Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

5A6 another was discharging its freight of well- dressed passengers at the door, but they went in very quietly. Carola had imag- ined something more bacchanalian than this. Inside the door it was just like the reception hall of one of the best houses; ivory painted woodwork, red carpets, at- tentive and smiling servants. Carola found herself in a charmingly furnished dressing room with a maid taking off her wrap. But the guests were not just like the guests in the houses that Carola had vis- ited. At the little dressing table next to hers sat a girl who took Carola’s breath away—a slender thing of flame and rain- bows. “ Not a day older than I am,” thought Carola, “but she looks as if she knew everything.” She was wearing a dress of some shim- mering material that changed color with every movement; her short, curly hair Showed the lights of burnished copper. The pupils of her eyes were curiously dis- tended, making the whole iris look black and mysterious; her cheeks and lips were scarlet—painted, of course, but how bril- liant and effective! The brilliant color robbed her face of humanity; she did not look like a common human girl, but like some mad young priestess of pleasure. She struck powerfully on Carola’s imagi- nation. It was neither approval nor disap- proval, but Carola felt herself drawn to her like the needle to the magnet. The red-haired girl was talking in a high, clear voice to the girl on the other side of her—or to anybody who might hear: “We got fed up with New York, and went down to New Orleans to spend the winter. We didn’t have a cent beyond our fare, but we took a chance. Why should the men have all the fun of going on the bum? Two girls can always make out to- gether. I got a job in a department store, demonstrating foot-ease, and my friend peddled margarine from door to door. Then we got acquainted with some nice men who gave us jobs in banks. “We took 2 flat in the Pontalva Build- ings, and furnished it on nothing at all. All ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the most fascinating bums in the country drop anchor in that little park in the winter. The garrets of the quarter were full of them. I mean the wild young fellows, the rebels, the ones with too much oxygen in their composition, who break away from home. “They’re the nicest, and they never have a cent, worse luck. They paint, and write bad poetry, and make music, and do nothing at all. We laughed all the time, and lived on red beans and rice—” Carola scarcely got the full sense of her rapid words; it was like a lurid glimpse into the unknown. The rapid rush of her speech was as intoxicating as her appear- ance. Carola glanced with dissatisfaction at herself. Though her cheeks were delicate- ly warmed with excitement, it seemed to her that she looked wishy-washy alongside the brilliant creature in the adjoining mir- ror. “I ought to have put on some rouge before coming into such a place,” she thought. Then she perceived that there was rouge in little pots on the dressing table before her. She applied a little to her cheeks, but not with unqualified success; it would not spread properly. Finally the girl next to her perceived what she was doing. “Oh, my dear, that’s not the way!” she cried. “ You must lay a foundation first. Let me show you.” Carola gratefully turned sidewise in her chair, and the girl set to work with deft and knowing fingers. “ Ah, your skin is like lily petals!” she sald. ‘It’s plain to be seen you’re a new- comer here. Who are you?” Carola understood by tuition that one must not give oneself away in such a place. “Oh, I’m Titania,” she said, smiling. “You look it,” said the girl. Her wild, Strange laughing eyes were only a few inches from Carola’s face as she worked. “Tm Cassandra; she was cuckoo, you know. Crazy Cassandra, that’s me!” “Don’t put too much on to start with,” said Carola, “Don’t worry, duckling,” said Cassan- dra. “ When I’m through with you, your boy friend will want to eat you.” (C@) mie DOOKS (E@)