Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-24
VIM'S sodden old soul was bitter.
That darned old clock" - made

! ~ graft almost too complicated q
| thing to his feeble intellect.
/ Suddenly Dick spoke IN a tone OF
| genuine feeling He knew Kitty
| knew just what she was--knew just
what she had done-and would do
perhaps, all through life. Dick lie
| Roy was gaudy souled, gaudily
| dressed song and dance artist
Kitty was-well, Kitty! And to Dick
lie Roy she was--the girl he wanted
kitty! What's the use? You're on
dead one. and you're most broke!
| This kids a simp, and he's only q
piker! Kitty, why don't you lose
| him ?"
Jim coughed and lit one of "the
piker's" cigars.
Kittys eyes took a far away look.
Never mind" said Miss Kitty May
firmly.
Dick leaned across the table. He
could forget that Jim was there-he
could forget anything but that Kitty
was--just Kitty.
You can't care for him--a wise
girl like you"
Cant I? It's none of your bust
ness, anyway" said she in a pleas
antly offhand manner.
Jim rose with q flourish, and adj
dressed the floor.
81 can't read without my glasses,
Dicks gettin' mushy again. He al
ways was stuck on you?"
Dick turned on him with rising pas
sion.
We'll? What about It? wouldn't
look to be headlined on a bill with a
millionaire-but this 'mama's baby
graft Is pretty punk! Mama will buy
baby all the candy baby wants-gur-
gle, gurg,e"-he minced with a sneer
that masqueraded for a laugh-"but
mama tightens up when It comes to
buving Paris hats for a soubrette."
He went over and took possession
of Kitty's hand. All the happy go
lucky laughter was gone out of his
smoothly featured young old face
now.
Kitty shook off his OBTAINING hand
and jumped up angrily.
You look out what you say!" she
snarled.
Dick backed off in honest astonish-
ment.
MY Gawd! Say, Kitty, what are
you? Oh, cut out the bunk, Kitty!
Quit kiddin YOURSELF"
By this time he had recovered his
poise, and the radiant smile that dis
closed his strong white teeth.
Kitty spoke with impassioned ear
nestness.
Dick, wouldn't leave this boy il
he didn't have car fare--not yet, any,
hcw-not ti'I | get the thing l want"
Dick knew the devious ways Of
"soubrettes"-and graft-and black
mail.
Lightly ne asked; Are you fgur-
ing you can make this boys father
pay?"
In the short second before she an
swered Kitty stood staring back in-o
the past-back into one morning a
month ago. She saw a sobb'ng girl
spurned in her pleading. She heard
that girl cry: "I'll stick--I'm nc
grafter." She saw a strong man put
ting that girl aside at the moment
when he was forced out into the open.
She saw that girl flung back on her
self--saw her fall, shaken and trem-
bling, into massive chair, while the
man she longed for swung heavy
doors between her life and his-and
was gone. Gone out OF her love-but
not out of her life. Not yet, Charles
Nelson! She heard that girls burn
( ing vow: IF you leave me like this
now-that you don't have to, I'll get
YOU. Charlie, don't make me hate you
Don't leave me-or I'll get you. FL
get you If It's the last thing I ever
do"
And Kitty answered in hard tone,
with far deeper meaning than Dick or
Jim could ever guess:
I'm going TO make the boys father
-payi"
Dick was greatly relieved Here
was game he could understands
thought he coul
"On! l heard he was broke. but
you'd know, Of course You wouldn't
take any chances. Sorry I said any
hing, Kitty, Your judgment is bound
to be o. X. l guess every fellow gets
soft once in q while"
To BE Continued To morrow.