Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-05-24
CHAPTER v-(contlnued).


"All right" she said; and | thought
her eyes flashed a little. Then l go
to a hotel-that's ALL"
"A hotel! Why. you can't do that
oh. l say!"
Why can't II" She was downright
angry-I could see it; and how dis
trsctingly lovely she was with that
flame in her cheeks!
But she was just a child-an inno-
cent little child; and how the deuce
cotlld / ever make her understand?
stammered: "Why-er-not in
New York, you know. They won't take
a lady In at this time of night. They"
She snapped her fingers. "Oh. |
say, Mr.. Lightnut, play easier on that
grille and lady pedal; cook up a fresh
gag! l tell you, I've put all that be-
hind me. Say, wait till you've known
me a little, and I'll bet a purse you
never call me a lady again! Lady!
Say, that's FUNNY"
And 1t certainly seemed to strike
her sense of humor. She gave me a
sudden punch In the side that fairly
left me breathless, and her laughter
rang out birdlike, joyous. OF a sud-
den l felt devilish awkward and fool
ish.
"Oh, please stop %stringing me, Mr..
Likhtnut-don't treat me- like a kid.
! want to get acquainted" Then her
bright face sobered. Say, was that
on the level-that about your going
to leave me? See here, I'm not both
ering you, am ], Mr.. Lightnut?"
Bcthering mel" / calculated. Both
,erfng me? / should say mott"
I think I must have said 1t heartily
and ~convincingly, don't you know. for
her lovely face looked pleased.
Because II I am" she said earn
estly, "I'll fade away into my own lit
To room there" Her glance ranged
toward. her door. Its sure some
swell, that room"
80 jolly glad you like it." I said.
well, I should say!" Then her
beautiful eyes looked at me full.
"You know, / didn't expect this-I
mean having a room all to myself.
Never"
And then, while l gasped, she went
On, sweetly and calmly:
why, MI. Lightnut, Brother Jack
would throw seventeen thousand fits
II went to a hotel, because" She
laughed deliciously. well, l promised
him that If he would let me come
home by New York l would stay right
here with you and behave myself"
Behave YOURSELF" l echoed indig-
nantly. why. look here, do you mean
to say Jack Billings-your W broth
or, you know-thought you wouldn't
-er-do that at a hotel?"
Thought" Her laugh this time
was explosive. mo, he never thought;
1t; he knew I wouldn't! He knew l
would be tearing around all night with
the boys-that's what"
And dash me, II she didn't throw
herself back with a kind Of swagger.
why, you-you wouldn't do such a
thing!" I uttered family.
wouldn't II" She. Strengthened sud-
denly, and her lovely blue eyes mar
rowed at me. Say, Mr. Lightnut.
don't want you to get me sized up
wrong. I'm none Of your little waxy
'sardenias-not much! When I'm in
New York, it's the bright lights and
the Great White Way for mine-yes.
sir, every time!"
And she gave me a blow on the
shoulder that was like a stroke from
a mans arm. It sent me down into
my chair.
III O don't believe me- she add
ed her face shining with excitement,
.iust you ask Jack about last summer
when I came through-about that Joy
ride TO Coney with three Columbia fell
lows. and how We got pinched. Oh,
ann but didn't Jack swear at
mel"
I heard a noise by the door. Jen-
kins stood there, his eyes sticking out
like hard boiled eggs.
I'm back, SIR" he said rather
falteringly. beg pardon, sir; just
thought you'd want to know. I didn't
know you-h'm!" And with an odd
look and a little cough Jenkins slipped
away. But I scarcely noticed him at
all.
Poor misguided girl!
NV brain was buzzing like a devil
ish hive of bees, don't you know. BY
love this was something awful!
And yet-and yet Her frank. sweet
face met mine with a clear light that
there was no mistaking. There was
NO going behind it-she was a thor