The diamond drill., 1921-04-09

X
don't cry but II you must, then cry
on me-sol That's right. my precious: !:
put your arms round my neck and
hold me close. S-strangle me. b.
but never. never let me go"
He stopped gradually picked her up.
and made for the couch. Just before
he got there. he reached small
prayer rug OF Persian design and OF
great value. one OF many such oases
i'm the large expanse OF beautifully
waxed flooring. The specified rug
seemed to take sudden offense az Mr..
Randolph's rude football. II took to
itself wings and flew from under him.
The crash OF two OF the choicest bits
OF Manhattan's humanity was terrific.
Above the din OF scattering furniture
could be heard the peal OF n girls
clear laughter, and presently a voice
ringing merrlly through half-swal-
lowed sobs:
"M-my-what a b-bumpw
They sat on the floor. face TO face,
| and matched treble: "Hal Ha I
Hal" with a heavy male: "Haw I
Hawl Hawm
The terrified TomlInson burst In up
on the scene and there are twenty-slx
adjectives that would have fitted the
look on his countenance, the first five
being 'astounded," "scandalized." /"
amazed "deprecatlng," appalled,"
"M<Master Robert M-Miss Imo-
genew
Pamela pointed one finger at him
weakly. and was of again 10 tumble
down another cascade of laughter.
Tomlinson shook his solemn head from
side to side IN grleved and palsied
motion.
such doingsl neyer-no-I
neverr
"Tominson Is right" said Mr. Ran
dolph solemnly, as he rose and helped
Pamela TO her feet 81 consider this
the most astonishing sample Of de-
pertinent that has come TO my immedi-
ate attention for--for ten years" He
turned 10 the unmollified seryitor,
"Tomlnson," he continued, still sup
porting the aughter-weakened Pamela
with one arm, II think IL is due YOU
10 explain that Miss Thornton and
were merely rehearsing, or rather re-
ylving the occasion of our first meet
Ing. II was sitting just as you found
US that we first made each others ac.
quaintance a decade ago, except that
the encounter took place on the west
ern sidewalk OF Fifth avenue at about
the corner OF Forty-eighth street
trust that this information will clear
up all doubts In your mind as 10 our
sanity, and that you will now leave
us to the settlement of certain per
sonal affairs of great moment"
Tomlinson withdrew, still shaking
his old head from side 10 side. and
mumbling his opinion that the expla-
nation, far from condoning an affront
TO what had once been an orderly es.
tablishment, was In the nature OF
plant on his credullty. No sooner had
he closed the door softly but firmly
on the scene OF wreckage than Mr..
Randolph turned all his attention NJ
the lady In his arms.
After a few moments, he laid his
hands on her shoulders, held her
Mt arms length. and forced her eyes
10 long and breathlessly solemn
meeting with his own. my dear girl"
he continued, when | came here this
afternoon, the sudden bloom OF your
beauty swept me off my usually con-
fident mental bearings l saw how
completely desirable you are and my
courage sank and left me, as though
some one had said, You can have her
II you'll just step up to Mars When
l was running away. SO that might
live 10 fight for you In many other
days, the flame OF you swept down and
seized my coward heart It's yours,
darling, foreyer-if youll only take
IT."
And then they kissed each other
one Of those long, unhurrled marriages