Evening star., 1919-09-28


ford pout. Really, don't think
meaning what?"
referring to the boy. Vincent"
says I.
"Oh." says she. eyeing me curious.
"Dear little fellow. isn't he?"
"Of course" goes on, III it's only q
case of adoption" Z,
''Say." she breaks in. her eyelids
gettin' narrow. "some of you ceriso
blonds ought to be confined to the,
comic strips. Who do you think
you're kidding. anyway"
'Sorry. Mirabelle." says I. "but
you're all wrong. This Is straight
heart -to-heart stuff. You know you've
been stringin' Vincent along"
Suppose 1 have?" demands Mira-
belle. "Where do you get license to-
crash in?" .s
"Just what was working up to.ss
says 1. For one thing, he's the only
perfect office boy in captivity. The
Corrugated can't spare him. Then
again, there's mother. Honest, Mira
belle. you ought to see mother
reg'lar stage widow. with the sad.
sweet smile; the soft. gray hair: 'nI
everything. If you could. you'd lay.
Off this Theda Bara act the next min.
ute"
1t was a poor huncf. pullin' out that
sympathy stop for Mirabelle. knew
that when saw them black eyes or
hers begin to give off sparks.
Listen. son." says she. III you feels
as bad as all that run down in thes''
subcellar and sob into tho coal. TliH
be getting nervous, next thing know
listening to rawlings like that"
my error" says I. Course. vow
didn't know how a few kind wordsl
and little off-hand target practices
with the eyes would affect Vincent. \
How should you? But he's taking III
all serious. Uh-uh! Been buying the
ring
WHAT" says Mirabelle. startled. 4S
"A real blue white. set in platinum. 81
says !. ION installments. Of course
And he's plungin' with all his war
savings on wildcat stocks to makes
good. Oh. he's in a reg'lar trance.
Vincent. So you see?"
Mirabelle seems to see a good dealX
more than was expectin' her tosss
Just now she's glancin' approvin' into8
one OF the display mirrors and is pat.T
tin down the hair puffs over her ears
HE is dear boy" she remarks,s
more to the mirror than to me.
But look here" says I. 'you-yousl
wouldn't let him go with this, wouldsl
you"
II beg your pardon" says Mirabelle.s
"Still chatterlng, are you? Well
stretch your ear once. young fellerss
When I want your help in this I'll5
send out call. II yuo don't get one
you'll know you amt needed. Here'a
your package. sir. Sixty centsg5s
please" m
And I'm given the quick shunt. just
like that. Whatever 1t was thoughtS
was doing. I'd bugged II. The res.SS
cue expedition had gone on the rocks
Absolutely. 1 might have known bet
ter. too: spilling all that dope about
the solitaire. AS II that would throw
q scare into Mirabelle. OF all the
bush league plays. Instead Of unf@s
tangling Vincent any from the net
I'd only got him twisted up tighter
With that ring on him he was just al
safe as an exposed pocket flask At ~
Elks' picnic. @
1 was retreatin. draggy with rn
chin down when happens to get G
grin from this wise guy Marcus, lIsS
charge Of the cigar booth opposite.
"You don't have no luck with Mirax
belle, eh?" says he winkin'. "ThAtsSs
too bad, amt 1t? But there's ,lott$S
others. She keeps 'em all guessin
Hard in tho heart, Marabelle has bee92s
ever since she got thrown overb9RrS
herself" ,h @
"Eh?" says I. ''when was that
Who did it?" M
,''Oh. near year now" says Marcus
you know the feller who 'wat ft
with mo here-chuck sDempsey7s M
"The big husk with tho bushy btASl5A
eyebrows?" says I. sas
Marcus mods. "EIe had MtrabelJ
crazy over him. And Chuch. no
pretty strong for her, too. ThS5 he
It all fixed up. the|Aat picked out anS
all. when something or other bust #
UP. dunno what. Chuck. he tQuie
the next day. Lucky thing. too. f4zE
II he'd stuck here he wouldn't hay
met up with them automobile sundrie#
people and landed his new Job. R
haas hoso mn no nnr ~ THAR HarlAG&<