Lucille Gets a Close-Up A SHORT STORY By SEWELL FORD

The odd thlrj: to me was how we •11 seemed to spot her, right off the reel, as someone who didn't belong. Not that she's so freaky, or that there wasn't plenty of other queer ones in the company, j^ourse them big Alice blue eyes of hers was kind of bulgy and st&rey, and she had sort of a weird do on her ash blonde hair, something like the coiffure effects a head waitress or movie ticket queen will invent. Also that fringed smock affair with all the bead work on it was a bit strik-

ing.

But I expect it was her walk that really got me gawpin' after her. Threw her shoulders into every step, as if she was tryin' to put bodyEnglish on her stride, or like she was coming over a ploughed field. You know! Mannish. And I remember nudgin' Vee and remarkin'. "Say, w-ho's the young lady husk with the heavy tread?" ‘Tm sure 1 haven't an idea. Torchy." say's Vee. "But then, one is liable to see all tu. ds here." It’s a fact. Anyway, every time I've been favored with an invite to I>unmore Hall, which has been twice before. I've wondered where th.s Mr> Oakley Jones collected 'em from. 1 suppose it's on<* of her fads. She's a faddy party. Mrs. Jones. She can afford to be. for Oakley Is president of the baking powder trust, or something like that. Well, it might be chewing gum or bath tubs, or vacuum sweepers. Don't matter. But whatever big combine he's the head of it's a dividend producer. You can tell that just by countin' the two butlers and the full chorus of maids floatin' around, even if you didn't notice the deer park and the marble swlmmin' pool and the Chinese rugs and the garage that looks like a young city hail The 400-acre estate that's spread around Dunsmore Hall, includin' half a dozen of the Shinnecock Hills a couple of ponds and a private O-hole golf course, ought to give you the Idea that there was a he-slzed income somewhere in the background. And you'd never suspect, to look *>t Oakley Jones, that he could connect w.th a kale harvest like that all by himself. A mild-mannered, soft-talkin' inconspicuous party, Oakley; a short dumpy gent with watery' blue eyes and thin grayish hair. Just as likely as not, too, while the place is swarmin' with week-end guests who are pullin' all sorts of interestin' stunts, you'll find him out back o' the service wing practicin' mashie snots on the lawn, with maybe a chauffeur as ar assistant gardener retrievin' halls for him. They say ne's a perfectly punk golfer, but nobody works harder at it than him. He'll do his three rounds In the mornin* and then spend most of the afternoon tryin' to chip a peck of practice balls over a hedge into a washtub. Maybe Bruzinski. the great violinist, is entertainin' a mob in the big hall, or Sothern and Marlowe, or one of the Presidential candidates, or a Russian i.ancer is boldin forth inside, but Oakley will dub away with hi* mashie pr«f.i*tent. Mr. Ookley Jones, though, will be right in the limelight. Trust her. She'll lie floatin' around, smilin' and noddin, introducin’ folks here, shooin' a flock of maids there, snappin’ her fingers at a butler, and generally stage managin' her Sunday afternoon show. It's no slouch of a job. I'll say. For when you've rounded up three or four celebrities and near-celebrities, and have collected maybe half a hundred guests from all over that end of Bong Island, with the Idea of keepln’ em all entertained for three or four hours, as well as provided with food, you can't just sit hack and trust to luck. You've either gotta have a good program to follow or eL-e be a shifty improviser. This tall, willowy lady with the dark brown eyes and the slim, nervous Angers seems to be equal to it. though. She dot; i s - an anything she; can'' finish. Mrs. Oakley Jones What If the Newport set did try 'to put up the bais on her a few years back? Ain’t she sbowiu* 'em they ain't the only ones that can win space in the society column? I’ll tell me Jury .she is. It was her idea, you can bet. of bayin' an English country bouse, havin’ it taken apart and shipped over here .o be set up on the top of this Long Island Hill. And If there's anything outside of England that's more English than Dunmore Hall I'd like to see it. Why. ttey even celebrate Whit Sunday and Guy Fawkes day on the Jones estate, and have a cricket fle.d for the Help. 1 hare heard that Oakley balks at drinking tea for breakfast, hut 1 understand it's always teady In case he shoald change his mind. Also these Sunday afternoon affairs a'-e patterned after something Mrs. Oakley Jones got hep to while she was visitin' at some English country house, only she has to sub In opera singers and such for the Prime Minister and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. But the're unique oi their

kind and in one way or another she i seems to get nearly all of us mart

setters droppln' In.

