The Lamar register., 1917-09-26
THING THAT CCynlo.
BY EARL REED sILVERs.

that matters" Jimmy Barrett remark
ed casually TO Mildred McAdams. ITS
whnt he does that really counts
Mildred looked up at him with rath-
er wlstful eyes. They were rather
pretty eyes, too, as Jimmy had more
than once noticed; and hidden in their
depths was q light which, if Jimmy
had been a little wiser, would have
told him something which would have
made his heart miss beat or two.
They had grown up together. Ever
since the new little girl next door had
stuck out her tongue nt him Jimmy
had felt Il rather proprietary interest
in Mildred, perhaps as the years wore
on and Mildred grew into the prom
ise of wOmanhoOd, she wondered II
Jimmys interest would ever be other
thnn neighborly. But, whatever her
thoughts, she kept them strictly TO
herself. And so, until the Assembly
ball at the Country club, Mildred and
Jimmy pursued the even tenor Of their
why's.
And then John Hastings appeared.
He was sitting on the porch Of the
club when Jlmmy's car drew up, and
rs soon MS his eyes dwelt upon NIL
drcd a smile Of joyful recognition over
spread his features. When Jimmy re-
turned from parking the car he found
Mildred in animated conversation with
a good-lool;lng young man who was
evidently n stranger in Bridgetown.
"Oh. Jlmmy!" she exclaimed, hapr
PLY. "This is John Hastings, whom l
met last summer at the shore. You've
heard me speak Of him, I'm sure.'
Jimmy had heard her speak Of him
a good deal, and he regarded the new
conner with interest.
'pm mighty pleased to meet you"
he announced in n voice which seemed
perfectly sincere. Mildred has told
mo about your good times last sum
mer"
"Oh. yes" the man answered. mil
lie and I enjoyed ourselves very
much"
Mile! A sudden unreasonable jeal-
ousy smote the heart of Jimmy Bar
rctt. What right had that fellow to
call her Mllllc7
From within the club the orchestra
strucl, up n onestep and Hastlng turn
cd to Mildred.
"Alay 1 have the pleasure7' he ask
cd.
Mildred, with glance at Jlmmy's
unexpectedly frownlng face, dimpled
mlschievously.
I'D be delighted" she answered.
When they returned from the dance,
they found Jimmy standing where
they had left him. During the i've
minutes in which Mildred had danced
with Hastings, Jimmy's heart had re-
vcaled itsnlf. Waiting In the shadows
Of the porch, under the lure Of soft
music, Jimmy suddenly discovered
that Mildred McAdams meant more
10 him than anyone else in the world.
lie tried TO smile when the other
two returned. Hastings, his face rath-
or flushed, nodded ahscntly TO Jimmy.
"NIllIe Is Just MS perfect a dancer as
She ever was" he announced. Then
he turned TO the girl. 81 hope thGt you
will give me Il good many uacs dances
tonight"
Mildred glanced Mt Jimmy, who was
Elaring NJ her almost ficrcely. Some
thing In his eyes made her catch her
breath sharply; and her heart sudden
ly threatened to run away from her.
"You may have the third one after
this" she said to Hastings, "and after
that TIL think about It,"
jimmy claimed Mildred ms his part.
ner for the second dance. lie didn't
say much but the girl imagined that
lie held her just q little tighter than
was necessary. When the dance was
over he led her out into the farthest
recess or the porch.
"pid you have very much TO do with
Hastings this summer?' he asked
abruptly.
mot so very much. Why? Don't
you like hlmf"
"IIe seems like a pretty fair sort Of
chap" Jimmy answered honestly. "Bu.
I hate him just the same"
Mildred regarded him with startled
eyes.
"why Jimmy" she said. "I didn't
think you'd act like this"
Cant I hate n man If want to?"
Jimmy demanded. do you like him
very much7"
''Yes; very much"
"oh!"
The bottom of the old world sudden
ly fell out under Jlmmy's feet. Mil
drcd's calm statement that she liked
TT,etfrrg ,r,rrF vy4Vr,h TnFf hFr,, erafufr