The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-28
10 YES GAMBLE
BY MAYGRLSTLE

Ito ACdSSuIinSiy toward Lucille.
 Considerably better.p He proceeded
 with the examination Then he tiptoed out into the studio. "Temperature's gone down, too. You're a wonderl"
 Lucille glowed with pleasure. She was m mood to be encouraged. And she
 had Shirleys welfare very nucn at heart Are you going to sit up beside her to-
 nSght?" went on the doctor.
 ''Yes-if you say so.'
 T don't think it's necessary. reallvr' he remarked. You can make yourself door open, so that if she calls SSls Il hear"
 He gave Lucille directions as to the treatment of her patient, the ,prepara- uoRbof her food and the temperature of her room.
 for the better very soon, so don't worry. .
 he added. kindly, 'only-she requires some watching in the meantime
 NO SIGN OF JIM
 Gradually the news Of Shirley's sud den illness had spread among her friends m Chelsea. There was a stream of soft footed callers, all very anxious to hear good news. Lucille would not hsxre guessed that this little country girl, had lbeen so popular.
 Practically none of them cane emptv- handed They brought all sorts of deii- cacies for the little invalid from mort
 wine down to mint lozsdges. gifts. z '''s ! But-where vas Jim Dalton? He hadn't yet appeared His studio in the next two l days was empty. He couldn't possibly 1 know of Shirleys illness. i It vas strange that no one seemed to mention him. They couldn't know l these kindly Chelseaites that Shirley was engaged to him, had been engaged, or. xt any rate, ought to be engaged.
 Lucille was frankly puzzled. She had made so sure that by now Jim and this lyonng girl would have fixed up all their troubles satisfactorily.
 Apparently they hadn't
 On the third day of Shirley's illness there was the noisy chug-ehug of A big touring car outside the Building. and then the sound of nasty footsteps running up 1 the stairs.
 quick tap the studio door, anr l there stooa J i'm Dalton, anxiety printed on his face and creasing his forehead ffnto a worried frown ! I've just heard the news about Miss Marsh Is--is she pulling through all fright? It was a great shook" l For a moment Lucille was tempted to proiong the suspense. For she felt a dehnite resentment over what she con- sidered the casual conduct of this here today and gone tomorrow youth But she suppressed the inclination not Ing the haggard look his young face wore
 I Come in-speak very softly-shes asleep Lucille held the door open to admit him Shes had very bad turn, but she is pulling through all right" He tlp-toed across the polished floor and seated himself on the chintz covered tivan.
 Three days ago I was talking to her. 1 I hadn't any idea she was ill., Yle broke off, remembering his non-success with Shirley during that rather painful l interview. Perhaps she had been light headed. then? She had acted very queerly, lquite unlike herself l And he had flung off in rage and l stayed away three days, fool that he been! Why, in that period, Shirley might have died! He'd have been punishel, then
 What was it Lucille now was saying? T found her at 3 oclock-two days agU--in a high delirium. The doctor sa ys from her condition--that she must have | been very ill all night suffering great pain If there had only been someone
 within earshot who could have called Lucille broke off at sight of the re- morseful look on young Daltons face
 She proceeded On a different tack MT. Dalton, don't be offended if I ask Ia question. Haven't you made it up vet with poor Shirley? I feel so. horribly much to blame in the whole afafir. that I'd give almost anything to help straight en matters outr
 l He gloomily regarded her He couldn't help connecting Lucille in his mind with | all his previous troubles And for moment he really wondered if she were 1 sincere.
 | Had she not been hand in glove with Burke. for instance? And Burke, of all people, hadn't played the game, He had liet Shirley labor under a misapprehen- sion, when he could so easily have cleared the matter up. He had deliberately sup pressed vital information for his own sell 1 fish ends.
 Jim did not guess that Burke had now transferred his affections to Lucille, and l that the latter hadn't any ulterior motive in wishing to act as go-between for Shir- Hey and himself
 | Maybe. ought to tell you something went on Lucille, tentatfvefy. watching Jim's expressive countenance She flushed d little. Hive promised-one day s0on-t6 marry Mir. xsurKe" 1 There was an awkward pause. 1 Jim tried to make some adequate com ment. but he couldn't find the words. He | still felt tile old antipathy towards Burke
 
 that he didn't feel | Moreover this engagement didn't bring Shirley any nearer to him. 1 He was very, very fond of Shirley went on L,icilIe frankly, generously, but Shirley never really cared for him. and gradually he grew to see it. She needed | some younger. more like herself, in acts. And" here Lucille paused mean ngly-"Mr Burke had a very slim chance indeed after you appeared on the hcrizon.'
 Jim looked embarrassed He didn care to make confession to Lucille. And yet he didn't want her to imagine that he didn't care for Shirley Marsh. T don't think that you've been treat ed altogether right pursued Lucille. de- Itermned to leave no stone unturned that might lead to Shifley's ultimate happi- ness. "but MT. Burke and I am sorry more than sorry-for our part in the af- fair"
 | Jim cleared his throat. | "I don't know what to say" he floun- dered awkwardlv. I'm not a good hand at making speeches; but you know l 1 think the world of Shirley. The question | is-what good is there in beng-wel7- | fonc of her when she isn't fond of mel | But indeed she isl' cried Lucille staunchly. Then. lowering her voice. she added:
 s1'm certain that she's cared for you l right along. She's loyal little girl but intensely proud. Pride amounts al. most to fault with her see that you don't really understand nerf l new ideA sprang to Jim's nIineb