THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 15, 1940,
SHORT STORYKO
Daphne's Dilemma By Eve Chaucer
two
book:
"Yes," she said, smiling in answer to his question. "I'd love to go out with you to a dance on Saturday, but don't you think it would be better to join up with another couple? I've got a great Small Sizes, and she can easily friend, Evelyn Patterson, in bring one of her boy friends."
51
the
"That's
^^-
1
without light. If I talk to her
Evelyn was only too ready to talk, and Daphne found herself in
The landlady opened the door! "Miss Patterson's not in yet," her usual role of listener. Lunch.
only gone was nearly over before she dis- covered that on Saturday after she said, "but she's
to hair in preparation for a dance, erumpris
'er tea and
to noon Evelyn intended to wash her round the corner
she's agoing That was all that Daphne wanted then to know. She had 10
Fead. intention 'er pretty
Come wait,
dearic. It's
to
fetch some
"I just know she's all right,' when she saw she said doggedly, "but I'll watch, DAPHNE had been two years in choosing half a dozen small gifts, black satin, and with fine silk a brief stab of pain roused her
Macpherson's Store and now She thought he would Have lik stockings and suede shoes was a fer a moment
present from a rich uncle who had Evelyn or found John's face smil if you like.” she was in charge of the haber- ed to talk to her for longer.
Better, she thought, that she dashery counter. She had
Daphne could hardly wait to a farm in New Zealand. It suited Ing at her over the counter, Some-
that they to perfection. Evelyn had thing must be done--but what? should watch than girls under her orders, Mary tell Evelyn all about her adven- her
it in the At last she made a plan..
should put a spy on to follow the, Pearson and Jean Gray, but she ture, but, as it turned out, the helped her to choose
to Small Sizes department during the On Thursday she arranged with girl. saw little of either girl outside two friends did not manage
Jean to exchange lunch hours, and "Weary Willie's" lugubrious face the store. She and Evelyn Pat- have a proper talk until after the sale. terson spent all their spare time New Year, for Evelyn went away The young man gave a great managed, by having a word with brightened.
er. splendid," tegether.
with a young friend of hers, deal of attention to the selection one of the canteen staff, to keep Evelyn was 25, slim and beauti- Brighton, where she caught in of his shirt buttons, then he led a seat at the table where Evelyn he said. "Perhaps you'll report
again to me next week?" ful. Daphne was quite accustom- fiuenza and had to stay in bed; the conversation easily to him- usually ale. She waited until she
What with the anxiety of wat- ed to playing gooseberry when thereby achieving an extra five cell. His name was John Green- saw the older girl go into
ing, he told her, and he had some dining-room, her beautiful head ching to see that Jean did noth- they went to the pictures or to a days' holiday.
Ing that could be construed as sus- dunce. Evelyn always lind the
When at last they met Daphne sort of job in the Home Office, bent as if in deep thought.
"Yes," thought Daphne, bitterly, pect by the most suspicious mind, boys round her.
Sometimes had seek the young man again, He had been 11 recently, so lie
He had was using the remains of his sick as she followed her, "it's casy attending to her customers, and Daphne felt a little jealous. It but always in the store,
to her trying at the same time seemed so unfair that Evelyn returned first on New Year's Eve leave to put in a bit of work for for her. She's only to lift her for having chosen an examination.
finger and they follow her like hearse the interview she intended should have all the attention, but to thank Jately things had been a bit het sich nice presents, and again on That explains why he can pop sheep. She might have left John to have with Evelyn that after- ter. Ever since Christmas Daph- New Year's Eve Day, when he round here at all sorts of hours, alone at least; but I'm not go- noon, Saturday morning passed
In a whirl, and it was with ne's thoughts had been busy with brought her
beating heart that Daphne chang- a young man of her own.
Daphne was a little disappoint- Daphne thought; but he sounds ing to give him up
cd after her luncheon and walk- She first hotleta him during ed that Evelyn would not be able respectable all right. the rush hour on Christmas Eve. To see him, but their two depart- different floors;
ed round to Evelyn's rooms. He stood quite patiently while inents were on she attended to the wants of two bid she was reluctant to make the elderly women. At Christmas the first advance and ask him to tea haberdashery counter had ant her home. Evelyn soon realis specially good show of attractive rd that Daphne had fallen pretty fancy goods, Sewing hussifs, with heavily for this apparently fas- coloured zip-fasteners, shoe-bags cinating stranger. embroidered in gay colours, coat- "Don't worry, dear," she con- hangers neatly packed in a box culed her friend, I see him fast though. By next week he'll ask you to go to the pictures and then you can do the shy trick and say you can't go out with him alone Then I'll bring the first time. Cecil or Peter and we'll have a foursome."
following enough, the Monday the young man appear the ed again at haberdashery counter just as Daphne was pre- paring to go to lunch. He want ed, it appeared, a few pearl but- tons. Daphne sent her two as- istants away to the canteen, and bore, with as much good humour as she could, their sly nudges as they giggled their way round the had been counter. The store empty all the morning. It was Daphne smiled at him a bit ex- January and cold, with a biting perimentally and was pleased cast wind, but in the store it was when he didn't seize the oppor- warm.
