the dime-a-dance
girl
BEGIN HERE TODAT
BV JOAN option
CLAYTON
THE
It
dry, she observed that she had Beautiful Ellen Rossiter, who works by day | great deal of company. The dress
salvagiri In Barclay's Department Blosing room was full of salesgiris, lens lives with her mother, Molly Rosalier, bar alder alater, Myra, and her 13-year-old brother, well off than herself, many of them Mike, Ellen's dead father, younger an ifnding; post the age of romance fortune to provide for his wife and children and past the possibility of attain but Irresponsible Molly soon went through the ing happier futures, fortune. Since then the support of the houses hold has devolved upon the two
A titled English family, left a comfortablə
Jess extravagKTION,
waters,
mother's suggestion Ellen decided to work at
fogether for the day's work.
CHAPTER II
HONGKONG
TELEGRAPH.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1932.
She knocked at the frosted glass | pear to be really interested. door. A quorulous voice bade hori enter.
08
"Another thing,” Ellen said she prepared to leave. "I haven't any real evening dress. Only semi- evening dresses."
Jacob Salomon did not rise when she came in. He was wearing a hat. He did not remove his hat. Nor did he remove the cigar in his mouth when he inquired her busi-on the flöde. nesa. Ellen told him.
"D'ja over danco professionally 7" "No, I haven't. But I'm a very good dancer, replied Ellen in n volee as brunque as his own.
• •
in-
two
Salomon's foot, which had been cocked upon the desk, came down
"Won't do," he said. "I might na well tell you that the evening clothes are the catch. They wear out fast here. And you getta have 'em. This a classy place. Part of our advertising is Every beauti ful hostesa in the latest from Paris.***
"But I-"
af-
As Ellen, angry and discouraged, went out the door, he called ter her, "The job's always open if you manage to scare up the dress."
why Ellen, had not persuaded Salo- mon to take her without the eve-
She had no intention of being timidated by Jacob Salomon. Ho leaned aeros his untidy denk, wound up a portable victrola, put Ellen was young. She had unde- on a record and atood up.
"Won't do. We're in this biz for Their problem la complicated by Molly's heed- ufable good looks and distinction. "I'll try you out," he said.
money-not for our health." Ho Molly spend the precks sent money to buy Just around the corner who know
Ellon looked startled. But ovi-added speculatively, his eyes cu- clothes for Mike, At her what might be in store? She dently Salomon expected her to rinus, "No reason why a Jano na night, na dance half hostess until the sunsawang out into the street. Fifth dance with him. He was holding good-looking as you are shouldn't made up. She and Myra is the avenue was jaded and wilting in out his arms. She had never be have all the evening duds in the the August sunshine. Even the fore danced with a man in his shirt world. No reason for that matter shop windows accmed dusty and alcoves a man won,ring a hit and why you should be clerking in a the merchandise, usually so entic-smoking a cigar. But she sapped store or working here either.” During the long hot morning at ing, was dimmed by the blazing firmly forward. Barclay's department store My-noon light. ra's words lingered with Ellen.
Ellen was a light and graceful Myra had said that the Rossiter! But Ellen felt the customary lift dancer. She was surprised to find family would always be just one of spirit as she left the store. that Salomon. for all his bulk, jump ahead of the poorhouse. Myra She was almost cager now for the danced better than any partner she had said that Rossiter girls would coming adventure. After all, aho had ever had before. After
Late that afternoon, Ellen, bit- never find men financially able to had never been inside Dreamland. turns of the room he released her, terly disappointed at losing the $20 marry them,
With a pang in her There was no reason why it might mapped his forehead and flopped in or $25 a week, telephoned to the heart Ellen thought of Myra, not be fun. There would be youth to his swivel chair again.
Brooklyn apartment house. There engaged for nine years to Bert, there at least. It was better to "You're
o. k.," he announced. was a long wait while good-natured worn out with ceaseless waiting for dance than to sit evening after eve-Turn up with your evening dress Mrs. Clancy climbed the stairs to the opportunity, the break that ning in a stuffy apartment wonder- at eight o'clock to-night. You're bring Molly to the phone. But the never came. She thought of little ing how two small salaries Mike. In an age of apccialization to be stretched to feed and clothe 'em. Take any other night
were allowed Mondays off if you want wait was easier than the explana- otion. Molly Rossiter made it very Mike must have his chance. But three adults and one active boy. without explaining in advance, and hard. She could not understand how was that chance to come? How That feeling of suppressed ex- you're fired. That's all." was Mike to go to college as other citement was still with her when Ellen smiled faintly. boys did? How was Mike to got she renched the dancehall a fow an education? All of the Rossiters desired ease and beauty and luxury In file. All of them deserved those things.
the second floor, she left the cleva- "No salary. Commissions. The As she mechanically cut lengths tor and stepped Into Dreamland.
"What will we do?" she wațiel. boys pay 10 cents a dance straight of 19-cent outing flannel for women The big, over-decorated room, dancing.
