Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-20
CHAPTER XLIX

copyright. 1918, by King Syndicate)
Folks, you're all invited to dine
wnerever ENVY designates. I've just
6eaned up almost two hundred on
ser hunch about that Yankee Kid.
Greyson," cried jim in a voice of
sTiumph.
He had rallied from the momen-
tary collapse caused by his shock
of happpiness at the victory OF the
boy on whom he had staked all his
money for the week 10 come. And
this was his reply TO Evvy's little
murmur: You can just take me to
dinner!"
Was this big party what Envy
had intended? I looked at her face
her lips smiled, her wide blue
eyes told nothing.
Jim was all animation now. AS
everything about him had twitched
when he was waiting for the YER
dict of success or loss, so now he
seemed to fairly dance in every
pulse and fibre
Betty and Terry didn't appear to
share in the general rejoicing, but
rather to draw close in q common
cause. Virginia also was quiet and
subdued. l wondered If she felt
any OF the terror that seemed TO be
actually tearing at my dry throat.
But she gave me no glance OF un-
derstanding, and Betty and Terry
avoided my eyes.
realized they all had some
knowledge they wished to hide
from me. 1t was almost too late
for that now. But whatever their
attitude toward the means by
which he had made his little store
of wealth no one had the heart to
deny Jim's right 10 be host TO our
party. In this joy there was a gen.
erous qua,ity-and a rising from
the humiliation of being q guest
too often.
Where do we go, Evvy?" asked
Jim.
with a little air of Importance,
Envy laid her hand on his arm:
Shall we have committee meet
ing about It. Jimmy hoy?'
There was no refusing her wist-
full eyes, her quivering lips, the lit
tie note of pleading in her husky
voice. Jim leaned down to her.
And the rest of us shuftied about
a bit impatiently. while the crowd
began to surge by and mass of men
out on the track seethed about the
winning car. and the cameras TO-
cussed on the grinning Yankee
Kid"
At last Envy jumped to her feet,
eyes adance:
Were going round to the Bay,
good people," she exclaimed. You
follow our car while we direct Cap
tain Winston TO an adorable little
inn where we can have a table out
on the balcony and dinner
Evyy's voice trailed off into
Oh n l-icGnd tho tins 0T
her rosy fingers in ecstacy. She
looked like a naughty fairy-and
quite adorable. For a second her
eyes fastened on Meals, but the boy
caught his glance away and leaned
down to little Phoebe again.
In that foment Virginia looked
at me almost as if she were asking
n question. I smiled encouragingly
but she stiffened again to remote
ness as II I had failed to under
stand-and the moment passed.
Sheldon lowered above Virginia
protectingly. He was completely
satisfied with the days events.
Lead on, Fair Evelyn-we FOL
low" he chanted, burlesque fash
ion.
Catching J'm's hand in hers with
a childish gesture, Evelyn started.
But Jim held out his other hand to
me-and in a maze Of unhappiness
and wonder took his hang.
Warmly his fingers curled against
my palm, and he drew me close to
his side.
Was ENVY to Jim only a pretty.
petulant child, consoling herself
for the desertion of Sheldon-and
even the boy Neal? Or was she a
woman-the woman he had almost
married?
AS we edged our way through the
good-natured, elbowing laughing