Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-08
Continued.

That's why" 1t was easy sailing
now. All the lies were behind him.
First, Mr.. Doe nearly tainted. Then,
Miss Stuart was all cut up, and /
had to look after her. BY George,
she's stunning girl! Then had to
send Hal home" Tommy looked up
to all of Halls work and my own; and
it was half-past six before / could get
away from the office! That only
left me an hour and half to hike
home, dress, get my dinner, and meet
my business appointment" He laugh
ed happily and patted Geraldine's
hand.
81 thought it must be business"
she smiled, and seemed very much
relieved about something or other. II
rather looked for you to come around
last night, and get your scolding.'
Didn't pull away till half-past
ten," Billy bubbled on. II was q
regular caller before 1 came away.
Miss Stuart and her mother are bully
entertainers"
The muscles on the hand under
Billy's contracted ever SO slightly.
Geraldine drew it away gently this
time, and touched her hair again, and
now she dropped her hand in her lap.
A hot wave of hatred for the Stuart
girl surged over her! She was her
self astonished at its vehemence. Af-
ter all, why should she hate the girl?
There had never been anything be-
tween Billy and herself; nothing but
close friendship; just the same as be-
tween Tommy and herself. Neverthe-
less she hated this beautiful Octavia
Stuart! Tavy!
Then your business was with
Mrs. Stuart?"
% Il
check. I guess I'm the sly boy!" and
he chuckled. You know, / had that
check in my pocket when Miss Stuart
was in the office; but | wasn't going to
give up my chance to call! Say
Tommy; you must see her. You'll go
mad over her! Won't he, Geraldine 2"
That's what 1 told Tommy" The
voice was calm, and even, and sweet
Tommy would never rest until he
sketched her. She might even arouse
in him an ambition to paint - SER
iously."
mot with my consent" stated Billy,
with laugh which by no means con-
cealed his earnestness. "By George,
fellows, I'm crazy about her! You
never saw such coloring. Tommy; such
beautiful features; such variety of
facial expression; such glossy curly
black hair; such wonderful eyes! Say,
Tommy, her eyes actually change
color all the time! | could sit for
hours and just watch them, as they
vary with every thought. They have
these long, curving lashes, you know"
my turn!' The voice of Geraldine
was suddenly sharp, as if she had
pricked herself with pin. She bent
over the table and shot with such
keen precision as she had never
shown in any game. Her aim and
her control seemed almost deadly.
She made a run of eight, before
Three-B Benning came in, and
brought with him a change of topic
and of thought. He chatted jovially
with them for a while, and refereed
the game, and stayed long enough to
have drink with the boys. Billy
slipped his whisky slowly, and with a
keen relish. Benning watched him
thoughtfully. He shook his head.
Billy, you're drinking too much"
he bluntly observed. He felt entitled
to speak plainly. Why, he had said
'Googelly-googelly," to the boy in his
crib.
Young Lane run his fingers through
his hair in distress. He was very
much worried about this, not because
he felt in any particular danger, but
because his friends were suddenly so
concerned! Other fellows of his set
drank, but nobody seemed to worry
so much about them.
81 don't understand it, he puzzled.
you drink alone" Benning pro-
nounced this as if it were the solu-
ton of the entire difficulty.
Billy glanced across at Tommy and
Geraldine. They were in the midst
of warm argument over Miriam
Hasselton; Tommy contending that
she was clever, and Geraldine that
she was shrewd. He walked into the
library with Benning. He wanted to
reason this thing out with him; to eX-
plain; to reassure; and to settle, too,
certain doubts which had been fore
ed upon his own mind.
Tommy Tinkle gave up his argu-
ment, and contritely acknowledged
himself in the wrong, as he always
did.
Anyhow" he observed as he chalk
ed Geraldine's cue, miriam is to be
married, and why discuss her. So
goes the world" This with an affect
ed sadness, which was not all mock
cry. THE crowds breaking up. One
by one they all get caught, and are
married and drift away from us.
Pretty soon, Geraldine, We'll be the
only ones left" For just an instant
that vince of pain on his humorous
features, and then he grinned cheer
fully. Good old Tommy Tinkle! "I
guess Billy's the next"
mo-" The voice of Geraldine was
flat and colorless. Tommy looked at
her, quickly. Had she flared in tenn