Part 18 (2/2)
”You must have fallen heiress to a vast fortune,” Penny ventured lightly.
”Better than that,” beamed Miss Miller. ”I've acquired a new job. Take dinner with me and I'll tell you all about it.”
”Well--” Penny deliberated and said honestly, ”I didn't bring very much money with me, and I'm not dressed up.”
Miss Miller brushed aside both objections as if they were of no consequence.
”You'll be my guest, dearie. And your clothes don't matter.”
She caught Penny's hand and pulled her to her feet. Her curiosity aroused, the girl allowed herself to be escorted to the dining room.
Miss Miller walked ahead, strutting a bit as she brushed past the crowded tables. Heads lifted and envious feminine eyes focused upon the actress'
stunning fur coat. Penny felt awkward and embarra.s.sed, clomping along behind in her big heavy ski boots.
The head waiter gave them a choice table near the orchestra. Miss Miller threw back her coat, exposing a form-fitting black satin gown with a brilliant blue stone pin at the neck line. She knew that she was creating an impression and thoroughly enjoyed herself.
A waiter brought menu cards. The actress proceeded to order for both herself and Penny. She selected the most expensive dishes offered, stumbling over their long French names.
”How nice it is to have money again,” she remarked languidly when the waiter had gone. ”Do you really like my new wardrobe, dearie?”
”Indeed, I do, Miss Miller. Your dress is very becoming, and the fur coat is stunning. Isn't it new?”
”Exactly two days old.”
”Then you must have acquired it since coming to Pine Top. I had no idea such lovely skins could be bought anywhere near here.”
”We're very close to the Canadian border, you know.” Again the actress flashed her mysterious smile. ”But the duty is frightful unless one is able to avoid it.”
Penny gazed thoughtfully across the table at her companion.
”And do you know how to avoid it?” she asked as casually as she could manage.
Miss Miller steered skilfully away from the subject.
”Oh, this coat was given to me. It didn't cost me a cent.”
”And how does one go about acquiring a free coat? You've not become a professional model?”
”No,” the actress denied, ”but your guess is fairly warm. I do have a nice figure for displaying clothes. No doubt that was why I was given the job.”
”Who is your employer, Miss Miller? Someone connected with the hotel?”
The waiter had brought a loaded tray to the table, and the actress used his arrival as a pretext for not answering Penny's question. After the man went away she began to chat glibly about other subjects. However, with the serving of dessert, she once more switched to the topic of her wardrobe.
”You were asking me about my fur coat, dearie,” she said. ”Would you like to have one like it?”
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