The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-01

IA TALE OF RED ROSES"
Next Week
The Blue Lights"
ARNOLD FREDGRlcks

senger boy. You may as well tear
up that check. It's no good"
Honest. can't giggie about
anything any more. regretted
Fern. rescuing a discarded shoe OF
Molly's from under the boudolr
couch. TIN solemn In spite OF my
self"
Please don't" objected Molly,
almost plteousiy. m you turn sol.
emn. my last prop Is gone"
Il didn't mean TO" apoiogixcd
Fern. But getting married 10 ra;h.
or a wcixhty thing. after all. BE-
sides. my conscience hurts me
about sledge. Molly. he's q nice
old fatty. I've a notion TO marry
him myself to make up for II"
Tho pang OF dlstaste which Molly
felt AZ that speech was not jcal.
ousy: far nom IL II anything. Il
was q mere questioning OF Ferns
taste In making such a remark.
Tha, was itl
Molly changed the subject Il
don't believe you like Bert very
we'll" she said.
Indeed do" demonstrated
Fern. almost too quickly. He's
stiIl the hAndsomest fellow ever
saw. You should be very happy,
Molly. about tho new home and
tho fine business prospects. and
the social trinmphs which know
are waiting for yoa. and you'll
have a polished husband 81 whom
you can always be proud. and Just
bushels and bushels OF love, OF
course"
"Of course" agreed Molly. look.
Ing at the little Dresden clock on
the mantsl. Goodness. Fern: the
minister Ia due to arrive in ten
minutes. and Jessie Peters isn't
here yet"
If she knew the Importance of
your Informal Invitation TO call
this afternoon. she'd have been
here hours ago" laughed Fern. Il
don't wonder. Molly. that OF all
your girl friends, she was the one
you insisted on having here She's
darling!"
She's true" added Molly
Somehow. I Always feel safe. even
against myself. when she's around
me love YOU TO death. Fern. but
you're wicked"
Nina knocked at the door.
Miss Peters" announced Nina.
gloating once more over her handi.
work as abe surveyed the hand
some Molly and the pretty Fern.
Have her come right up" d..
rected Molly. and waited with an
expectant smile. which changed 90
look OF concern when she saw
the poorly concealed traces OF
tears In Jessie's eyes.
What's the matter. Jessie7" she
asked: and Jessie. not seeing that
painfully fluffy wedding gown.
threw herself dismally into Molly's
arms.
They didn't want me 10 GOMEZ"
she gulped But had promised
you. and Dicky said | might"
why didn't they want you 10
Gomez" asked Molly anxiously.
"On account OF your father"
Father" gasped Molly. What
about him."
Don't you know" wondered
Jessie. half crying again
why. no. child" worried Molly
What is IT. Tell me-" and she
heard Fern slipping quietly out OF
the room. She led Jessie over 10
the couch. and all forgetful OF her
shimmerinR satin. sat down.
IT'S the street car stock" Jessie
explained. "Dicky Just came out
to the house with the news. There
is 10 be no consolidation. Nobody
would have the stock for a gift.
And It's Thanksgiving day"
Molly held her closer.
1T isn't fathers fault, It's mine. y
confessed Molly. aghast. as she be.
gan for the first time to fully real
ize the hundreds OF real sufferers
in this high-handed game which she
and sledge had played MIR. sledge
wanted to marry me. and ! was en-.
gagged to Bert. He broke Bert.
Then father said he had money
enough for all of u.s. so Sledge
tried TO break father, and | don't
know how many people besides us
have had TO suffer for that It's
Sledge and I, Jessie-not father.
"Sledge is a beast" charged Jes-
sic. yehemently.
He isn't really 80 bad" declared
Molly. trying to be Just. He's
like other strong people. He doesn't
know how badly he hurts. He's like
a football player shaking hands
with you"
Gle is a brute" shuddercd Jes.
sic. II stood by him in Maberly's
candy store yesterday. and I was
actually afraid of him for fear !
would annoy him by being In hiB
way. and he might turn around and
be rough to me"
Molly laughed softly at the idea
OF Sledge's being rough 10 little
Jessie Peters.
why. he'd be 30 gentle TO you
az TO be ridiculous" she said. mot
even Dicky could be more gentle. !"