They tunity to become "fresh."
Daphne was glad she had put It was a dull spent quite ten happy minutes in un her new dress.
of six.
When the two old ladles anally picked up their parcels and tod- dled off Daphne smiled at him apologetically. ..
"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting," she said. "What can I do for you?"
Their eyes met and Daphne's heart missed a beat. He was cer- tainly very attractive with his wavy brown hair and long-lash ed blue eyes. He had the fresh complexion of a healthy man who spends his free time in the open-
air.
"If you aren't too busy," he said, "I'd be very grateful if you'd help I've ine choose a few presents. such a lot of aunis!"
Surt
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a
to
"Er
er
er
off
wash
in
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cloth to see what was under it.
fur-
of allowing the older girl to guess and Mr. Greening nodded.
that she wanted to have a private cold outside. You'll find a nice "An excellent idea," he Faid talk with her until she had her bit of fire in 'er room."
Daphne smiled and thanked her thoughtfully, and Daphne got the cornered, for she was afraid that impression that for some reuson Evelyn might make some exeuse as she started to climb the stairs to the first floor where Evelyn had he was not pleased with the sug- to put her off.
Friday dragged by. The custom- a bed-sitting room. It was a gestion. It gave her a little un- easy feeling that he was hot so eis seemed to be more annoying large old-fashioned room, with a straightforward as he looked. thare she had ever known them. tiny dressing room
it, big "It would be more fun to have Just when she was preparing to enough to contain a gas ring and
outside your work, leave a messenger came along and bath. The 100m was well someone wouldn't it?" he suggested. "You asked her to go to the floor man- nished, for Evelyn had brought in scme of her own things. Though want to get away from the store ager.
Wearily Daphne walked to his she never talked much about her sometimes, you know. Perhaps I could find someone?"
office. He was a thin, dark man, parents or her background, Daph- They left it that Daphne should shy of the girl assistants, but al- ne thought that she had a bit of
He money of her own. ask Evelyn and if the latter could ways polite and considerate. not come John should find
The curtains were drawn and was known by the girls as "Weary Willie."
the fire burned merrily. "Daphne friend of his who would bring a
Miss Killi- took off her gloves and warmed girl. He would call in, he said. on the following Wednesday grew," he said, "I wonder if you her hands. while her gaze roved On the bed can help us. We
round the room. hear what he was to do.
When the girls met that even- know that goods are being stolen was a pile of something coveted:
It is true that with an old counterpane. Hardly ing, much to Daphine's disgust. from this store.
doing," Evelyn said that she was already most of the ·losses are: on the thinking what she was. booked up ten deep; and when next floor; but we are asking all Daphne lifted, one corner of the Daphne began to talk over their our assistants to cooperate
On the bed lay a collection of plans for the week following the He paused and looked hopefully. other girl was oddly elusive. After Daphne looked puzzled.
clothes, stockings, gloves, hats and a few minutes she dropped the
"Of course ", she began handbags.. Some of the tickets were still pinned on the hem of subject. Evidently Evelyn had "I'll do anything I can
"Well...er... no intention of letting her Triend
"Weary Wil- the dresses. "Macpherson's Store," into her secrets this time. Try lie" played nervously with a ruler they read, “5% gns."
have you Daphne dropped the corner of ing not to be both hurt and curi- on his desk. "Er ous was a stiff job, for hitherto any suspicions. I mean your the sheet as if it had stung her. the girls had talked over their girls .. None of them unus What was Evelyn doing with all. affairs without any reserve; but ually flush with money?"
these things? "Dresses, gloves,- she soon forgot it for Evelyn be- A horrible suspicion struck her, and stockings, hats." She remem- conversation with gan talking about a conversation Surely they could not suspect bered the she had had with one of the de- hier? That cheque she had had "Weary Willie" the night before. partmental managers that after at Christmas, her new dress and It was impossible. It was dread- noon. It appeared that goods shoes. As she stood in front of ful, disloyal,, . Evelyn could not were disappearing from the Small him her colour deepened. She felt possibly... She burled her face Sizes Department, the Hats and like a trapped animal which snarls in her hands and wept.
