The Dolores star., 1919-01-03

10 would Its lovely of you to usk
us-but l can't get Off now
Yes you can interrupted Marga-
ret; tive seen the manager, apd he
says under the circumstances-pic
Ing for your health-you might have
the week Off. Now you'll go, won't
your"
Lloyd Shannon sent message by
me to Philip she remarked moment
later. HE wants him to write to him
when he gets across. You know Lloyd
Is leaving the fifteenth"
Frances started and her pale face
lost every vestige of color
.'So-soon?" she stammered, irving
70 conceal her agitation.
Margaret took her shaking hands Ia
ners.
"You-yon love him. don't you.
dearY'
The girls white lips moved, but nc
sound came through them.
Don't be afraid to tell me-" Ma,
garet encouraged her lin not Ell,
gagged to him any morel Shouldn't
ever bt'h, StIt utlitu ilIDIlN
with him loving you all the time But
he just turned to me for-for comfort,
| guess, when y0u--why did YOU refuse
him, Frances?'
The girl covered her face with her
hands.
IL thought couldn't put my bur
dens on him." she sobbed, "and | pre-.
tended / didn't care. But ii broke nv
heart"
Margaret kissed her. "There-dont
cry. Things will come right. In Tho
meantime well go on our picnic--star.
early In the morning"
The next day at noon, while Mrs
Hemans and F'rances-buth innocent
of their proximity to ii training camp
for they did not know the roads they
had come over-rested ut one of the
city hotels, Margaret went to sec
Lloyd. His eyes lit at sight OF her
but in his bronzcd face there was q
suggestion Of WEAKNESS, hint OF It
mind not at ease.
DO you want to be married before
you So-would you like to be married
this afternoon, Lloyd?" she asked him
abruptly.
For second he paled and some.
thing like CONSERVATION CONSTRUCTED his
mouth, then he tried to smile.
Margaret laughed softly and held NJ
her bare left hand. Not to me-i
know where your heart Is, Lloyd-but
to Frances Thompson? You see, mar
ried to YOU, even though you're away
with your allowance aud the govern.
mcnt allotment she'd have an easier
time. I'm going TO pay for Philips op.
GRAFTON at once with the money daddy
gave me for IL new car. Tell me, dc
| you want to he married, Lloyd, to her
| this afternoon?
AS she rested her eyes on his brown
face and watched it go white, then red,
| then white again, she did not need to
be told his thoughts.
"Does she-does Frances know
| you're asking me this 2" he asked when
he could bring his voice to unsteady
speech.
mo, but saw she was breaking her
heart because you We're going, and so
brought her down here with me. She
thinks we're going on in an hour or so.
She doesn't even know we're near the
camp you're In"
He tried to take her hand. II feel
an awful cad, Margie!" he groaned.
Margaret's dimpling smile would
have deceived the elect.
You don't need to! You've been an
angela blessed clumsy angel-but
haven't been deceived bit !" She
laughed softly again. I've known all
along you just turned to me for com
fort, and I've been intending all along
to set you free at the psychological
moment! Oh. Lloyd, I'll take you to
her. and It's up to you to explain to her
how bad you are wanting her!'
In the early dusk. at her home, Mar
garet helped her weary aunt off with
her wraps, then sped to her own room
and locked the door. Quivering she
flung herself down by her bed.
"Oh Godv she cried, don't let me
forget It's right to give everything for
the country--cven ones life! It's my
life I've given-for l love him. Father,
l love him."
MYSTERY IN FOOD SUBSTANCE