Course, the way Vee and me happen to get counted In Is through the Robert Elllnse*. who have a sort of a blanket Invitation to bring along any of their friends. Mr. Robert leu on to find these affairs sort of bor^ some, but I notice that be drives over even' now and then. Maybe it's on account of the good billiard games he gets there, or it might be because Dun more Hall is one of the few places where they still serve Scotch and Just as reckless as If the 18th amendment had been quashed. Anyway, it ain't fl ve minutes after I'd rema-ked about the young lady with the swingin' stride when I drifted along where Mr. Robert was decantin' two fingers of the Haig Bro hers' celebrated brew into a tall glaa* Having completed the operation, and added a little more for good luck, he's about to press Oie syphon trigger, when he glances across the terrace. 'Oh. 1 say!"says he. "Who do you suppose she is. Torchy ” "Eh?" says I. followin' his stare “Oh. that one? Jus, what I was askin \ee. Odd gaited party .sort of a

pacin' rarker. eh?"

And as we're watcbln' her cross the lawn toward the tennis court* who should float out of the house but Mrs.

Oakley Jones.

"Ah. Robert!" saya she 'Tell me

who is that young woman?"

Mr. Robert.- shrugs his shoulders. "Sorry. Mrs Jones." saj-j, he. "hut I haven't had the pleasure Not that I mean to reflect on your efficiency as a hostess, but it seems to me you

might"—

"Guilty," she breaks hi. "And I promise that you shall meet her before you go. That is. if i can find out for myself who she Is. One would almost think I could, but thua far no one * e ®m» to know And really. I would like to learn a little something about

her."

"Quite a pardonable curiosity, I'm sure.” admits Mr. Roben. "Thank's awfully says Mrs. Jones. “You've such a sympathetic nature. And you're so clever at finding things out- al-uost psychic, aren't you?" * "Absolutely not. Mrs. Jones." says Mr. Robert. "No. the only departed spirits 1 care to commune with are these.” and he indicated the decanter. She chuckles and tap* him playful on the arm. "What a terribly complicated Joke!" say she. "Just for that I shall commission you to follow this mysterious young person, find out all about her. and tell me the whole story.” "You really wish to know?" asks Mr. Robert. She says she does. "Within the last hour," goes on Mrs. Jones. "I have run across her in a dozen different places In the house and about the grounds. And always with those curious blue eyes eagerly looking about, almost as though she had lost somehing. Several times I have tried to spoak to her. but she ha* looked right through and past me. Not ihat I think she meant to be rude, but she seemed so absorbed In Just gazing around that she didn't see me. I've not seen her speaking to anyine else, though, so I can't feel slighted And If she doesn't know anyone here it Is high time she did. At least, she ought to know me. See. there she Is now; down there watching the tennis. Do go and discover her. Robert. Flirt with her If you like.” "Now that's what 1 call generous." says Mr Robert "and if you had not Just promised Teddy Royce that I would follow him to the billiard room”— "So It is." comes back Mr Roben "That is why 1 am delegating my talented private secretary to go. observe and report. I am willing to stake my reputation, and his. that within an hour you will have full information. Eh. Torchy?” Course, there’s nothing for me to do but grin and ijeglster modesty. Also to trail off after the unknown ash blond*- I wouldn’t say through, that this Is the sort of sleuthin' I'm any star at. Not that I'm skirt shy, but it's kind of-✓delicate piece of work, ballin’ a young lady guest at a week-end party and askin’ her who and what. Ir's so easy for ’em to counter with a "Well, what's that to

you?"

