1928-04-03 — Page 11

NEW AMERICAN SERIAL.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

GIRL ALONE

CHAPTER L

By ANNE AUSTIN. Author of "Saint and Sinner,“

"As a punichment for playing at

"It Isn't a sapphire," Sally said [your work you will spend an hour dully, her brush beginning to do The long, bare ream had never of your Saturday afternoon play-scribe new semi-circics on the pine been graced by a picture or a cur time in the weaving room. And floor. "It's like she said-just tain. Ita only furniture was 20 Betsy, If I find your weaving all piece of broken old bottle. And narrow iron cots. Four girls snarled up like it was last Satur. she said she'd try to find you a doll, were scrubbing the warped, wide-day I'll lock you in the dark room Thelma." planked floor, three of them piti-without any supper, You're a "You said it was a sapphire, fully young for the hard work, the great big girl, nearly six and aSally. You said it was worth baby of them being only six, the half years old, and you have to millions and millions of dollars. It eldest nine. The fourth, who di- learn to work to earn your board was a sapphire, long as you said it rected their labours, rising from and koop. As for you, Sally well was, Sally!" Thema sobbed, as her knees sometimes to help one I'm surprised at you! I thought of her small crew, was just turned I could depend on you better than 10, but she looked, in her short, thia Sixteen years old and still skimpy dress of faded blue and acting like a child and getting the white checked gingham, not more younger children into trouble. |

Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Sally Ford?"

grieved for the loss of illusion as for, the loss of her treasure.

WILBUR

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1928.

PLAYERS.

COMEDY SEASON BEGINS: TO-NIGHT.

The popular-American company; tho Wilbur Players, whose pro- vious visit to the Colony year ago, is still remembered with keon pleasure, begin a farewell season' In the Star Theatro at 9.15 to- |night with the big Broadway hit, "The Sap," an amusing comedy which is entirely different from the film of that name.. The story of "The Sap" deals with o sup- posed duffor who startles everyone in the end, and It is anid to be highly diverting, "The Sap" will be repeated to-morrow night, bo- ing followed by "Handcuffed," on Thursday; "Three Live Ghosts," on Friday; "Her Wedding Night," on Saturday: "Charley's Aunt," on Sunday, with song, danco and music specialities; and for a grand farewell performance, "The Family Upstairs," on Monday night. Be- aides the performance on Sunday The three little girls and the 16- night, "Charley's Aunt" will be year-old "mother" of them scrubbed presented as a matinee at 5:80 out in a coaxing whine, ne she "Yes, Mrs. Stone," Sally answer in aflence for several minutes, on Sunday afternoon, when chil- eloshed a dirty rag up and downed meekly, her face that of a little doggedly hurrying to make up for dren will be admitted at half in a pail of soapy water, "play-act old woman again; but hor hands lost time. Then Thelma, who price. Admission" la at for us, won't you, Sal-lee? Tend trembled as she gathered up the could never nurse grief or anger, popular prices of $3, $2 and $1 like you're a queen and I'm your sheet which for a magic 10spoke cheerfully:

and booking is at Moutrie's and little girl. I'd bé a princesa, minutes had been an ermine robe. "Reckon the new kid's gettin' the Star Theatre. wouldn't I, Sal-leo?"

"Now, Sally," continued the her physical zamination. When I The child sat back on her thin matron, moving down the long line como into the 'sylum you had to of iron cots and inspecting them nearly boil mo alive. 'N Mrs. little haunches, one small hand with a sharp eye, "don't let this Stone cut off all my hair clean to plucking at the skimpy akirt of her happen again. I depend on you the skin. 'N' en nobody wouldn't own faded blue and white, ging-big girls to help me discipline the 'dopt me 'cause I looked like sich ham, an exact replien, except for size, of the frocks worn by the little ones. And by the way Sally, a scarecrow. But I got lots of hair three other scrubbers. "I'll tend there's a new little girl. She just now, ain't 1, Sal-ice 7

came this morning, and I'm having "Oh, somebody'll ba adopting you like I've got on a white satin dress, Miss Pond send her up to you. first thing you know, and then I Sal-lee-"

Sally Ford lifted a strand of fineYou have an empty bed in this won't have any Thelma," Sally the false hope that the weeping

dormitory, I believe,"

than 12 or 18..

"Sal-lee," the six-year-old called

severe

"I reckon. I'm foolish to go on play-acting all the time," Sally Ford said dully.

smiled at her.

tas kept Sally

the

charge of her, won't you, Sully dear?"

arina

"Yes, Miss Pond," Sally answer- were already yearning to gather ed automatically, but her the little bundle of elegance and tears and homesickness. nervously, lowering her voice in "And Sally," Misa Pondanid

child might not hear her, "Mrs. black hair that had escaped from the tight, thick braid that bung "Christine's bed,"

