The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-16
10 YES GAMBLE
By MAY CHRISTIE

of omelette for you Shirley. and I've got to run out and buy the eggs. Amuse yourself with the old piano while I'm gone-I won't be many min utes, dear." and Vivian disappeared. shell pull herself together best | when she's alonel It would only make her worse to sympathizer' Thus ran Vivians reflections while she hurried along toward the local grocery store. Meantime Shirley-left alone-in dulged in the feminine solace of "a good cry"
 She was engaged to David Burke | She didn't love him. But the net had frightened around her. She was caught"
 Matters wouldn't be so awful if she could forget Jin Dalton. She wanted accomplishing" are different matters. Shirley could dictate the action of her I heart
 She still loved Jim-the old Jim | that she knew. She had cut him dead this afternoon when they had passed | him in the taxi
 And he had looked so handsome SO entirely lovable. \ She could still see the hurt astonished looked on his attractive face.
 | An immense bewilderment was in her mind over, the recent curious epi- sodes she had come through.
 If only I could wake up and find i, had been a nightmare. and that Jim was really minel" she thought drearily, the tears still on her cheeks.
 Then pride came to her rescue.
 Vivian mustn't find me in the depths of wool" She walked into the tiny bedroom off the studio and pouring some water into an enameled basin, washed away the traces of her tears. There, look better now" She eyed her reflection in the mirror on the dressing table. fluffing out her curly hair.
 Beauty was certainty an asset in the game of life.
 She found some scented powder in an ivory box. and dabbed little on her flushed cheeks.
 Then she went back into the studio and sat down at the old piano, strik- ing few soft chords.
 A knock sounded on the studio door
 svivian. may I come in?" At the 1 sound of the we1l-known voice all the blood rushed to Shirley's head. then receded. leaving her very pale. She made no answer.
 The door was opened very slowly and Jim Dalton stood before her! i CHAPTER ".
 X BIG MISTAKE
 "Shirleyr
 | Jim Dalton strode across the studio floor a~nd caught her hand impulsively. His fa< was very white. Yet there was gladness in his eyes.
 Shirley" I can't keep up this quar- rel and longer Fate must have sent l you here today. My dear. my dear, i forgive me for the way I've acted! I've been a hot-heated young fool- l but I'm awfully sorry-awfully sor- l ry"-
 | He broke off. chilled by the look on Shirley's face.
 She had drawn her hand away as though the very touch of him were utterly distasteful to her "Oh Shirley, If you only knew how vexed I've been." went on the young | man earnestly
 "vexed? Isn't that a feeble wordT' She found her voice at last. Its tones were condemnatory. And sorry ?" I She rose to her feet and backed away l from him. Being sorry can't patch ] this matter up"'
 Her thoughts flew back--confused 10 the robbery that this man had per retrated--to the stealing of her purse. Why. he had no moral sense at all. He was common criminal.
 Jim Dalton crushed down the quick retort that rose to his lips. The pres q He mustn't lose his temper.
 Shirley. the matter must be mended. You're laboring under an I absurd mistake. I tell you I'm not married--never was-and never hope 10 be till I win vou.'' l Miss Shirley's lip curled scornfully 1 She wasn't going to let her felings | for this man master her sane judg- l rlent--not second timei There We're other "counts' against him. too. be- sides the marriage which he now de- 1 nied
 1 q can't believe you" she said, sharply. in a voice that-in it's tense ness-was curiously unlike her own.
 Then the tenseness snapped, and she was just a girl again-a desperately unhappy girl in the presence of the man she loved and whom she was try 1 ing in vain to hate.
 She sank down on the piano stool and hid her face in her two hands.
 "Oh Jim.' she walled. T never could have dreamt such things of you. You of all men--a common ciminar'--, What's that you say?" He started forward, clutching her by the wrist. ! The veins stood out like cords upon 1 his forehead. What's that you say?'
 "A criminal" repeated Shirley. I bravely. She was living over again that terrible moment when this young man had hurled her against the door way of the slum and robbed her of her 1 rurse.
 Jim--on the other hand-was utterly