The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-16

daVluuanty in their clothes, and this sum- ] mer they practically succeeded in sup | plying that long felt want and this win | ter it has been accomplished. l The secret was in allowing us to have ! ignorant-and innoc snt--of any such 1 occurrence.
 He thought that Shirley was re- terrins to his suppostitious marriage with the actress woman The refer ence annoyed him-and the epithet of "criminal' both hurt and angered him. | But still he kept his temper.
 A little time and just little pa
 t;ence things would soon be
 straightened out.
 T haven't had the pleasure of talk ' ing to your friend Lucille-or Lucy l Smith-whatever her name may be-"
 he began. explanatory wise. l But Shirley interrupted cautiously: | Tt was curious. then, that I should
 see you coming from her flat last
 nightw
 | Jim stared. immensely taken aback. | Shirley mistook this genuine aston l ishment for guilty conscience. She | had caught him fairly-so that he couldn't explain away the situation. | You can't deny that I followed you into the worst slum In the whole Of
 I.ondon-and that you stole my purse
 and ran away" Scorn ran in her lvoice-"you ran away and left me to a drunken pleb-alone!" 1 Jim Dalton's fine dark eyes opened | to fullest capacity.
 1 Shirley. you're crazyi Whatever
 did you think of such a silly tale? Or | did you dream it?"
 ! An angry flush mounted so Shirleys | soft young cheeks.
 l 'T can surely believe the evidence of
 ny own eyes" she answered tartly ! tx~I yu.. nal The down-and- of the Thames | Elm mbankment--his own peculiar "dou- l ble"-Shirley had watched this man | depart from Lucille's flat--had fol . | lowed him. believing him to be her quondam sweetheart-the fellow doubt less was half crazed for opium-and he | had turned on her and robbed herl | It was time the affair was investi- 1 gated--more than time
 Jim cleared his throat. | Why on earth didn't YOU notify the | police?" he queried sharply | Shirley lowered her eyes. There was | a tiny quaver in her voice as she said softly:
 "Because-even after all that's hap pened--I couldn't bear to get you into trouble. Jim"
 | This remark. unfortunately, didn't
 soothe Jim down. Upon the contrary
 1t made a little spark of anger in him
 burn up brightly She thought he
 was the lowest kind of criminal and yet she had a vague desire to shield him.
 l You're queer mixture of credulity and weakness. Shrleyl" he said sharply. How any girl of your intel ligence can be so easily taken in heaven only knows Certainly l don't.
 You aren't fit to go around this town
 alone!, You ought to have nurse, or something"---
 1 GOT husbandw cut in Shirley angri-
 lv. She felt herself in the center of
 an inextricable tangle. like young | fly in a web-a very green young fly, "A husband?" Jim repeated. 'Oh. you've made a muddle of that, tool | Cold sarcasm was in his tones. He gave a crooked little smile. Now. listen. while try to clear us some of 1 the chaos in that foolish little brain
 of yours Then. maybe yetill be sor- | ry that you didn't trust me more'---- l THE INTERRUPTION l A light step sounded on the stairs, and Vivian walked in.
 l Hello. Jim. awfully glad to see you" l Her eyes lit up with pleasure. flush ! ran into her cheeks. "Iet me intro- ! duce you to Miss Shirley Marsh. one
 of my best school pals" She glanced searchingly from one to the ther strange they should look so awkward, :, Shirley this Is the Mr. Dalton tha. 1 I pointed out to you--our leading artist.
 He's my principal critic. tool'
 "Yes. I've heard of him" said Shirley rather grimly directing cool. curl | bow in Jims directioh. "As matter | of fact, we were becoming regularly acquainted in your absence. Weren't we Mir Dalton?" she flung a chal- | lenging look at Jim.
 He nodded, taking up the challenge. | Two could play at this particular game. We were discussing crime. Miss Viv- ian. Your friend here thinks she would I make a good detective. But 1 think ! otherwise."
 Il What a horrid. gloomy subject" l vivian felt twinge of jealousy. There seemed a curious intimacy between I the two. And yet they hadn't met before Leave crime alone-and let's | discuss an omelette'
 She dumped the eggs down on the | studio table.
 l Jim dive into that cupboard and l bring out the chafing dish. And reach up to the top shelf for some butter" She Issued her command with pos sessive air. "I believe in making use
 of all my friends" she added, turning | to Shirley with a smiie. I Shirley had meantii se pulled herself | together. It was unfortunate that Vivian should have returned at this particular moment. when Jim had something vital to communicate. The young girl felt a twinge of conscience in deceiving Vivian. The latter thought that Jim and she were strangers to each other. Well. she must go on thinking so. Shir- ley was in no mood to make confess sions!
 Vivian removed her Chelsea-ish tam c'-shanter and slung 1t on a hook be- hind the door She undid her cloak--a curiously cut garment fashioned in Jaisley- shawl desien--and let it slide down on a chair. She rolled her sleeves up from her pretty arms. unearthed basin and began to beat her eggs for the omelette.
 Flows the picture. Jim?" There was a soft light in the girls eyes as they rested on Daltons 'T wish you'd let me see 1t before it's finished She turned to Shirley. He's painting
 something very wonderful. and quite
 mysterious-we all expect it will be
 hung this vear--but' he won't let any of us so much as get a glimpse of It."
 How odd" calculated Shirley. try ing to sound at ease. T suppose there's . woman in the cas.s-0r on the can