Ellen had no better idea of that You can pick up more than Molly. But she poured forth who for some inscrutable reason even with all the shades drawn, ap- giving private lessons. wanted outing flannel in midsum-peared cheap and tawdry. The pa-half the takings. You split your the receiver and turned away.
You get
reassurance before she hung up mer, the girl's mind returned con- per roses that shaded the lights tips too if any." tinually to that morning conversa were not only Imitation--they were tion. Were the Rossitera fooling dirty. The floor, not yet swept, el her with the cold giance of a
He squinted his eyes and regard. gave way a little then. There were tears in her wide, thick-lashed eyes themselves? Were they indeed all was mussy with confetti remain-surgeon or a musical comedy rill-
and her face, ordinarily so lost in worse than mediocrity? Did Ing from the night before. Nor actor.
was pale with fatigue and anxiety. the past glories of a family count did the peeling glit chairs and "You're good-looking," he admit- for nothing when the present of tables arranged around the walls ted as if he had just noticed it. middle-aged man, who had
She brushed past a handsome, that family was poverty?
present a setting for romance. Or "You got class too. I guess you'll waiting at the row of telephones on "What's eating you?" Jenny El- the glass ticket booth near the knock the spots off any of the host the fifth floor of Barclay's. She king, her counter mate, asked once. door like the
ticket booths of "Nothing," Ellen replied spirit-motion picture houses. As though make three or four dollars an eve- her on the arm.
esses we have now. You ought to did not notice him until he touched lessly.
She turned to romance were for sale!
ning easy-six or seven on Satur-face Steven Barclay, owner of the Ellen squared her jaw, assured days. Easter than clerking in a department store. herself that she had not come for store. That what you do now?" romance, and walked toward
You're employed here, aren't the
Elten was considerably taken you?" he asked. door marked "Office Jacob Salonback. Colour rose in her cheeks, mon. Munnger." She was a little but her voice was cool as she nd- surprised that there were no other mitted that she did clerk in a store It was against the rules to tele- girls waiting and a little cast down and meant to continue to do HO. phone during business hours. It hour as well. That probably was a clear Salomon indifferently assured hor was also against the rules to leave her Indication that Dreamland jobs that such a course was an easy way one's counter. Her counter, tended to quick suicide, but he did not np-' by, another girl, was six floors be-
But she felt weary and discour- aged. Her head ached from the heat and from the ceaseless com- plaints of shoppers who desired more for their money than their money would buy. "Like Us, thought Ellen bittorly.
With noon and the lunch sho cheered. As she combed hair and powdered her damp
steps off Broadway and plunged in-served unruffled. "I have to
"I'm afraid it isn't all," the obuing dress. She never understood besuch things. To top this off she to the graceful dusk of the build-antisfied with the job too. What is explained tearfully that the land- ing. It left her abruptly when, at the salary?"
lord had called during the morning for his rent.
face were not too profitable.
She
rosy.
been
Ellen's heart gavo a great thump,
SALE
JUST
UNPACKED
NOW
ON
SMART HATS
AT MOST LIBERAL REDUCTIONS
ALSO
LIGHT-WEIGHT-SEASONABLE
RAIN
COATS.
OUR NEW SEASON'S STOCK
OF LADIES'-
COTTON VESTS
IS UNEQUALLED.
NOTE THE PRICES
$1.00 TO
$1.25
ELITE STYLES
low in the basement.
A.P.C. BUILDING.
"I am employed here," she saith in a atrained, low volco.
"Will you step into my office,
please?"
serve to meet this final calam Ellen clamped her teeth into her So she was to lose her job at I lower lip. As she allently followed | clay's! him sho called forth all her re-
(To be Continued). · A
COMMENCING
TO-MORROW
AT 2.30, 5.10.
7.15 & 9.30 p.m.
KING'S THEATRE
It Looks Like a Million and
Looks Like!
Costs What Lt Looks
The genius of a great producer, a
great star and a great cast- brings
you this greatest of all laugh epics!
The most gorgeous girls you've ever gazed upon! The biggest laughs you've had in years! The most lilcing tunes you've heard in months!
BOOKING
AT THE THEATRE
TEL. 25313. PRICES AS USUAL.
SMILES, GIGGLES, TITTERS, SNICKERS.
CHORTLES,
GUFFAWS,
ABDOMINALS,
PAROXYSMS,
CHUCKLES,
Rolling 'em in the Aisles!
Eddie
A 1932
PRODUCTION
Hear the sensation:] new Con Conrad song hits, "Yes, Yes" an! "Bend Down Sister".
CANTOR
"Palmy Days
with
CHARLOTTE GREENWOOD
UNITED
ARTISTS
PICTURE.
DON'T LET HIM FOOL YOU—————
He's not as serious as he looks. You're headed for the laff-thrill of lifetime when he gets that disguise full of Laff soup from dunking dough: nuts. This blue beard chases the blues away with a song, a smile and a sinker!