Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-19
Euening Story
THE l.DoN'T.cARE GIRL.

THE LooN'T-cARE GIRL.
BY Earl Reed siivers.
f0opyright. 1917, by the Mcclure
4 Newspaper Syndicate)
~ Nm Nicholas stood on the porch Of
Ne Country club. his eyes following
s he figures Of Margaret Randolph and
.Hck Willever as they merged into the
4 darkness Of what was known as Low
6ers' lane. He watched them until they
disappeared into the shadows, and
then, with sigh, he turned and made
his way to the swinging couch.
Z The porch was deserted. From with
~ the club came the sound Of soft mu
Vic, but even as Jim listened the
strains died away. only to be followed
by a burst of enthusiastic handicap
ping. The music began again. louder
tnore insistent, and Jim smiled uncon
l31 lciously as he recognized the tune
eW'he orchestra was playing. Keep
YYour Eyes on the Grille You Love-"
WELL" Jim thought to himself rath
Or bitterly, that's just what have
I been doing. but when the girl you love
lakes moonlight walk with another
Mellow, it's better not to have any
5,.yes."
He smiled grimly. Only the day be.
lore he had told Margaret that life
without her would be hardly worth the
x!Iving. The scene came before him
low with startling vividness. They
aad been sitting on the steps Of her
house: the moon had risen early. and
one stray moonbeam had slipped
throush the thick foliage Of the spread
ing oak over the porch and had crown
ID MarSaret's piquant face with an
aura Of silver.
Margaret" he had said suddenly,
tt love you"
She had looked at him Tor moment
with startled eyes and then the peal
Of her hearty laugher had sounded dis
oordant with the silence Of the even.
me.
"Jim." she had said. you don't
! mean it, surely? Not you?"
"Why not me?" he had answered re-
/ sentfu,ly and ungrammatically. you
knew It was coming, didn't you?"
II don't know whether did or not"
Sshe seemed to have taken the matter
Ylightly. but. Jim. why do you love
me-" she had questioned.
Because do" he had answered
eullenly. Don't you care at ALL"
II The moonbeam had disclosed hint
OF laughter in her hazel eyes.
" 'T'm known as the I-don't.care
Airl,' +" she had replied. "and to tell the
n ruth. Jim, I don't know now whether
3Jtcare or not"
IT'S It because OF some one else?" he
bad persisted.
The laughter had died from her
Yes. and she had faced him seriously.
perhaps 1t is" she had answered.
1.-Two wears ago when Dick Willever
rent TO New York to get rich and IA
nous he asked me II would wait for
aim and told him that would. 1t
wasn't exactly promise but 1t was
salf promise-and tomorrow night
TX is coming to the dance at the
M lntry club"
t'TSAnd you think, maybe, that you
Vs for him."
-asA.aybe do: but tomorrow I'll know
Ind then I'll give you your answer.
\ Jim had gone home directly after
That A street organ on the corner had
4played: Last Night Was The End OF
1.-THE World" and Jim hummed the tune
with q grim realization Of the ATTITUDE
Rof the words-to his own case. He had
(somehow managed to live through a
1day Of mingied doubt and misery. but
Mn the evening when he had called at
lIMargaret's home in his runabout the
Jeirl had met him with smile in her
Neyes. She had acted as IL there was
/ not a care or trouble in the world.
u Jim had danced the iet waltz with
her. and after that Dick Willever had
made his appearance and had led her
N through the shadows of Lovers
Sne. II seemed to jim as II they
1huld never return. Dick had changed
since he had left Glen
God two years before. The frank
tss of his eyes had disappeared and
An their stead had come a look OF Graf
Fitness which was anything but reas-
suring. His clothes were Just trifie
Too gaudy and his voice lust a shade
Zoo loud Jim hoped, with all the sin
jeerity OF his loyal heart. that Margaret
would notice the change.
Suddenly he espied them walking
islowly UP the lane. He noticed, with
n sigh Of relief that. they were walk
! ing farther apart than the occasion de-
imanded, and as they drew nearer the
Aclub he noticed, too. that Margaret's
head was held little, higher than
Usual. and that her eyes were turned
way from her companion.
Jim arose as they approached the
porch and offered his arm to Marear
ct. With brief nod at Dick. she &C
Reepted the proffered arm and accom-
tpsnied her escort into the club. The
orchestra struck UP "Auf Widersehn,"
i and together thew glided around the
Ipolished hOor When the dance was