voices. Jed Stewart was red and perspiring un der the responsibility of getting the actors on and off. Once as he passed her he whispered: “Get a peek at Mrs. Gregory out front, third row, center. She’s blaz ing with jools.” "Has the New York producer come?" He nodded. “Second row, center. Sleek blond fella, with a grand mar- celle.” He caught Sam’s eyes glar ing at them and disappeared. Every sentence moved the play forward, unfalteringly. Jerry Field had been on and off before Mark Trent, in his blue lounge coat, ap peared to make his first entrance. As he approached the wings, his eyes, smiling, disconcertingly in tent, met and held Brooke's and set the blood tingling in her cheeks. The rehearsal last night had been Of eevree ah# hoped that be would be eeughl bet It was a relief le knew that be was far away from what newspapers would call the scene of bis crime. She could bear Mark Trent’s voice, faintly ironic. It was her cue to start the phonograph whlcl) was to produce a song as if sung in the street below. " 'In the gloaming, oh my darling. Think not bitterly of me.’ ” The sweetness and fervor of the man’s voice brought a terrifying ache to Brooke’s throat, a burning beneath her eyelids, as with the small machine in her hands she walked away to give the effect of music fading in the distance. " ‘It was best to leave you thus, dear. Best for you and best for me.'” The last word thinned into silence. Mark Trent’s cue. "That song is old stuff, but sure fire. Believe it, Madge?” The laughing tenderness of his voice twisted Brooke’s heart un bearably. She tore her thoughts from him and watched her brother. She could see his lips move in uni son with the lines spoken on the stage. The curtain fell slowly on the mi nor climax of the first act The setting and theme had been estab lished and the characters present ed. The audience applauded enthu siastically. From a hole in the cur tain Brooke saw the New York pro ducer go up the aisle. Would he re turn? "Don’t you dare go away, don’t you dare!” she flung at his straight back. "How did it go?" Sam’s voice was hoarse. "It’s wonderful Sam. Not an un necessary word; every line was ‘Forward march!* for your story. The acting is the best I’ve ever seen in an amateur performance.” "So what? Does it prove any thing? They’re aU good except Daphne; she isn’t getting her lines over. I hold my breath every time she opens her mouth. Isn’t Trent great? He's the spark-plug of the cast Wait till you see him in the crucial moment in the next act when he thinks the girl be loves has double-crossed him.” Jerry Field appeared beside her dressed in leather Jacket and knick ers. with a gun in his hand. "How’s it going. Brooke?" "I can’t see the stage, but from the response of those out front I*d say it was a hit You’re grand in that sports costume. You've made every point Jerry." "Thanks. That’s because when 1 say a word of love to Lucette I’m saying it to you.” He caught her hand and pressed his lips to it fer vently. "Please—don’t Jerry." "You've said that too many times, sweet thing. After the play we’ll have a reckoning—get me?" "After the play.” Brooke repeated the words to herself. So much eras to happen that would change lives, after the play. "Hey! Field! Field, come on!” Sam's whisper. Sam's beckoning hand. Brooke followed Jerry as far as the wings from srhich she could see him drop to a log on the stage, le*'t center. "Why don’t you turn thumbs up and end the poor boy’s torment?" asked a low voice behind her. She turned quickly. Something in Mark Trent’s voice made her furi ously angry. That’s quite a suggestion that I end ‘the poor boy’s torment’ I will Tonight” "Don’t do it until I change aftei the show. I want to drive you home Brooke. There is something I must say to you.” Brooke felt the blood rush to her face and recede. Had Henri double- crossed her and told him about the will? Did Mark Trent think she in tended to hide it? She wouldn’t give him a chance to accuse her before she produced that paper locked in her desk. She said as steadily as she could with his eyes boring into her soul: "Sorry. The minute the curtate falls, I shall dash to Lookout House to change into something snappy for the grand celebration. You wouldn’t have me come to your grand party in this green knit, would you? Quick! Sam wants the wings cleared.” She backed out, conscious of Mark Trent’s disturbing presence close beside her. (TO BE CONTINUED) MASKS —no longer fJit badgt of tho ovU-door r Hlii i ■ Apron With Poppy Modi rt ANOTHER “PICTURE PARADE” I N THE not-so-dlm-and-distant past the mask was accepted as a symbol of evil the hiding of the face being regarded as sufficient proof that the owner of the face was a