Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-18
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
n Story on Woman's Transfer nation.
RY MARION RUBINCAM.
p,v,srssS, by tssorx~ Matthew Adams.
CONTRASTS.
Chapter LNNNN.


'Vlolct dear" | began. 81 am not !
saying | think Bud guilty OF stealing
n,nney. or even of being in league with
thcsc men who are planning the robberles.
Her expression sottcned at once.
sOf course not. Bud couldn't do any
thing wrong.
1 smiled little Mt that.
ole could He's already done q lot
of things that are wrong. But fortunately,
none of them are so important
II don't carci" vi declared. Id love
him lust as much no matter what he ana;
That was, essentially, the girls whole
character when she loved IT was hiind'
all-ahsorhing devotion. There WAS some
thing foolish, but something very adinlra-
hle about IT, Women who are capable oil
sbch a love often must deliberately de
ceiye themselves in order to keep up then
illusions. hut they are usually very happy
IN their love. :,
She wandered back into the living
room, and sat staring moodiy out the
window. With dark, our street became
ou,ct as could be-eNccpt IN warm weather
when all the neighbors turned out upon
their steps. Tonight there was nothing
10 see but shabby house fronts and lew
street lamps. | watched the girl with
anxiety as | went back and forth setting
the table. ~;
II wish Bud would come around this
evening, she said presently, when toiu
her her dinner was ready
But Bud refused to come even when
Violet went downstairs and telephoned
the place where he lived
"Tctes there. He answered. the phone
when | asked for Bud, Vi said, coming
upstairs again Il wonder what he S dong
there"
IL seemed 10 me that the worst thing
ts,sslhle under the circumstances was
fctes presence. Certainly the two boys
were under suspicion, Pete more than Bud.
And after ALL where did Pete get
these extraordinary tips about the mar
ket? lie was nothing more than a mes
scnger boy IN one of the hrns, Just as
Bud was. And where did he get the
money 10 plav them-before he began
helpinr himself And where did Bud get
All the money he seemed to have at times
| could hardly believe he was as fortunate
AT gambling-since that was what 1t
amounted to-as he pretended TO De-
| was so worried that next day tele-
phoned the Meade Il Judson offices, and
asked for Mr.. Meade.
Il don't like TO do this IN office hours
when you're busy" | began. but am
80 worried about this. Why didn you
say something yesterday!
because | thought | managed 1T 50
ouietlv that nothing would get INTO the
nar-prs. /" he answered when | saw the
evening editions, | knew YOU had seen
them too. and that should have told you.
'Bud i not in the office" | asked
Nm" a" ne told me-. I'VE thought
under the circumstances he had better
he laid of until this affair is cleared
nm Will you be in this afternoon? III
drop in on nay way home. -.
.tNhv hasn't Bud been TO see US!
| asked. when we were alone in our tttle
living room. =,
ooh. that worried YOU, didn't it? Well
that part Is all right. ! told hIm TO keeI
away He was only obeylng orders. lie had
"A large lump on his head, and looked Oh
battered up, even though he was no
badly hit. As ! said, thought / coui'
keep this thing quiet, so told him to stay
home until he AZ least looked normal.
What has happened about it today
To-day some rather serious thing
developed" His voice became very gen
tie. and ms ewes, when he looked at me
were soft and kindly. II hate 10 have
e. tell YOU this, but sfter al, the ps'
pcrs will have il. and you had better
hear il from me. Frankly, the police
think George is in with gang Of thieves.
He couldn't be-
We'll. some things look bad for him
His friendship with this Peter-I Tor
get his other name-who has stolen ant
who i being watched carefully, though
be doesn't know that. Another fact /
Georges extravagance-
Blu, last fall when we came back Z
town he was saving money 10 pay debts
WHY, he did not ct enough To eat
Il know that / thought OF some o
the times he dined with us, obviousl.
hslf-starved.
''Yes, true enough But ! know h
afforded himself suits by the highes
priced tailor in the city. and he says h
helped finance some of those motor pal
ties last summer and during the VII
ter
Pete gave him tips on the market
Wrong as often as they were nigh
Pete SAYS now that George owes IN
$4,000"
That was news to me.
"Do YOU believe him guilty." | asked
81 don't know But ] have to let tn
police go on and try TO convict. meal
] can't stop it now. 1t isn't the none.
it's because Bud seems part OF vast an
dangerous gang
End" he said suddenly, coming
me and putting his hands on my shou
ders "Enid, my dear-tell me, will yc
hate me if have TO go through with tn
unpleasant affair.""
"No, us your duty TO do so" | ar
swered. But / scarcely knew what va
saying For his hands frightened littl
on my shoulders Then, suddenly, h
arms were around me.