The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-02-25

Her MINUS ueep In ner pockets. This
was Nan Millard, and Jerry did some
hard thinking on her account. Before
the coming Of Mrs. Hamilton she had
been Marbury's principal concern In
life.
did Miss Millard," Jerry began,
and stopped short, lingering the pearl
studs on the bed. He had almost
thought out loud. II mean, Uncle Ger
aid, which are YOU going to marry?"
Marbury's fingers fumbled over his
ties in the drawer He missed Kato's
minlstrations.
II like Nan the BEST" Jerry added
In what he tried to make an offhand
manner.
$50 do I, old man, come to think
of It," Marbury answered between his
teeth. "Trcuble is, the ladies' have the
preference. You can't club them and
race for the nearest honeymoon cave,
you know. Miss NIillard Is not ac-
cepting a man with only ten thousand
year. She lacks the essential fcml-
nine quality of sympathy, which Is q
bit beyond you. isn't 1t, Jerry?"
HAS the widow got it?' asked
Jerry earnestly. Marbury stared at
him fixedly.
"How do you know she's widow"
"If she's Mrs. Somebody, you
couldn't marry her unless she was,
could your"
Mnrbury was silent. Oddly enough,
the boys words stirred up dormant
sense of honor. He wondered where
old Hamilton was, anyhow? Left in
some convenient post abroad, prob
ably. There had been French di-
yOrce, he knew, and the rumOr that
Frances would marry somebody he
had been jealous of over there. All
at once he looked at the photograph
on the mantel, at Nnn's clear, wide
eyes and sunny smile, at the sweet
ness and whoesomeness of her girl
hood, and lie sighed.
81 like her best, 100, old man." he
said, "only she won't have me-"
The next day Jerry called up Miss
Millard and invited her to call for
him and take him to lunch SO they
could get acquainted She was ever
so much better than her pictures, he
decided at first sight Brown eyes
freckles over her nose like gold dust
And he loved to answer her questions
about Marbury. She was so delicate
and naive about It, Jerry understood
perfectly. So he helped her out. First
he gave his uncle a character for good
temper and kindness and all around
splendid fellowship. Then he told how
worried he was about him. They were
in a well-known restaurant at table
near the window, and Jerry felt safe
81 can get him here In about two
minutes jerry said euyeriy. Hes
just over at the club, and he'd come
in one hop If YOU said so. He's ter
ribly worried about YOU"
ole seems to be-" smiled Nan. you
don't understand, Jerry"
''Ssre l do" insisted Jerry. but
he Just sees the widow because he
needs sympathy. He says you haven't
any, and YOU want somebody with
more money. I don't believe word
he says" he added, hastily, Mt the fire
in her eyes. "But why did you throw
him DOWN"
"IIe never asked me-" laughed Nan,
scornfully. GERRY, think you're four
flushing"
But she spoke to an empty chair.
Jerry reached n telephone booth and
called the club in triumph.
"Say, that you, Uncle Gerald? This
is Jerry. Well, It's O. *. Come on
over and see for yourself. At the Re-
gina, Nan and me. Yep. She said SO.
She said you'd never asked her, so I
did for you. What? Oh, all right. l
know. We've got party line out
home, too, where everybody hears
what you say. Come soon"
He hung up and wiped his face off
happily
81 guess that hangs the widow" he
said. "If he doesn't ask me to be best