The midland journal., 1917-07-20

right"
"a man never speaks his mind un-
til he's ginned," Lilas giggled.
"Righto! I'm not half drunk yet"
Jim urged the suitor on with nerv-
GUS laugh, at the same time avoiding
his sisters eyes. "She's stalling, Bob.
Make her answer"
Eyes or no2" forcefully insisted the
wooer, determined, now, to show his
complete sobriety.
! "No."
Jim seized Wharton's hand and
shook it Justify. Congratulations,
old man; that means yes. I'm her
brother, and l know. Why. she told
father that you were her ideal. and pa
said he'd die happy If you two were
married. He meant 1t, too; he's a
mighty sick man."
Lorelei stirred uncomfortably, and
the faint color in her cheeks faded
slowly. "We'll talk about it some
other time-tomorrow. Please don't
tease the poor man any more. He
didn't know what he was saying, and
now, for heavens sake, talk about
something else"
Jim leaped to his feet with grin
and a chuckle, then drew Lilas from
her chair, saying: "The lovers are en-
barrassed, and they're dying to be
alone. Let's leave 'em to talk 1t over"
"She's a dear, Bob, and / wish you
both joy. But don't kiss her here"
said Llas, warningly; then, with a
wave of her hand, she turned toward
the dancing room with Jim.
"Call us when you've fixed the date"
laughed the latter, over his shoulder.
When he and Lilas had danced the
encore and returned to the table Bob
rose unsteadily, glass in hand, and
nodded at them.
''Thanks, noble comrades" he pro-
claimed; "she's miner
"Hurrahw Lilas kissed Lorelei ef
fusively. Jim seized Bobs hand, cry
ing:
"Brotherw He waved to waiter
and ordered magnum Of champagne.
Bring me a wreath Of orange BIOS
SONS and a wedding cake, too" His
jubilation attracted the attention of
the other diners; the occupants of
nearby table began to applaud, where
upon Bob beamed with delight.
Lorelei was very white now. She
had decided swiftly, recklessly, reason
ing that this proffered marriage was
merely bargain by which she got
more than she gave. She had accepted
without allowing her better self an
opportunity to marshal its protests,
and, having closed her eyes and leaped
into the dark, 1t now seemed easier to
meet new consequences than to heed
those higher feelings that were tardily
struggling for expression. She did
pity Wharton, however for it seemed
to her that he was the injured party.
But she was In a wanton mood tonight,
and of late voice had been despe-
rately urging her to grasp at what she
could, that she might, as long as pos
sible, delay her descent into worse con-
ditions
She heard Lilas inquiring: when
does the marriage come off? Right
awayY
Bob, who appeared somewhat dazed
by the suddenness and the complete
ness of his good fortune, smiled va
cantly. "Any time suits me-" he said.
''I'm happy man-little Joys are ca
pering all over the place, and old Doc
tor Gloom has packed his grip"
Jim startled them all by saying,
crisply: Lets make it tonight.
know Bob-he's not the sort to wait"
"Fine! Never thought of that, But
1 say-where do they keep these we'd
dings?" he inquired. "Everything's
closed now, and there's nobody dane
ing at the city hall, is there" He ap-
pealed helplessly to Jim.
Jim rose to the occasion with the
same promptitude he had displayed
throughout. Marriages aren't made
in heaven any more-thats old stuff.
They're made in Hoboken, while the
cab waits. Get your things on, every
body, while telephone" He allowed
no lettering; he waved the girls away,
sent the waiter scurrying with his bill,
helped Robert secure hat and stick,
and then dived into a telephone booth
as woodchuck enters its hole. When
he had disposed his three charges in
side taxicab he disappeared briefly,
to return with a basket of champagne
upon his arm. 1t is wise general
who provides himself in advance with
ammunition.
The smooth celerity with which this
whole adventure ran its course argued
thorough preparation on James part,
but Lorelei was in no condition to an
alyze. Even at the journeys end there
was a suspicious lack of delay. The
vehicle stopped in narrow business
street, now dark and dismal; its occu-
pants were hurried up stairway and
into a room filed with law-books,
where sleepy justice of the peace
was nodding in cloud of cigar smoke.
There followed a noisy shuffling of
oh irc Soma munhlod ounStiOnS and