Evening times-Republican., 1920-10-25

imagine how modestly she cast down
the long lashes when she said this
/ Il say this for your own good. No
woman, you know, would want to put
herself in the position of being under
the thumb of her husbands ,secre-
tary."
All Bobo could find to say was:
I'm sorry you don't like him" Jack
had to confess to himself that a bet
ter man than Bobo might well have
been stumped by such situation. :.
"Oh, 1t doesn't matter about me-"
she said, but he is openly rude to
me. You don't seem to care"
Il do! l dol" cried poor Bobo. I'll
put stop to that. I'll speak to him!"
Yes" she said with kind of
plaintive spitefulness, tell him I
told you, and then he'll act worse
to me than ever. If you cared about
me at all, you wouldn't keep him for
another day"
! You just leave 1t to me, I'll fix
it," said Bobo desperately.
That's what you say every day.
but l don't see any change"
80 this Is an everyday affair"
! thought Jack. poor Bobo!"
| ut can't go on" she said gloomily
Il think too much of you as friend
to stand seeing another man run you.
I'd rather give you up--as friend.
If I've got to put up with Jack Rob-
| inson, / don't want to see you any
more"
I
The softest creature, pushed to the
wall, shows fight. II won't fire Jack"
said Bobo sullenIy. You're Just try
! ing to run me the same way you say
he is. If I've got to go, I'll go!"
Good for Bobo!" thought Jack.
She quickly performed the nndigni-
fled maneuver known as climbing
down. mo. Bobo," she said melt
ingly. You are right. shouldn't
have spoken that way. It is none of
my business. But can't bear to
see you imposed on. 1t made me
forget myself"
II can take care of myself" NUT
tered Bobo.
Forgive me-" she said angelically,
"and let's change the subject Come
1t was Jacks turn to be surprised.
He judged from her voice that she
had already risen. so he had about
two seconds to make up his mind
how to act. He relaxed completely
in the big chair, let his head fall
back closed his eyes and breathed
deeply.
1n< he vi inc
He heard the swish of her silk petit
coat
"Oh!" she said sharply. Surprise,
fear. chagrin, all were blended in the
sound.
Bobo at her heels said blankly!
'I'll be jiggered!"
Jack opened his eyes sleepily.
blinl1ed at the sight of them, and
sprang up.
Whats the matter!" he said.
Where am I? OIL must have fall
en- asleep. Please excuse mel"
He flattered himself it was very
we'll done. Bobo at least was COM
pletely taken in AS to the girl. he
could not be sure. 1t was likely that
being an accomplished dissimulator
| herself, she would on principle sus-
| pect him of Discrimination.
| But she gave away nothing in her
! face. you're excusable," she said
with a light laugh. "They told us
you hadn't come. II you could have
Eseen how funny you 7looked!I Come Come
on, lets have tea
| Thruout that ceremony Jack lahor-
ed with his most light hearted air to
remove any suspicious she might
| have that he had overheard her tafk
with Bobo. It was not easy to read
! that young lady's face, but he be-
lieved that he saw her gradually re-
lax and be at ease again.
The sequel to this scene took place
later the same night. Jack, Bobo
and Miriam went to the theater. and
afterwards to the Alpine Heights to
sup Having arrived at the exquisite
restaurant, Miriam announced that
she had lost pearl pin in the thea
| ter Poor Bobo had to go back after
it. tho he had 1alreadv ordered a
recherche little s,prer Jack offer
ed to go, but Miriam silenced him
with a peculiar look, so he sat back
and let things take their course.
When they were alone together,
Miriam softly said, turning the hazel
eyes full on him: why can't we be
friends, Jack?"
He could have sworn the lovely
orbs were big with tears, and in
! spite of himself his heart leaped; she
was so beautiful! steady" he whis-
pered to himself Its probably on
ions or pepper!"
Aren't we friends?" he said with
an air of surprise.
She sadly shook her head. you
know we're not! You distrust me,
dislike me; you cannot hide it,"
ITS not SOL" said Jack. 1--WE al
ready explained what it is that you
think is dislike. You put a man on
the defensive. You've already COB
bled up poor Bobo, skin and bones
and hymn book, too! I've got to be
CAREFUL"
ooh. you won't be serious!" she
pouted. "And you saw how l lied to
alone"
Then there wasn't any peal pin?"
"Of course not!"
Poor Bobo! I'll be serious. What
is it?"
"Oh, it's nothing special! I just
wanted to see if / couldn't bring
about q better understanding be-
tween you and me. It's awfully hard
en- Bobo, who is such friends with
both of us--that you and I can't get
on better I mean.
Lets have "a better understand
ing!" said Jack heartily. Privately he
was thinking: Lovely lady, what are