The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-16
ANDREW AND
IWOGENE
ny ROE FULKERsON

Andrew" said Imogene, II want
to ask you something very serious"
Il am sorry, dear, but the way gas
oline has gone up, we simply cannot
afford that and keep the car" re-
piled Andrew glibly.
Il am not going to talk about
money" said Imogene gravely.
Then l am willing" said Andrew.
That's enough nonsense" said
Imogene, her face as stern as she
could make 1t. Il want you to re-
call last Thursday night, when we
went to the theatre.
II want you to recall that whom
you went over between the acts to
speak to Billy Sands and that Fox
girl you stopped on your way back
and did not get to your seat until
the curtain was up, and you made
every one in our row angry. Do
you recall it?"
Every bit Of It," said Andrew, "in-
Guiding my rudepess, but l was not
to blame"
II recall" went on Imogene, the
explanation you gave when you came
back to your seat. Please tell me
again what detained your"
Il stopped and talked to your
friend Betty Elmore and did not get
away in time" said Andrew. IF you
recall 1t, why do you ask me again %
Now, Andrew, / am not jealous,
as you know"
Mo-" interrupted Andrew, lifting
his eyebrows.
NO, l am not" snapped Imogene.
Il would not have cared IL you had
sat beside Betty through all the next
act.
1T was not that, only 1 happened
to meet Betty at a card party to-
day and leased her about being so
attractive that you could not tear
yourself away from her at the the
atre, and she said there must be some
mistake. that she had been laid up
with grip and had not been to the
theatre this week.
Now, Andrew, l want to know
who that woman was you were talk
Ing to and why you told me that
story"
MY dear woman" said Andrew in
dismay, IF you want to know who
that woman was, what do you think
of me? If she was not your friend
Betty Gilmore that have never seen
more than half dozen times, who
DO you suppose it was. and what do
you suppose she thought of me?"
What did you talk about?" asked
Imogene, half convinced.
II told her she was looking Aw-
fully nice, and ask ed her how her
husband was. and she said he was
all right, and l told her you were
sitting right over there, and she
made me point you out most par
ticular1y, and l even had to tell her
how you were dressed and point out
the honeycomb- hairpin dinkus you
In 1af haf oh N0pIH
see you.
Then I told her to meet us at the
Cafe Royal after the theatre and she
said she never went to places like
that, where they used to serve drink 8
and where they were even now sus-
pected of being lenient with people
who brought it in. l laughed at that
and said 1T was unusual, when her
husband was the best free-hand am
bidexterous high-bail hister in the
town, and she pretended to be mad
and walked away.
II am in bad with you because 1
stood and talked to a strange woman,
and I'll bet nine dollars she went
back to her seat and laid him out
for leading double life and wear
ing a white ribon when he was with
her and cutting a red streak when
her back was turned. Wow"
He took out his handkerchief and
wiped his forehead.
ANDREW" said Imogene, very Sc
riously. ARE you telling me the
TRUTH"
Il am mighty sorry to say ! am
said Andrew. IT wish 1 was lying
like Annanias, like Munchausen, like
DR.. Cook, and like every other liar
celebrated or otherwise, but. unfor-
tunately. I am telling the truth.
She sighed with relief. for there
was no installing his innocence.