"Yes, Mrs. Stone," Sally nodded. "I know why Sally wasn't 'dopt Stone says her hair must be wash- There wased," Thelma clamored for attention, ed and then braided, like the other down her narrow back, tucked it nothing, in her voice to indiente "I heard Miss l'ond say It was a children's. Eloise tells us it isn't behind a well-shaped ear, and that she had loved Christine more sin and a shame the way old Stone-unturally curly, that her mother amiled fondly upon the tiny

here, did it up on kid curlers every night. pleader. It was a miracle-work-than any child she had ever had Face

year, in. and year out jist Her aunt's been doing it for her ing smile. Before the miracle, charge of

"I suppose this new child will cause she's so good to us since her mother-died." that small, pale face had looked

Miss Pond anid Because Eloise was a "now girl," like that of a serious little oldu snapped up soon," Mrs. Stone little kids."

voice Sally is better'n any trained nurse Sally was permitted to keep her at mouth tight in a frown of concen-striving to be pleasant and con- when us kids get sick and that she her side after the noon dinner. It woman, the brows, knotted, the continued, her

versational, for she was fond of does more than any big girl they was Sally who showed her all tho But when she smiled she became Sally, in her own way. "She has ever had here. That's why you buildings of the big orphanage,

yellow curis, though I suspect her ain't been 'dopted, Sally,"

pointed out the boy's dormitories, separated from the girls' quartera by the big kitchen garden; show ed her the bare schoolrooms, in which Sally herself had just com- pleted the third year of high school. It was Sally who pride- fully showed her tho mengrely equipped gymnasium, the gift of a miraculously philanthropic Bes- sion of the state legislature; it was Sally who conducted her through the many rooms devoted to hand crafts suited to girls showing off a bit as she expertly manipulated a hand loom or ran a quick scam on a sewing machine.

Aration..

.a pretty girl. Her blue eyes, that' had looked almost as faded as her dress, darkened and gleamed, like a pair of perfectly matched sap- phires. Delfente, wing-like eye- brows, even blacker than her hair, lost their sullenness, assumed a lovely, provocative arch. Her

white checks gleamed. Her little pale mouth, unpuckered of its frown, bloomed suddenly, Ilko ten rose opening, Even, pointed, narrow teeth, to fit the narrowness of her delicate, childish jaw, flash- ed into that smile, completely destroying the picture of a rather and little old woman which sho might have posed for before.

"All right, Betsey!" Sally cried, jumping to her feet.. "But all of you will have to work twice as hard after I've play-acted for you, or Stone-Face will skin us alive." Her smile was reflected in the threo oldish little faces of the children aquatting on the floor. The rags with which they had been wiping up surplus water after Sally's vigorous scrubbing were abandoned, and the three of thém, moving In unison ke mindless sheep, clustered close to Sally, following her with. adoring ayos as she switched a sheet off one of the cots.

"This is my ermine robe," she declared. "Thelma, run and shut

·

Sally.

Eloise's hot little hand clung tightly to Sally's on the long trip of inspection of her new "home."

But her ery, hopeless and monotonous now, even taking on a little of the Institutional, whine, was still the same heartbroken protest she had uttered upon her arrival in the dormitory: I don't want to be an orphan. I don't want to be an orphan, Sal-lne??

"It ain't-I mean, isn't--so bad,** Sally comforted her. Sometimes we have lots of fun. And Christ-

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the door.. Now, this is my royal crown," she added, seizing mother, who has just died and who | "I know it," Sally confessed Ining up the path that led around the newspaper reporter who is as- her long, thick braid of black hair. was a stock company actress, used a low voice. "But I couldn't be main building to the weaving rooms signed to all the place of the lady Her nimble, thin fugers searched peroxide on it. But still it's yel-mean to the babies, just so they'd in which Sally was to work an for and found three crimped wire low and it's curly, and we have want to get rid of me and let some extra hour as punishment for her writer on the staff of the paper hairpins which she secreted in the at least a hundred applications on Body adopt me. Besides," she morning's

when during her vacation. The "play-acting," meshes of the plait Inatrice her file for little girls with golden added, "I'm scared of people-out Clara Hodges came shrieking from post involves him in a number of small head was crowned with its curly hair."

side. I'm scared of all grown-up behind the building: own magnificent glory, the braid

"Thelma," she whirled severely people, especially of adoptera," she "Sal-lee! Sai-lee Ford! Mrs. awkward situations, drags him wound coronet-fashion over her upon the eight-year-old child, blurted miserably, "I Can't Stone wants you. In the office!" through the back door into boot- ears and low upon her broad, what's this in your bed?" Her walk up and down before 'em and she added, her voice dropping leg finance, and reveals him in white forehead.

broad, heavy palm, sweeping exact cute and laugh and pretend like slightly on a note of horror, "Say A royal queen am I," six-pertly down the sheet-covered iron I've got a sweet disposition and "What for?" Sally, pretended feminine disguise to the girl he year-old Betsey shrilled, clasping cet, had encountered something, a like I'm crazy about 'em. I don't grown up unconcern, but her face, loves, the part played by Patsy her hands in ecstasy. "And don't piece of broken blue bottle. look pretty a bit when the adopters which had been pretty and glowing Ruth Miller. The pleture in- forget to make up a verse about "It-it's mine," Thelma quivered, send for me. I can't play act a moment before, was dull and fi troduces several original "gags"

and stitutional and sullen again. me, Sal-lee! I'm a princesal, I've her tongue licking upward to catch then."

