The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-10
Betty was silent for a moment.

Nelson smiled.
Its nothing TO your credit. the fact
that you are handsome" Betty con-
tinued On the contrary. you should
be ashamed Of yourself"
You told me that once before. What
am | TO be ashamed of now
'That"-she hesitated for words-'that
you are gcOd-looking'
Now, see here. little girl. If It is
true, as you say. that / am what you
calI--er-handsome,' am 1 TO blame for
it,
oh" exclaimed Betty. this is too
much
But, you understand. I don't admit
your fattering comment" continued
Nelson good-naturedly Il am merely the
ordinary man in appearance. so you see
have nothing to bother me-
Have YOU no sense of shame OF hon
orr continued Betty. 1T was a terrible
thing for YOU 10 do when you took my
money That was bad enough, but 10
boldly sit here and acknowledge that
YOU stole it-that was the last straw.'
What would you have me do?" in
quired Nelson. Besides, remember that
merely took, it."
Oh exclaimed Betty. '"Tbis is
worse than ever. Please cur out all
this imitation poIiteness and let me
know you as you really are. Drop your
mask just for a minute. / am honest
with you when I have every good rea-
son TO be otherwise. Be honest with
me-
she turned her face away.
How silly of me to say such thing"
she added.
ITO tell you to be honest when you
are "a
Say it. i would like to hear you
speak the word"
We'll then, if you want it. thief
Somehow" said Nelson with smile.
the word sounds sweet from your
lops."
How dare you" Indignantly ex-
claimed Betty.
''Oh. you ought to know me well
enough by this time 10 understand that
can dare anything returned Mel
son. Il have a confession 10 make.
VIII you listen?''
Yes" said Betty in tones Of forced
control.
Il was sincere in all I said and Gid
when l went TO your apartment"
Indeed remarked Betty sarcastical-
", while her little nose tilted itself stju
further in the air.
thing else to be said"
Well"
IF had thought that money was
yours. could never have taken it,
Il fan TO distinguish between what is
mine and what is my husbands" said
Betty, getting stiil more angry with
every word he uttered
But the money was his continued
Nelson
1T was ours" persisted Betty. HE
brought if home as a present to me.
and ] need money 50 badly There we're
so many things I could have bought
with that thosand dollars-a new dress
and-we could even have gone TO
Europe"
ITO Europe exclaimed Nelson.
Betty nodded assent
why, you poor little child. Do you
think for one moment that two people
could go to Europe on trife like one
thousand dollars7"
'Oh. I suppose that's a mere nothing
TO YOU, Mr. Charles Nelson. I wonder
n
whole lot to us. I suppose you have
stolen so much money that a thousand
seems nothing 10 you We could have
gone TO Europe on such an amount, and
have enjoyed ourselves"
Something tells me that you will 70
TO Europe some day, and that youu
good time than a paltry thousand dol
To- unFd nfu
Betty didn't answer him, for she
didn't know what 10 say.
You haven't let me finish what I
had TO tel! you" went on NeIson-"my
explanation Of why I took the tnou-
sand"
GO on" said Betty. What is it?''
eff the money had been yours. 7
wouldn't have taken il. But ne hadn't
really presented Il 10 you, so that it
wasn't yours. I could never take any
thing from woman, especially
woman who wants pretty things as
you do"
That Is no explanation at ALL" re-
joined Betty. That's merely a way to
try 10 get out Of the situation You
see, / am not such a child as you seem
10 think / have given you a chance
10 explain. and you have answered
with mere words and no reason. Now
it's time for me 90 act
You have made me ridiculous in the
eyes Of my husband. as well as in ny
own opinion, and this must stop.
have walked the streets all day long
Iookin~ for you, because ] was deter
mined not TO give UP until / had found
you. You see how things worked out?
If II hadn't been for the accident /
might not have found you"
IF II had not been for me you would
not have found me-" interrupted Mel
son. 1T was not the accident. II was
! who delivered myself into your hands
Don't you suppose 1 could easily have
escaped as soon az I discovered who
you were?'
Betty could not nut recognize the
truth Of the assertion.
You must give me credit for having
been game, for / ran away with you
right before the eyes OF the police
themselves. We had a merry chase to
avoid them. They were clamoring for
names and details OF the accident. We
succeeded in outdistancIng item, how
ever. owing TO the high speed of my
car"
Betty looked at him without replying.
ssXofT did take poOI CA oF mo liz I