person bent on a guilty mission. In this scientific age. however, the mask is in more gen eral use than at any time in history. In sport, in industry, on the stage, *in med icine, aviation and the beauty parlor, the mask has its, im portant niche. Here we present a few pictorial examples submitted by ftlpert cameramen through- out the United States and Europe. Pattern 1495. i the pocket. Pattern 1495 contains a transfer pattern of the apron and a motif 6Vi by 10% inches; a motif 6% by 9% inches and the applique patches; illustrations of all stitches used; material re quirements. Send 15 cents in stamps or coins (coins preferred) for this pattern to The Sewing Circle Need leer aft Department, 82 Eighth Avenue, New York City. Once tho court gallants ot Elizabeth's time wore masks wi kept illicit love trysts. Statesmen, too. while engaged la intrigue, to this camouflage. Today a steel worker wears a mask to pro 1 from the glare and super-beat ot aa oxy-acetylene torch. I >1 him Swiss Cows in Fighting Class “Placid as a cow” is hardly the thing to say in Switzerland, for some Swiss cows are a fighting breed .and dash forth to do battle at a certain time early every year. The unique cow fights take place in cer tain regions of the Valais, and the bovine combatants, noted for their fighting spirit, belong, to the long horned, black-haired breed which is raise, in the Val d’Herens. Each herd of cows has its leader, the “queen.” These queens as well as those eligible to be queens are brought together in the springtime for a final test of their strength. A special diet regime precedes the day of the grand battle. Owners and spectators gather from all over Switzerland to watch the struggle. As many as twelve cows may be lo the ring at one time and any "quit ter” is hustled out ot the arena without csremonj Throughout history, the mask has been the symbol of the theater. In ancient Greece, all actors wore masks. Theatrical masks of pure gold have been found in the tombs of Egypt’s princesses and pharaohs. At the right is seen a Benda mask, used in the theater of the present day. This mask is unusually mobile and. expertly used, appears extraordinarily lifelike. Even animals wear masks In Europe to protect them from gas attacks In warfare. At left, a German dog with Its mistress, and above, an American military horse. re 1 ■::p Vi 9 f * xr' '' " ■l z.•A ;:*••• • H !.£"•' : : - .. M; . V '■- X ' '< X Nowadays masks protect citizens from dust storms (left), guard foot- )all players against facial injuries (center) and protect surgeons and their patients from infection. Even hay fever sufferers can get almost complete elief by wearing masks which filter the irritating pollen from the air. Mash, once used to thwart society may now save it, thanks to science RUDY TO BRING YOU RELIEF IN MINUTES 0, Ik Rush BATE! ASPIRIN WOMS St FAST Y OU i pay aa high as von want for remadica claimed tn relieve the pain of Haadnehe. Rheumatism. Neuritis, Sdatkn. etc. But the medicine so many doctors generally approve — tho one used by thousands of families daily — is Bayer Aspirin — 15# a dozen tablets — about 1# apiece. Simply take 2 Bayer Aspirin tablets with a half glass of water. Repeat, if necessary, according to directions. Usually this will ease such pain in a remarkably short time. For quick relief from such pain which exhausts you and keepa you awake at night — ask for genuine Bayer Aspirin. ’rnwtt virtually 1 cant a tablat Let It Be Pleasing Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. Remember This When You Need a Laxative It is better for you if your body keeps working as Nature Intended. Food wastes after digestion should be eliminated every day. When you get constipated, take a dose or two of purely vegetable BlacloDraught for prompt, refreshing relief. Thousands and thousands of men and women like Black-Draught and keep It always on hand, for use at the first sign of rwistipatlon. Have you tried It? BLACK-DRAUGHT A GOOD LAXATIVE Making Opportunities Weak men wait for opportuni ties, strong men make them. HELP KIDNEYS To Get Rid of Add and Poisonous Waste Your kidneys help to keep you-well by constantly filtering waste matter from the bicod. If your kidneys get functionally disordered and fail to remove excess impurities, there may be C lsoning of the whole system and dy-wide distress. Burning, scanty or too frequmt uii- aation may be n warning of some kidney or bladder disturbance. You may suffer naggiag backache, persistent headache, attaeka of dlrsleeae, getting «p nighta, swelling, puCaem under the eyas—feel weak, nervoow aB played out. fa meb team It le better U rely eu a medicine that has won country-wide Doan spills tu-.r i,a nauawinWyiws**-