The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-24

" oulGn't believe my ownw The bit ter smile was still lowering round Dal-
 tons lips. Its a good thing that We eidn't marry. when her trust in me is practically nil"'
 He struck a match with trembling fingers and lit another cigarette. The muscles of his face were working under the mingled stress of anger,
 W ounded love and pride Poor Shirley. however. didn't catch 2 glimpse of that emotion. She thought that Jim no longer cared. Her very heart turned sick. You're cruel. MT. Dalton-down- right cruell~ cried Lucille She's all alone in the world. now. without any friends. Her grandmother's dead Whats that?" Jim stared incredu-
 iously at Lucille Whats that you sav?r
 There was tremble in the woman's tones as she replied:
 "Oh. I know what sorrow and lone Illness meansl I'd hate to be as hard as you. Miss Marsh's grandmother
 died very suddenly only about a week ago. The girls left practically pen niless. She was engaged to Burke although she didn't care for him" And did the cad break it off just because she'd lost her money? Dal- ton sprang to his feet in indignant l Trotest. His wrath warmed the heart of Shirley giving her moments hope.
 ''oh. no. she broke it off herself He | had kept back information from her She thought that she was Justified" Lucille was torn between her affection | fer Shirley and her queer. dogged loy atty towards Burke. On this occasion Shirle ywon.
 The effect of her words on Dalton. l notwithstanding. was unsatisfactory. He puffed moodily at his cigarette. Ap- ], parently he felt he had been badly used.
 Lucille made a last desperate effort. l "Shirley's staying in this very build- ! lng. She's visiting a girl friend. But I it's my personal belief that she's come
 here in order to be near your
 Behind her screening canvas poor Shirley waited in humiliation. Oh. laundering Lucille
 She clenched her small hands tight i ly together to keep herself from crying
 cut. In all her life she had never
 felt so utterly humiliated. Oh, would they never go away, these
 two, and give her a chance to escape
 from this hateful stuaio from the aw- full situation she was in? 1 T must be going" said Lucille at 1 last, rising to her feet. She sighed. beheA worse" Her look of distress was gen i uine.
 Jim got up. too. They were stand ing now so close to syirley that she
 could have touched them.
 T dare say you meant well-but l fortunately or unfortunately. there are some things that can't be put right. | Not all the kings horses nor all the 1 kings men "-he shrugged his shoul- ders-"can straighten out some trou- hies''
 l He opened the studio door politely and bowed her out.
 Then he came back and flung him.
 self into the chair near Shirley, hid 1 ing his face in both his hands. | That young damseFs feelings may | he better imagined than described.
 How long he sat thers Shirley never afterwards quite knew. To her IL
 seemed like an eternity. The ache in | her heart was definitely worse than the ache in her cramsed body, painful ss that was.
 After a time there was the sound of light feet ascending the staircase. | She could hear Vivian singing as she passed the studio door. She was evil dently returning from her visit.
 Pray heaven she doesnA come in Ihere to look for msr' thought poor Shirley, quite at the end of her tether How awful that l-ucille should SC have exposed her motives.
 And I didn't really come to Chelsea in order to be near Jimp she kept re- beating inwardly. as though determined to convince herself against her better judgment.
 How coldIy he had spoken of her!
 She had killed his love-
 A little stifled sob escaped her. Jim raised his head He caught his breath, ir listening Shirley crouched down. petrified-
 Who's thaty' He got up to his feet and peered about the studio. "Confound this old. rat-ridden barnr"
 Don't miss tomorrow's thrilling in- | stallment of Hives Gamble."l