few Gloves and Stockings. It was not when it blunders into the teeth When Evelyn came in a the petty pilfering of an inex of a hidden trap."
moments later she had partially perienced shop-lifter, but organ- Her eyes sparkled with anger. recovered herself and a dull mis- ised and systematic theft on a Like most quiet people, Daphne ery had taken the place of her large scale. The managers were was not often roused,, but when first indignant horror. After all steal her worried.
she was her temper. was quick to ...if Evelyn could It was at the dance on the fol- Came.
friend's young man, why should lowing Saturday that Daphne "If you think I've taken them she stop at that?
She knew that she loved John Green- you're mistaken," she said sharply. "I've seen the things." ing, and by the end of the even-"I wouldn't demean myself, and pointed to the bed and tears fill- ing she was sure he returned her I think you might have asked me ed her eyes again: "Oh, Evelyn!" feelings. The couple he had straight out instead of hint- Evelyn looked at her quite Braught with him factfully dis- ng
She stopped and bit quietly and put down the bag of appeared after the first extra and her lip as "Weary Willie". held up crumpets. Then she took off her did not reappear until the band his hand for silence.
hat and smoothed, the shining was playing "God Save the King." "My....er... my dear Miss wayes of her hair.
By that time Daphne was won- Killigrew," he said quickly, "such "What things?" she asked. dering how soon he would ask her a thought · never entered my "Oh, you know. to marry him, and planning the head
I am merely asking lend you are such a life inno- Arrangement of the furniture in for your help that you will cent?" Daphne spoke almost the little house they would have ...ver. report anything that angrily. in the suburbs. She decided that you see
་
"
Why pre-
Evelyn's fine-eyebrows went up, "Pretend?” she said, "Will you
lie was the best-looking man Daphne's hot blush subsided she had ever seen and by far and with it went a little of her explain?”.. the most intelligent. She went anger. She began to feel slight- "Yes!" Daphne said. “I'll ex- home to bed in the early hours of ly ashamed of her too hasty de plain. But Brst I want to ask you' the morning with her brain in a fence,
a question. Why did you kiss whirl, and happy smile hovered I'm sorry," she said dully, "I'm John Greening outside this door round her mouth all the following not feeling very well this even the other night? You knew that day until, at nine o'clock, after a ing. I'm afraid I lost my tem- I was keen on him and after that quick dinner, she hurried round ber."
dance I thought he'd ask me fo
:
to the rooms where Evelyn lived. Quite all right," be reassured marry him. He kissed me, Evelyn must be the Arst to hear her quickly, "but you mustn't and then you come along and all about it. ·
Jump to conclusions wer take him away. Her voice A street lamp stood outside the 'my dear Miss Killigrew It rose to a wall. “Why do your want, door of the house where her friend was really about someone quite him?" she cried: "Haven't you had rooms. In its light Daphne different I wanted to ask you got enough men of your own?" She.
"You can't : could see Evelyn's fall, gure You have a red-haired girl call-pointed to the bed., standing on the pavement fullting ed Jean Gray on your counter. deny those clothes are the ones to a mun; Daphne hurried on. As for us you know she is that have been stolen from Mac- [She had been afraid that Evelyn: er・・ quite all right, I suppose?" "phersons; and they're suspecting
might be out for the evening. Daphne laughed.
poor Jean. "I suppose John helps she wouldn't you to steal .. a common thief yurds of the couple Daphne slack-touch a pín," she said. "I'd as-Just like you!"" ened her, steps. They appeared soon suspect myself."
SHERRY When she was within a hundred "She so honest
Gilman
WINES & SPIRITS
T5 Dept.
Her voice broke, and, with a
to be deep in falk and, as she “Ah!” “Wenry Willie" seemed to Ille moon she slipped down on watched, Evelyn laid or hand meditate: "That is
but
| affectionately on the man's shout» very satisfactory.
CP
her knees by the chair:and webt :-despairingly..
der. Ho swung 'round and kiss-er ...I mean. to say, have you So deeply was she immersed in ed-her. As he turned and walk-only grounds for that belief?" "Woe that she did not hear the ed rapidly away Daphne: saw his Dupline: opened her mouth, and door open. John Greening came face. It was Mr. Johir Greening, then zhut if ogain?: Whát did she into the room, He glanced quick- For the next few days Daphne really know. of Jean's affairs. Only ly at Evelyn and without making
(Continued de Page 3) worked like an automaton: Only, what Jean herself tólď: hér. -