Evening star., 1915-02-14

stupid. -.
in me in on this nutty reunion OF yours.
Say, J. B., you got head like tack, you
havel Have heart, can't you?"
"My dear Shorty" says he, permit me
to point out that it was you who suggested
taking her to
Because you was sittin' there like
gump," says I. "Only helpin' you out,
that's ALL And I'm goin' to look nice, amt
l, trailin into a place like that with you and
this-say, just where does the lady fit into
your past, anyway? Never heard you men,
ton her, did T."
Naturally not says he. Zone doesn't
boast of having been thrown over
"Eh?" says l. "You was engaged-to
her?n
HE mods and gazes sentimental at the
IL ceilin "My one genuine romance" says
he. al suppose she wasn't really the radiant
beauty imagined; but she was charming
vivacious, fascinating. 1t was bad case of
love at first sight. At eleven o'clock that
evening, l remember, l took her in to sup
per. At twelve l was leading her into
palm-sheltered nook, and the next thing l
knew had taken her in my arms and-well,
a more complete ass of himself. She should
have boxed my ears. She didn't. The en-
gagement lasted all of one week"
"Then YOU recovered from the attack"
says l.
@No," SAYS he "She had discovered an
other, several others. She told me quite
casually that she really hadn't meant it; and
wasn't l, after ALL rather wild young man?
/ assured her that if | wasn't wild | should
be after that. She only shrugged her shoul-
ders. So gave her up. The others did too.
And she went back to Richmond, it seems,
and married sainted geologist; while L
well, never did get over it, quite. Silly, of
course; but when | met other girls later L
l remembered, that's ALL"
(Which accounts for you bein bach so
long, does it," says 1? "Well, it's never too
late. Here's your chance once more. At
the Maison MaxiXe you can pull any kind of
a romance, stale or recent, and nobody'll
care hoot. I'll duck the dinner, and you
can
"No, mol" protests J. Bayard. "I-er-I
wouldn't take her to dinner alone for worlds.
Really!' he waves his hands almost tragic
"Why not?7 says l. Thought you hadn't
got over it
"Oh, but have,' insists Steele, "thor-
oughly.'
dreamed she would develop into-er-a
woman like that,-the way she looks at you,
you know
"You don't need to describe it, says I.
"That want marker to the way she looked
at Swiftly and me. But wait! Well hand
her jolt Saturday night
Steele groans. Il wish l could By
George!' he explodes. ~Id forgotten Major
Ben Cutter"
what about him?" says I.
@An old friend" says J. Bayard. Hes
landing Saturday, from Santa Maria.
haven't seen him for years,-been down
there running a banana plantation, you
know He cabled up, and I'd promised to
take him around that evening, dinner at the
club, and"
"Ah, ditch it, J. BIZ says l. @No old
friend alibi goes in this case"
@But, Shorty" he protests, chow can L"
"You can lug him along, can't you?"
says 1. "Make it a four-cornered affair
The more the merrier."
"Hes such diffident, shy chap, though"
goes on Steele, "and after five years in the
bush"
ooh, dose of Mrs. Hollister will do him
good,' says l. "She won't mind She'll be
bein' bored. Just phone her and explain
And remind her when she's gettin' her cos
tune that this amt any church sociable
we're attendin'.'