Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-07


Sangster took Christine TO a littl
out-of-the-way restaurant, where h,
Knew there would not be many people
He carefully avoided referring agar
to Jimmy; he talked Of anything ant
everything under the sun to try to dis
that she was not hungry; but to his de.
light, she ate quite good lunch. She
| liked the restaurant she had never beer
In Bohemia before. She was much In.
terested In an old table Sangster showed
her. which was carved all over with the
signatures OF well-known patrons OF the
house. .little flush crept into her pale
cheeks presently she was smiling.
| Sangster was cheered; he told himself
that she only needed understanding. He
believed that II Jimmy chose he could
convince her that everything was going
TO be all right in the future |: he believed
that with q little tact and patience JIM
my could entirely regain her lost conf
ierce But patience and Jimmy seemed
somehow irreconcilable Jimmy was too
young--too selfish. He sighed involun-
| tarily as he looked at Christine
When they had left the restaurant
again. and were walking toward the
park. he deliberately began to talk about
Jimmy.
II suppose Jimmy never told you how
he and I first met. did her" he asked.
No" Her sensitive little face flushed.
She looked UP at him eagerly.
1T isn't a bit romantic really" he
said. "At least, not from my point Of
view; but dare say you would be In
terested, because II shows what a fine
chap Jimmy really is" He took 1t for
granted that she was listening. He went
on: 1T was some years ago now, of
course--five years, think and was
broke-brolse to the wide, II you know
what that means !" He glanced down
at her smllingly. I'm by the way OF
being QfrnR1linu at
know, he explained. More Of the
struggling than the journalist. I'm not
bit OF good at the Job. to be quite cam
did; but It's a life like-and lately
Gently. Anyhow, at the time / met
Jimmy was down and out.
Fleet street would have none of me, and
I even had 20 pawn my watch"
obi! said Christine with soft SYM
pathy.
sangster laughed.
That's nothing; it's been pawned
fifty times since II first came into my
possession, should think. Don't think
I'm asking for sympathy-I'm not It's
the sort of life that suits me, and l
! had the chance. But the night ran
across Jimmy / was fairly up against
It hadn't had a square meal for a
week. and ! was Ill, to add to the
trouble. Jimmy was coming along Pail
Mall in evening dress. He was smoking
a cigar that smelled good, and I won
dered as he passed me, IL l dared 20
up and ask him for q shilling"
hearing the d d;stress in her voice, ""
Don't look so sorryl" he said very
gently. TITS all In a days march for
me. I've had my good times and I've
had my bad and when I come to write
the story of my life-when I'm bloat-
ed millionaire, that 81" he added In
laughing parenthesis-"it will make fine
reading to know that was once 30 hard
up that I cadged q shilling off a swell
evening dress /"
But Christine did not laugh; her eyes
were almost tragic as she looked up
wondering at Sangster's honest face.
"And--and did you ask him2" she
questioned.
did I not" said Sangster heartily.
II went up to him-Jimmy stopped dead.
believe he thought I was going to pinch
his watch---and said. will you be
sport and lend me a bob?" Not bit
romantic, you see u
Christine caught her breath.
And did he-did her she asked
eagerly. sangster laughed reminiscent
ly.
You'll never guess what he said. He
asked no questions, he took the cigar
from his lips and looked at me, and he
said. I haven't got bob In the world
my monthly allowance along; but II
all come as far as the next street,
know a chap can borrow a sovereign
rom Wasn't that just Jimmy ali
overT
on, l can just hear him saying II /!
can just see him!" she cried. And
We'll, we went along-to this pal OF
r!mmy's, and Jimmy borrowed a FLYER.
70 gave me three pounds. and took me |
along to have dinner. And-well, we've |
'oen pals ever since. A bit Of luck for
De wasn't III"
II was thinking" said little Christine
very earnestly, that II was a bit OF luck
or Jimmy" - 'N
Sangster grew furIously red. For a
he could think of nothing to
ay he had only told the story in order
o soften her toward Jimmy. and in a
ne asure he had succeeded.
pealsing for some time her brown eyes
we're very thoughtful.
Sangster talked no more Of Jimmy:
le was too tactful to overdo things.
immy was not mentioned between them
gain till ne took her back to the hotel.
II don't know how to thank you for
eing 30 kind to me-" she said earnestly.
Ter brown eyes were lifted confidingiy
o his face. But I've been happier this
fternoon than-than I've ever been
lnce my mother died"
Sangster gripped her hand hard for q
loment.
And you will be happy-always-if
ou're Just little patient" he said
ather huskily. "Jimmy's a spoiled boy,
the women who have TO
how all of us-eh? It's the women who
re our guardian angels: remember
hat"
He hated himself for having had 70
lame her, even mildly, when the fault
,as 80 utterly and entirely Jimmvis