However. I drifts down where she Is wanderin' kind of aimless around the crowd that's watchir.' the mixed doubles. She acts like a strsngi r. all right. By her stride and build she might be a lady tennis shark herself, but If she was she’d be taking some Interest In the game, which she ain't. No. she seems to be sizin' up the crowd along the side lines and occasionally listenin' in on the >.hat 1 didn't g<-t at y real slant on her until finally I noticed her fish out a little little memorandum pad and Jot down.

something -

"Huh!'' thinks I. "Might be stray dressmaker, or maybe a woman reporter collectin’ society notes." That last hunch seems to be wonb followin'. Anyway, it » as time I madr some sort of a break, so 1 edges In casual uutil I'm almost at her elbow and then remarks off-band; “Could i help you any with the names of some of 'em' Miss?" "I—1 bog pardon?" says she, after a nervous little jump. "Oh, I t«ed to be in the newspaper game mys If." says I. "Doin’ aociety stuff, ain't you?" "No—act exactly." says she. "I'm not a reporter." v "Oh!" says I. "My error. Bu* 1 saw you taking notes, didn't I?" "No. n»!" says she. starin' at me panicky. "At least, not the kind you mean. R. ally. 1 wasn't.' Slo you see 1 had her goln*. almost from the start. After that It was simple. Merely a case of stringin' her alon; Let's vee." says I. "did I get your name rigl t when you came ” "Lucille Blodgett,” say* she. "Blodge ,?" says I. shakln' my head. "So- ry. ■lii-s. but it ain't on the list." That was a Mt raw. Ill admit, but t seems to work, bi,*- fiances around nervous, to see if anybody's near, and then she grabs by arm. "Please!" says she.- "Ill go right away if—If It's necessary.” “What makes you think It might be?" I asks. "Why." rays she. "you—von'ge a detective. aren't you?" • “Not so bad a* that,” says L "Only I a private sec." "Oh!" says she. twistin' her fingers in and out. "Then—then you know I'm not really a guest?" "Since you mentioned It, Miss Blod’ett," says I, “I expect I do.” •'Well,” says she. liftin' her chin defiant, "go ahead. What Is it that you usually do to them In—In such cases?" “Depends a good deal on the case." says L "Come now. what was the big idea, your crashin' in on a Dunmore Hall function a'l on your own?” “I—I simply wanted to see how they did such things." says LuciUe. "That's a little slim." says I. stakin' my head. "Lots of folk.* are curious about the s.-;me thing, but few of 'em have the nerve to rush the insiue guard the way you have. Besides, that don't explain the notes." She lets out a sigh and shrugs her shoulders. “If you will pin me down," says she. “I came to gather material." “Not dress goods?" says I. “No." says she. "Fiction. I'm a novelist At least. I hope I am. Anyway. I hive written some short stories that have been published in one of the magazines. Perhaps you’ve read some of them—about Corinr-', the Cow Glri?" "Must have missed 'em." stys 1. "But you wasn’t looking for that wild and wool) - stuff here, were you?" ‘Tm bringing Corlnne East, you see." says she. "That Is. I am writing a novel abo’". her in which she is to marry a very rich New Yorker and live in a wonderful home like this among the—the Idle rich. "Eh?" says I. "The idle rich?" "The kind of people Robert Chambers writes about in his books, you know.” says Lucille. "The sort that say and do such weird and eccentric and—and naughty things. Of course. 1 don't know any such persons, but 1 had heard of Mrs- Oakley Jones, and I found out where Dunmore Hall was. and so I—1 came. 1 had read about such people being guarded by detectives, but 1 thought if I just held my head up a ad was bold enough they wouldn't notice me. I hadn't thought about there being a private secretary .though." “I suppose you'll put me In now." says I, "red hair and all?" Miss Blodgett smiles uneasy. “You haven't said what you were going to do to me yet." says she. "Send me home. 1 suppose; or will you try to put me in Jail?" "Which is nearer?" says 1 grinnin'. "Why." says she. "I live in Sioux City." "Some ways off, isn't it?" says 1Know Jack Lyons, do you?" "No,” says she. "And probably 1 wculdn't know any of the people there that you have met. You see. Dad's a— a labor union official. He’s an organ-

izer.”

