The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-16


married to man-a power-why
begrudge me my fiing with a boy?
I'm young-I can't always pretend
TO be mated to a man old enough
to be my father"
There was revelation in every
word. a sincerity l had never seen
her snow, So no matter how much
her IDEAS revolted me I had to give
her serious reply.
The very frst day we met you
told me you never could have mar
ried a man who wasn't a success
and a power" said slowly. "Tve
never forgotten that. thought
your deep respect and admiration
Tor Lane Cosby part OF your life.
Val Surely you wouldn't cheaper
q man like that--or risk losing
MIN Tor bit Of silly larking
Nars face twisted strangely.
oh. Lanes mine fast enough.
And he's the only kind of man I'd
have for a husband. But that's no
reason for refusing a bit Of harm-
less fun. . Jimmie or Tommie
or some nice playmate. always
take what want. Anne-and when
1t comes to the reckoning 1 don't
pay the way serious minded
preachers do. You ought to make
a note Of that"
Then she flung herself to her
feet and faced me with a sudden
question that 1 felt represented the
other half OF her purpose ia
thrusting herself on me:
A Deep Question.
by the way, gentle Annie, l won
der IL you can give me the answer
to a question l was asking Tommie
only tonight-Why is that little
cousin of his so cool to me all OF
a sudden? 1t can't be because she
minded my bringing you in to o. X.
her love scene with your brother.
She asked me to pour at her tea
after that. But she's very up-stage
these days. You don't think she
means anything by it, do your"
There was a note of anxiety in
Walls voice. ! decided to give her
honesty for honesty, and to tell her
OF the rumors Mrs. Stoughton and
Envy had uneartped about her and
Lane. 1t would be bad going-it
would be awkward and embarrass-
ing to find my way through the
morass Of innuendo. But telling
Val what was said Of her would
give her a fighting chance to meet
ii. ] KNEW had known for some
time-that Val and Lane dreaded
something, and now in loyalty to
the man who was making Jim
financially. ] felt l had to talk with
painful frankness to his wife.
"Val. I don't think Envy Mason
would be a good enemy" / began,
but Val interrupted me:
"Right-o, Baby Face. l guessed
that, and now I'll relieve you from
guessing about something. My
sudden friendship with Cousin Tom
mic started as a laying in of shields
and buckles against the fair
Evelyn. Not that l find him dull
now"
She concluded with a smile that
held a world of suggestion and
surmise. Before I could conquer
my distaste at that and force my
self to go on with my warning. a
key clicked in the lock and Jim's
voice called gayly:
"Do the bright lights mean that
my girl Waited UP for me?'
1t was Val who answered. taking
up his words almost before he had
ended his question::
Two girls. Jimmie-boy! Hope 1t
isn't a surplus of riches"
As she spoke she opened her gold
mesh-bag and, taking out tiny
mirror and lip-stick. she gave
herself a critical touch o. two.
Then, patting her dress away from
an ankle, she propped herself up
among the pillows. The next mo-
ment Jim came into the room.
He looked tense and tired, as II
he hadn't quite detached himself
from the evenings business. As he
made to take me in his arms Val
stirred restlessly.
wait till I'm gone for the lovey-
dovey stuff she yawned. II sup
pose my big trown bear is at home,
too, now, so I'll have to be tod
ding right along. Jimmie, I hate
riding with those Withholding ele-
vator boys OF ours at this hour OF
the night. Would you mind seeing
me home? That is--if Anne will
let you out OF her sight again"
Walls eyes were sparkling with
them to me. They were eager, COM
pelling-their languorousness ban
ished. She had told me just how
now she fairly challenged me to
spoil her game-if l could.
I caught my eyes away from hers
and turned to Jim, smiling square,
ly UP at him as he stared almost
uneasily from one to the other OF us.
Run along, Jimmie-boy. See the