Evening star., 1919-04-13

merely SlppeU tnelT6,
But drinking a glass Of wine
doesn't prove anything" said Nina,
with her pleasantly provoking drawl.
You say you're free. and you say
you love me-but you're afraid really
to prove it,"
Not afraid" Jack declared stout
ly. "Prove 1t any way you say"
She gaZed at him i'm amused skep-
ticism--yet most alluring smile on
her young face. "Oh. no. you wouldn't.
your independence and your love You
know what that is-to drop every
thing else, and go away with me-
"rll do it tonight he cried. Say.
listen, Nina--know lrP place.
mo thanks" she interrupted. 'If you
took me off into hiding, that wouldn't
prove anything Besides, l want to be
where there's something doing, and
where there's people-you understand.
classy people"
That's all ri' Make 1t Newport.
Bar Harbor any ole swell resort you
like. I'm no GUTTER"
Il believe you really are In earnest
unused Nina. her large eyes upon him.
gansett Pier-any ole place you like"
She shook her head, and sighed
you're awfully good, Jack, but it
can't be done. I've no clothes--and
those places take clothes--and clothes
the right sort of clothes, they take
money--and 1 have no money"
"Wha's money" Jack laughed.
"Tha's nothing! 1 got money. l give
you check"
"Really?"-the large, almost child
ish eyes still upon him, "Yes, you
really are in earnest. But one check
wouldn't buy ali need"
You li'r fool-pre' liz fool" he
cried, patting her cheek, and laugh
ing again. y can make 1T one big
She shook her head. II don't know
ANYTHING about checks and banks, but
know It would take three"
"All RI" he said good-humoredly,
tickled by her ignorance. He drew out
''oh, don't know Couldn't you just
sign your name and let me fiji those
spaces when buy the things?"
Sure. Peter. you always carry ole
fountain pen. Lemme have ole fountain
pen JUS one minute"
The pen was handed over. Jack sign
ed three checks and passed them to
Nina. She murmured warm thanks. and
then looked from them to him, apollo
getfc doubt in her eyes.
"A woman's clothes cost an awful lot.
Jack-more than you guess Would 1t
be all right II had to fill these in for
perhaps as much as five hundred dollars
-; Again Jack laughed. "sure-you pre-
li'r fool"
You can laugh, but want to be GER
get in trouble by having people come
after me for having passed checks that
had no money behind them"
Again Jack laughed "'S all ri. Nina.
Listen, Listen" He .d., leaned toward her con
twenty-fve; came into nice li'r ole
pile money. Soak 1t away in bank.
the car ! drive you up here in. Nina
some liF ole car when / turn her
loose-nothin ever passes her-an' 1
draw out li'l spendin' money. Tha's
ALL" He snickered once mre. give
Eundred-is my check good tha'--oh,
stubs OF my checkbook--wha'1 deposit
--wha' l draw out. Look for your
selm-tha'll show you!"
He handed her the checkbook She
examined the stubs. then gaZed at him
in stupefaction.
Why" she said breathlessly--"w
over one hundred and eighty-nine
thousand dollars!
Sure" He grinned delightedly.
Am good for five hundred-eh. Nina
never dreamei-Then, of course, 1t
will be all right IL ! make them as
much as five hundred each"
Her face broke into a sudden. naive
smile. And l tell you what, Jack
III make them payable to Cash then
! won't have to indorse them nor will
anybody else---and If anybody wants to
start scandal, why. nobody that sees
them VIII ever suspect, and certainly
not be able to prove. that I got money
from you. 1t1l protect both OF u.s."
Nina seemed TO have another inspra-
tion--a very businesslike one. And
what's more, I'll just fill these in now
and have 1t all done with. Peter, let
me have your fountain pen. Thanks.
And. Jack. while I'm writing, you
might pour me fresh gla So, and your
self one, and one for the others
that's a dear boy. Remember you're
the host
While Jack was unsteadily doing
a hosts duty. decanting almost as
much of the amber fluid upon the cloth
as into the glasses. Nina filled out the
checks; and as she wrote she three
times repeated aloud Payable to
u ash -, Five - -Hundred--DollarsH
She returned Loveman's pen, waved
the checks daintily until the ink had
dried. then slipped them within her
sex's invariable postal box. Lovenan
glanced at his watch and rose
briskly.
Excuse me minute or So" he
said. II promised to call up a party
at o'clock, and it's almost half
efter"
lie disappeared through the heavily
curtained doorway through which he
had entered. The next moment he re-
appeared
Nina. just as I started to use the
Ina noII fn A