"Oh," says I. "Pulls off strikes,

eh ”

"Sometimes." says Lucille. "He goes around and makes speeches to the miners." "About the idle rich?" 1 Lucille nod*. "He raally doesn't know much about them, except what he's read." says she. "Neither do 1. That's why I wonted to see for myself. And I've been here only such a little time. 1 wish I didn't have to be sent away now." "It might be fixed." says I. ''Tbal

is. if you'd do your part." “My part?" she echoes •'Haven - ' yon any specially." s»T* "any stunt that you do that might be eintertainln'?" Why." says she, "nothing but brencho riding and a little trick rope throwing that I learned summers up at Cody." "V Ud West act*?* says 1. “Fine! Say. Lucille, i think we can use you right away and get you right in with the idle richers. Are you game?'Tve traveled nearly two thousand miles for that ]|artirular purpose." says she. "I'll do anything- you say that's reasonable. I haven't a rope, though, or any son of riding costume." Maybe we can dig up something of the sort.” says I. “You stick around while I nave a talk with Mrs. Oakley So it ain't half an hour before I’m hunting up the lady with a full re-

port.

"Really V 'says Mrs. Oakley Jones "A lady novelist who means to RobertChamber us? How utterly delightful! Any you have bullied her Into performing? You Inspired young person! Of course we can fit her out. My dear bn Jier once made a collection of cowboy things; saddles, horsehair lariats, silver mounted bridles and so on. It's all stored in one of the attic rooms, just as he left It. poor boy. And there are two or three bronchos around the place somewhere. The assistant superintendent rides them. Bring on your Mis* Blodgett. Down on the golf course would be a good place for the event, wuldn't It? I will announce it for half an hour from now and have an audience ready. If she can do any thing worth while I sta!l ask her to stay until Monday with us." She's some hustler. Mrs. Oakley Jonas is. Almost before Lucille Blodgett had time to mak half a dozen more notes she was being towed to s room where a couple of maids helped her shed her Sioux City costume and climb Into a fringed buckskin shin, riding breeches and wooly chaps, and she'd picked out a-qulrt and a raw hide rope that suited her. And whil. that was goln' on Mrs. Jones had rounded everybody from her verandas, nis courts and the swlmmin’ pool, and herded ’em down to the first fairwa; of the course. Lucille was no quitter, either. Sin was right there with her act. Also she had the right idea oi how to pull it off, for she makes hex entrance un expected and dramatic l*h-huh Dashes out from a clump of shrubbery In front of the crowd, stands up in the stirrups with a big revolver In one hand and her rope In the other and lets out a few YDyi-yips that brought the spectators up on their toes. Then after she has put her biscuit colored broncho over a bunker a •ouple of times, and firel a fev from the young cannon, she proceeds to rope a scared caddie on the fly. make her mount Jump through the whirlin' loop and do a few other tricks that would almost qualify her to travel with a big top. Course, she's well, warmed up the time she has finished, for It’i sultry afternoon; and having jol'ed out all ker hairpins, that ash blonde coiffure creation has be«*n wrecked beyond repair, but Mrs. Oakley insist on introducin’ her Just as she is to about two dozen prominent people Isn’t it a shame Oakley missed all this.” says Mrs. J.-mes. “I just knohe would be thrilled to see you ride like this. Miss Blodgeu. He must see w. Someb< dy go find him. please, and tell hint to come right here. Vo^ don't mind doing it again, do you. n'y dear " Course, she don't,” 1 speaks up. wink in'.significant at Lucille.. And so when Oakley shows up five minute: later, she has to go through the whole act aivi. "I suppose you dne't ride, do you?* she ask me. as 1 be.pg her off and she limps toward the house. le?" says I. "Not a lively hay burner like tfiat." "Then you can hardly appreclale what' It means.” says she. "when 1 tell you I haven't been on a horse for more than a year."

