The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-15
Love Affairs of a Lonely Woman
By MARY HAu

man companion of lanes, new employer i with a chuckle.
 "Oh, just a girl I know She's got a nnew dress on I think-at least it was new. I wonder what she'll do to fix it up after all that red ink is spilled on it?' retorted Mortimer, relighting his cigar with a sardonic chuckle. It'll be a pretty good test of her nerve" T think you know more about her than you let on to. Montie. my boy" said the other man. However. that's your | business Now, let's get down to mine l want you to start unloading these oil shares in preference to any old mining I stock you ever heard or saw" And their | conversation drifted into the technicali- i ties of that particular variety of broker age which is so often planned in just such surroundings.
 Jane Brown had finally reached the | doorway, followed closely by Holaday, whose kindly features showed genuine | concern. Billy Burns, wealthy young | scapegrace, was too used to such acci- dents and a ruined dress meant too little | to him to mind the matter much He was only intent upon "squaring him. self,' as he called it. m order to keep in the good graces of the attractive girl who had won his fancy. Unsteadily he followed them.
 Susan Bigelow and Daphne Hayward,
 
 on this unhappy adventure, sat calmly at the table which Jane had left so pre- cipitously
 They were unconcerned at the sudden departure of the trio, and looked about them to see if other friends were in the room. As @Greenwich villagers of the inner set'' they we,e never at loss under such circumstances. Soon they espied a registering group of hE H1if wiw1- I<,-r young men in a far corner.
 Come on, susan.'' said the other girl. There's Jimmie Buclsner and that crowd from Sheridan square. Let's go down. I'm all out of cigarettes, and we've had enough of these country cousins" The other rose and followed, answering:
 Sure enough. Where on earth did Dickie Holladay find that country thing? She knows about as much about art and the cosmos and the latest jazz tune as I do about Chinese astronomy. I'm glad we're rid of her.
 And I'm glad she spoiled that dress. She was pretty conceited about it, any way" rejoined Daph.ie. Served her rlghtr
 With this gentle, feline sentiment they joined their boon companions from Sher- idan Square and, forgetting poor little lonely Jane and her ruined hopes, blithely began, with the encouragement of some fresh highballs. talking over the coming artists ball to be held in Webster hall.
 Outside on the street Jane stopped, stool still, bewildered
 Holady had stopped to secure his hat from purposely slow eheckboy Burns had rushed out of the door after. He caught her arm, and she shrank away restraing a scream with difficulty Let me take you home, pretty? My car is here and I'll get you another dress for the one I spoiled he said
 Jane could control her self-restraint and outraged feelings no longer The touch of the mans hand on her arm was ag loathsome as that of a serpent, and be- side herself-hardly realizing her act-but with self-defense as the prime thought. she wrenched herself from his hold S, suddenly that Burns lost his balance none too steady at best. I As he tumbled to the pavement, Jane fled into the night, down the dark street | she knew not where
 l (Copydight, 1919, Thompson Feature Serv- ice.) 1 cfo be continued Tuesday)