The Tupelo journal., 1916-10-27

The Discarded Model Leads John to
Vests Studio.
him. Jessie Simms is in Vests studio
at this minute. You have a car,
haven't you? Take me there and you'll
oon find out whether I'm lying or
not"
They alighted at a studio building.
The lady. being well known there as
a model, had no difficulty in leading
Burton to Vests fiat without being
announced.
"Now," she whispered vindictively,
hating in front of Il closed door and
producing a latchkey, walk right in
and put the double cross on Mr.. Rob
ert Wcst!'
The Oma seemed so sure of her
position that, after a ~momentary hest
%tation, John opened the door, tray
ersed a carpeted passage and entered
a room which his guide Indicated by
a silent gesture.
No intruder could have appeared at
a more awkward moment. There was
no sketching toward. Jessie Simms
was in Vests arms, and their lips had
just met in a long and lingering kiss!
Of course the two started apart. Jes-
sic uttered a slight scream, but her
pretty eyes sparkled now with angry
disnay rather than girlish confusion.
Putting a bold front on matters,
West beloved a demand for an eX-
~1D-ot;, T.1a I.1 L..
gazed sadly at Jessie Simms, whose
fortitude promptly deserted her, be-
cause she hid her flushed face in her
hands and began sobbing.
Give nothing to say he announced
at last. Il neither explain nor apollo
gize. That poor girl can tell you why
l am here"
He turned and went out, paying no
heed to the bitter taunts which the
discarded model was now flinging at
the artist. Entering his car, he babe
the man go home. He was minded at
first to call and see Peter, but felt I'M
equal to any further strain that day.
When all was said and done, he had
kept his word to the boy and his sister,
and meant visiting them during the fol-
lowing week, when perhaps the girl
might have repented her folly and be
willing to start afresh.
His mind was so taken up with
brooding thoughts that he did not 40
tice a disturbance in the street until
the car stopped, being unable to adj
vance further owing to a dense crowd
which had gathered in front of a sa-
loon.
John let down the window and
leaned out.
"What is the matter?" he inquired
of a bystander.
"Oh, nothing much, sir" said the
a Just a couple of young drunks
started fighting in the saloon. They
wouldn't quit, eve when they was
chucked out, so now the cops have
got 'em, and they're in for thirty days
apiece"
The car moved on. One of the po-
licemen was ringing for a patrol
wagon, while the other held the would
be combatants at arms length. And
n of them was Peter Simms. 1t
happened that the man to whom Bur-
ton had spoken before was walking
alongside, and John addressed him ex-
citedly.
"Why. I know one of those boys"
he said. Ills name is Simms, and I
can vouch for it that little over an
hour ago he was no more under the
influence of liquor than l am"
"Are you the gentleman who pays
his board bills and gives him money!"
inquired the other c%uriously.
"Yes."
"Well, take my tip, sir, and let up
on the game. He's just playing you
for a sucker. | was in that very sa-
loon when he came in and told the
crowd you had flashed an extra FIVE
spot on him and his sister this week ~
Utterly disheartened, John sapk
back into a corner of the luxurious
limousine. Evil showed no signs of
relaxing its grip on humanity. His
well-meant assistance had only made
easy the downward path for Jessie
Simms, and opened the prison door to
her brother.
END OF SIXTH EPISODE.