"Well, you made a hit anyway." mays 1. "and you'll have all nigh' to rest up In. You're a regTar guest now. you know. But here's Mrs. Oakley Jones coming, after us. Wonder

A Fortune in Cats Fur In the ola nursery story 0 f i-, .« in-Boots" a clever cat mai'o j,is ■

tei-s fortune and turned him

poor miller into a rich min who .. T

tied the king’s daughter.

Today It almost seems at it r ,, whether clever or not. is , M i n . position to make her oaner a . person, for nowadays, when a i-

She told us right away. "Oh. Miss Blodgett.” says she. "Would you rather hare your plunge in the pool now, or do you wish to play a few seta

of tennis first?”

"If you please. Mrs. Jones." says

Lucille, brushln' some of the damp are mounting so rapidly In pn r * hair off her Blushed brow, "l-ljof our household pet Is worth ■

would like to go somewhere and He |a respectable sum.

down; in a bed. if I might." ! Black skins are the host ralu h “Oh. very well" says Mrs. Oakley.-Those of ordinary bouse cat* i" "Will you tell Parker. Tcreby. that .from 6s to 18s (tl&o to « Miss Blodgett is to have one of the mai| v , each, and the demano for small suites in the south wing and | can be estimated from the fan ' • that she is to have some supper sent ( one catalogue alone, of all those . up about 8.80?" jby different furriers for toe recet b! "Of course,” says Miss Blodgett, as Ixindoa fur sales, offered t».

I turned her over to a maid. "I haven't thousand house cat skins,

seen much as yet. but it seems to me | The fur for our domesrir p*t j. a that these people are rather an active jfact. extensively used for coat hr,^-. lot. I don't suppose they keep It up No wonder cat stealing a r . all the time, do 4hey?" ' neratlve form of crimp, and one 0 !t*n "Mostly,” says I. "I've knowed 'em hears of whole nelghborho' ! w, at to play golf and tennis and motor | deprived of all their cats 1 th.-depr*-

and swim and so on all day. and dance dattons of thieves with and play bridge more'n half the night money making.

and get up and go at it again next j One cannot help feeling that if ;k» morr.in'. every day for a week." |Value of pussey were better knivn "I'm sure I couldn't stand that long." people would make haste to s -n-. says Lucille. "Nor could the average : drowning all but one or two in «-.,r working girl. She'd be a wreck. But .litter of kittens, and woulu tak- i. ; hese women and girls all look so fresh care, when they moved, or w«t,; c. j and fit. Th» men. too. And yet they .holiday, not to leave their f:,tniij jjcall them the idle rich!" jto the tender mercies of the s-n- - "Oh. they put a lot of bunk in them For she is. or could easily be. i-rr

society novels." say* I. “Chiefly. I valuable commodity,

expect because they write from guess j Her fur is not her only as*-t. Tt* work. But you'll be able to give us rilt pUguo is one of the tiplcs nf tk* the true dope in yours, eh?" J moment; Its extension la cansinz wids I'm waitin' to see that book. But uprped consternation; and in thi.« coemy guess is that Chapter I. won’t be; n4<ton t i, e household cat i-

started for a few dayh yet. Not un- vcorth het weight In gold

less she can find a desk she can stand

up to.

The damage done by rats Is iIeoc.

incredible.

