Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-08-07
CHAPTER v-fcontlnuedl


All right" she said; and | thought
her eyes flashed a little. Then go
to a hotel-that's ALL"
"A hotell Why. you can't do that
oh. say!"
Why can't II" She was downright
angry could see It; and how dis
ractingly lovely she was with that
flame in her cheeks!
But she was just a child-an limo
cent little child and how the deuce
could | ever make her understand?
stammered: "Why-er-not in
New York. you know They won't take
l2dy in at this time Of night. They"
She snapped her fingers. "Oh, l
say, Mr.. Lightnut, play easier on that
grille and lady pedal; cook up a fresh
gag! 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 lady again! Lady!
Say, that's funny"
And it 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 blrdlike, joyous. OF a sud
den / felt devilish awkward and fool
ish.
oh, please stop stringing me, Mr..
Lightnut-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 I. Mr. Lightnut?"
"Bothering mel" calculated. Both
ering me? | should say mott"
| think | must have said it heartily
and convincingly, don't you know, for
her lovely face looked pleased
Because If | am" she said earn
estly, I'm fade away into my own lit
tie room there" Her glance ranged
toward her door IT'S sure some
swell, that ROOM"
So jolly glad you like It," said.
Well, | 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 gasped, she went
on, sweetly and calmly:
Why Mr. Lightnut, Brother Jack
would throw seventeen thousand fits
If I went to a hotel, because" She
laughed deiciously. "Well, I.promised
him that if he would let me come
home by New York I would stay right
here with you and behave myself"
Behave yourself!" | echoed indig-
nantly. why, look here, do you mean
to say Jack Billings-your own broth
err you know-thought you wouldn't
-er-do that at a hotel?"
Thought" Her laugh this time
was explosive. No, he never thought;
it; he knew l wouldn't! He knew
would be tearing around all night with
the boys-that's what"
And dash me, If she didn't throw
herself back with a kind Of swagger
why, you-you wouldn't do such a
thing" | 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 III
wrong. I'm none of your little waxy
gardeuias-not much! When I'm IL
New York, it's the bright lights ant
the Great White Way for mine-yes
sir, every time!"
And she gave me a blow on the
efv 10
mans arm. 1t sent me down int
my chair.
IF you don't believe me-" she add
ed. her face shining with excitement
lust you ask Jack about last summe
when | came through-about that 10.
ride to Coney with three Columbia feI
lows and how we got pinched. Oh
mamma, but didn't Jack swear a
me"
heard noise by the door. JeL
l,ins stood there, his eyes sticking on
like hard boiled eggs.
Tim back, sir" he said rattle
falteringly. Beg pardon, sir; jus
thought you'd want to know. l didn
know you-h'm!" And with an cd
look and a little cough jenkins slippe
away. But l scarcely noticed him &
all.
Poor misguided grill
NV brain was buzzing like dew
fish hive of bees, don't you know. B
love this was something awful!
And yet-and yet Her frank, swe'
face met mine with a clear light thu
there was no mistaking. There wi
no going behind it-she was a tho
oughbred, a queen-a lady, dash 1t!
knew it! And l just settled on tina
and was ready to die right then ar
there If anybody dared to dispute
didn't care a jolly hang how 81
talked; it was just nothing-just Il
demorahzing swagger of a lit
boarding.sch girl trying to she
off like her brothers. And her la
apage? Why. Just the devilish, nj
uraI result of having a coarse, SLANT
brute like Billings for brother. Pc
little girl! It was beastly shame.
She was watching me curious
smilingly. as she sat there, her deV
tshly pretty mouth puckered into