the situations have been got on white satin and little red the first salty tour. "I traded my "You're bashful, Sal-lee," Clara "There's a man-a farmer man-cleverly worked out by the direc shoes, ain't I, Sal-lce?"

broken doll for it. I look through told her shrewdly. "I'm not bash-talking to Stone-Faco, Clara tor, Chuck Reisner. Sally was marching grandly upit and it makes everything look ful-much, except when visitors whispered, her eyes furtive and and down the barrack-like dormi-pretty and blue," she explained do- come and we have to show off our menn as they darted about to see if tory, holding Betsy's hand, the sperately, in the institutional company manners, I hate vialtors!. she were overheard. “Oh, Sallce, train of her "ermine robe" uphold (whine. "Oh, please let me keep it, They whisper about us, call as 'poor don't let 'em 'dopt you! We little things, and think they're wouldn't have nobody to play-act by the two other little girls in Mra. Stone!"

But the matron had tossed the better'n us."

for us and tell us stories! Please, faded gingham, and her dramuti-

The floor of the big room had Sal-leo! Make faces at him when cally deepened voice was chanting bit of blue glass through the "verses" which she had composed nearest window. "You'd cut your been completely scrubbed, and was Stone-Face ain't lookin' so's ho on other such occasions and to self on it, Thelma," who justified giving out a molat odour of yellow won't like you!"

stern voice. "I'll soap when Miss Pond, who worked "I'm too big to be adopted," Sally which she was now adding, when herself in her the door was thrown open and a see if I can find another doll for in the office on the first floor of the reassured her. "Nobody wants to you in the next box of presents big main building, arrived, leading adopted a 15-year-old girl. Here, booming voice rang out:

"Sally Ford! What in the world that comes in. Now, don't cry like a reluctant little girl by the hand. you take Eloise to the weaving

To the four orphans in fadedroom with you." does this mean? On a Saturday a baby. You're a great big girl.

It was just a piece of broken old blue and white gingham the new- Her voice was that of a manag- morning!"

Sally, you take comer looked unbelievably splendid, ing, efficient, albeit loving mother, The two little "pages" dropped bottle. Well, the "ermine robe the little charge of the now little girl. Make more like the "princess" that Betsy but when she turned toward the "princess" shrank closer against her feel at home. Give her a bath had been impersonating than like front steps of the main, building the "queen," and all four, Sally's with that insect soap, and make a mortal child. Her golden hair her feet began to drag heavily, voice leading, the chorus, chanted bundle of her clothes and take hung fu precisely arranged curls to weighted with a fear which was re- her shoulders. Her dress was of [flected in her darkling blue eyes, in a monotonous aing-sing: "Good them down to Miss Pond."

Sho lifted her long, starched pink crepe de chine, trimmed with and in the deepened pallor of her Wo hope morning, Mrs. Stone. you are well." It was the good skirt as she stepped over one of the many yards of cream-coloured lace checks. But, oh, maybe it wasn't morning salutation which, at the uber pudices of water, then There were pink silk socks and that! Why did she always have to moved majestically through the little white kid slippers. And her worry about that now that she matron's orders, invariably greet-door.

pretty face, though it was streaked was 10? Why couldn't she expect ed her as she made her morning

Clara, the nine-year-old orphan, with tears, had bean artfully coat-something perfectly lovely like

At the conclusion of the enquiry rounds of the state orphanage stuck out her tongue as the white ed with white powder and tinted, like a father coming to claim his asylum.

skirt swished through the door, on checks and lips, with carmine long-lost daughter? Maybe there'd of the late Father Mariette, who at Singapore concerning the dentà Good morning, children," Mrs.then turned upon Sally, her little rouge.

be a mother, tooN WA Stone, the head matron of the face sharp and ugly with hatred. "This is Eloise Durant, girls," The vision Sally Ford had contained fatal injuries as the re- the Coroner, stated that the Rev. the Court, stated the Coroner, asylum answered severely but

"Mean old thing! Always said Miss Pond, who was incurably jured up fastened wings to her (sult of a heavy plank falling on Emile Mariette 68 years of age, death did not appear to have been automatically. She never spoke buttin in! Can't let us have no sentimental and kind to orphans. fect. She was breathless glowing, him from a height of about 1op died in the General Hospital at due to any criminal negligence on except severely, unless it happen-fan at all! Some other kid'll find "She's feeling a little homesick when she arrived at the closed door feet, while he was inspecting the 40 p.m. on March 18, death the part of any person and he

new Roman Catholic Church at being due to compound fracture of therefore returned a verdict ed that a trustee or a visitor was Thelma's sapphire and keep it offen | now and. I know you will all try to of the draaid "office."! it accompanying her.

make ber happy. "You'll Lake

Kampong Bahru, Mr. F. G. Bourne, the skill. On the evidence before death by misadventure, (To Be Continued.)

her"

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