Ills calculated that their ravutt cost Great Britain someihine mort than 250 mllUon dollars ayear

Factorys That Make

ioo Pounds

Milk-Net Cost Var-^^^^r^r • „„ WTUU concrete. One rat will consul 1GS Slightly ” pounds of grain In a year. Qnoenn i ln & P er *° < t °f afortnlght rat OCaSOIl tried away seventy-one dozen ! from a jertain merchant's prembf*A two-year study of the cost of milk |think what eggs cost at the pn production undertaken < xperaticely, time. Every cargo ship ttai by the United States Dai... Division bears Its complement of score? of and Purdue University, on a number and they are"a great menu*' of dairy farms in northwestern In-1 Cats would multiply rapidlj :! i-ff dlana. has resulted in figures o nthejwere cared for In a scientific requirements of producing 100 pound.- stead of b ing so often nut outol of milk In winter and in summer. To ,wond almost as soon as they give permanent value lo the results.) We cannot afford to neglec these requirements were determined tie animal which offers us two (iwisfi in pounds of feed, hours of labor, etc., pc -slblUtlee—warmth for the 1 and by substituting present costs and weather and the preservation of values for the various items a farmer |none-too-plentifu! food suppli- - can determine verb- closely wha: it is I the voracious rats costing hm to p—duc* in') pounds of I There is room for a new an milk at the pre«» .t time. Ifshing industry in the breeJinr Reduced to Figures |for profit The enterprisinf " ay In the summer months the require- the old fairy tale come true, and laments for 100 pounds of milk wore as)rover that puss can brine a f or Vfollows: Concentrate. 2'> pounds; o his owne. in real life as well a- : dry roughage. 27.4 pounds: silage and fable, lithe*- succulent roughage. 60.1 pounds:

hauling and grinding concentrates. 80.014; pasture, 0.04 acre: human labor 2.2 hours; horse labor. 0.‘_ bour; overhead and other costs, 80..393, In the winter months the requirements for production were: Concentrates. 38.6 pounds; dry roughage, 66.8 pounds silage and other succulent roughage. 147.6 pounds; hauling and grinding concernrau-g? 80.03; bedding. 20.3 pounds: human labor. 2.5 hours; horse labor. 0.3 hour; overhead and

other costs, 80.885.

It has been generally believed that the cost oi producing milk slderably higher in winter summer; arid while this holds true as far as the gross cost Is concerned, the figures obtained in this lnv< gallon show that the net cost of producing 100 pounds of milk from November to April w»s only 1.8 per hirher than the cost from May to October, inclusive, and that the total cost varied only slightly from month to month within each of these

^1 PER CENT. PER ANNUM ^ ON SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ^ g \^/HKN the purchasing power of the dol- • norma h the dollar you deposit N OW will greatly increase in value. You Cannot Afford to Neglect Your Savings Account and you are invited to avail yourself of the courteous efficient service of this depository. Wntr lo Us. CAPITAL AND SURPLUS 84,000,000 WEST END TRUST CO. lliou! St.. «nd So. Penn Se,. PHILADELPHIA. PA.

An ounce of asbestos can lto a string more than a bcaiW*]

yards long.

seasons. This small diffi-nncp tween net costs of product!* 5 largely due to the greater cndi; lowed for manure during the wti

•ason.

Price* Fluctuate The price received for the c however, fluctuated sharply ® month to mon'h. Further details on requirement' milk production, including -■■i tore as cost of keeping a i >st of keeping a ta Hon of work performed bj - of labor, percentage rehul ,,: oua factors, in the cost of p Hod other details are i'f ' I>epartmelu Bulletin ments and Cost of Produnr Mi k in Northwestern L may be obtained from :‘ State* department of AgUcu request.

MI RITA

tire hair root*and deitte*! . No electric needle, burning > - der* u»ed. One application of Ml-R'“ aau completely remove a*l un 1 leaving the ikin aoft and tnu* -’ ( Every woman who ii trouble - n ^ fluoui hair ihonld know o 11 • ) ._i permanently de«troy the n ^ fn . growth of hair, and thi» tie* used successfully at home

DR MARGARET Rl ”