The Tomahawk., 1918-07-25

ley standing at the corner WultlnS IOr
car
Hello, Nell," he g,inned. as he slid
up to the curb. "Hop in and I'll take
! you home ---<-,----1-, - -. 2
She hoped obediently, with little
laugh. "You running jitney bus.
Mark?" she asked. y
NO." he chuckled, as he reached
across her lap to draw the door shut.
And then as they started with jerk:
Z: This is a, kissney bus-pay as you
leave-kindly have, exact fare re&dy."
"Why, how funny" she thought, az
! she laughed into his eyes. Il never
knew lie was like that" And she no
ticed how tastefully he was dressed,
almost fastidiously in a conservative
! sort of way. But after few moments
! of chatter on her part and most sur
prising silence in his. they drew up
! in front of her home. -. II
"Pay as you leave" he reminded her.
as she stepped from the car. -
"Silly," she said, turning away to,
| ward the house. ~
"Piker," said the commonplace Mar
Gus Barnes. H.
I'm not" she returned hotly. 4,
5"WelI, told you what the fare was
when you got in," he said firmly.
"You don't expect me to be kissing
you out here before all the neighbors,
do yOu?" she demanded:
| makes no difference to me where
it happens" he said, shutting off his
engine and vaulting out over the door.
1t. was the most uncOmmOnplace mo-
ment of the most uncommonplace hour
that the commonplace Marcus Barnes
had ever known, as he marched the
somewhat surprised Miss Bradley up
the steps and into the hall.
She could see that she was in for 1t,
but then, what did it matter? She
would extend him one Of those little
impersonal and indefinite kisses which
she reserved for very young or very
old and feeble male relatives. But
she hadn't counted on the common
place Mr.. Barnes. The first thing she
knew she found that she fitted into his
arms as snugly and tightly as If she
were made to be there She shut her
eyes and waited, but he only held her
little closer. She .flirted open her
eyes q wee bit to investigate the cause
Of the delay and flushed to find that
he was studying her upturned face
with a strange and puzzled wonder
ment.
II never noticed before how lovely
you are, Nell," he murmured, andst then
he collected his fare slowly and delib-
erately, not once, but seven separate
times, which wasn't so bad for the
commonplace Marcus Barnes.
Everyday during the following week
Nell Bradley expected to hear from the
efficient fare collector, but it seemed
that Marcus Barnes had had his mo-
ment> and then shyly subsided. Ten
days, a whole third of the allotted time
passed and still there was no word.
Miss Bradley was getting panicky, for
her time was getting SHIRT, so with
a nrim determination about the set of
her chin, and suggestion Of color un-
der the smooth skin Of her curved
check, she decided to consult the as
sistant cashier of the First National
bank about some securities she held.
The commonplace Mr.. Barnes arose
from his desk and looked just once
into the eyes Of Nell Bradley-and
then believing in preparedness, he dis
missed his stenographer. n
The gallant Miss Bradley had begun
to get cold feet. "It's-a-about those
securities of mine, Mark" she started
feebly. Y
| "Sec1rities nothing" said Marcus,
the commonplace, reaching for the girl
financier. "South-bound cars, pay as
you enter!" And he had already rung
up three fares when the austere voice
of the banks president came testify
from the doorway. -7
"For heavens sake! Why don't you
two young people get married-and do
your kissing at homer, y
"Shall wei" demanded Marcus
Barnes Of the girl in his arms.
Let's agreed Nell Bradley with
vague excitement in her humping
heart: s@
And the banks president chuckled
the news via the telephone into the
amused ear of his old friend and crony,
Nell's Uncle, George Bradley.
LET this be a lesson to you, George!
Never gamble with women-they have
such winning ways-ha-ha! !"
"Great stun, eh?" said the cynical
Mr.. Bradley. Couldn't have lost bet
in a better cause now, could 1? Youth,
and love and marriage--fine business !"
Meanwhile the commonplace Marcus
Barnes, dragging Nell Bradley about
with commonplace marriage license
in his pocket, was hunting a commonA
place preacher to perform common
place ceremony.