The St. Mary banner., 1921-11-05
Ten Dollars or a
Night in Jail
BY r. RAY BAKER.


merry laugh pealed from her throat.
Excuse me for laughing, Jerry, but
It's really funny. Jerry Holmes max
Ing proposal of marriage! Can you
Imagine it? Eut its true. l heard it
with my own ears. Oh, dear!"
And again Betty laughed, while
Jerry looked glum and crestfallen.
Whats SO funny about it? he
growled. Haven't | known you long
enough, Betty? Haven't we lived next
door to each other all our lives? Who's
got better right to propose to you
than II"
She became more solemn, although
traces of smile remained on her at
tractive, rather pert countenance.
"Why, it's so foolish, Jerry. Think
If you, Jerry, looking out for wife !;
you who never did days work In
your life, who have no responsible
lies. Jerry, you're not the kind Il
girl wants to marry-at least, not my
sind of girl. You're too easy, for one
thing. Most girls like to be bOssed,
though they won't admit 1t. Can you
hing? No, of course you can't. At
east l can't, and if l could | might
picture myself marrying you. I'm fond
If you, admit. but l can't take your
proposal seriously, because | can't
take you seriously. You don't your
self, so how can 1? No, Jerry, forget
t; it can never be-
Jerry picked up his tennis racket
and walked slowly away, scowling
iercely at Betty's big roadster resting
aear the porch of her home. He was
always beaten-at everything he un-
aertOOk. When he tried to take Betty
20 Mrs. Longworthy's ball he was
beaten by Henry Twite, who had
more commanding way. This after
aoon he was beaten by Betty herself
on the tennis court, and now he was
beaten for sure in the game of love.
He went to his room, banged his racket
into closet and flung himself discon-
on the bed.
He was discouraged, and at the
same time he was desperate. He
thought of hiring gang of thugs to
kidnap Betty, just so he could rescue
her and be hero. His brain framed
up other wild schemes, all of which
he abandoned. He terminated his fren-
zied conjecturing by arriving at the
determination to get a job and go to
work and prove himself worthy. He
had In mind no particular job; the
first one that happened along would
satisfy.
Down into the city went Jerry.
Leaving his car in garage, he started
out job hunting, wandering rather
limlessly. He happened by police
station at a time when file Of blue
coats was coming out, and it made him
stop and think.
That's a good chance" he told him
self. "Why not be a policeman? Per-
1aps 1t would make me more COM
handing. It's worth trial, anyway"
Into the police station he went
'ound the captain In charge and asked
or a job.
The captain smiled rather perplex-
IDLY at the good-looking, well-dressed.
'ather large youth.
"A job, eh? Well, we need men. Can |
'ou manage motorcycle?"
jerry nodded vigorously. A motor
'ycle was one of the few things he
yer had been able to manage.
swell, we'll give you a trial"
Jerry went through the formalities
lecessary to become guardian of the
nw. was equipped with four-cylin-
Ter racing motorcycle, and in due
curse OF time was sent out to Gran
all park to patrol the boulevards In
uest of speeders. He felt misgivings
plenty, but his nice blue suit i'm
arted certain degree of confidence.
He stood for some time in the shade
q big tree and meditated. While
e stood there at least three big ma
hines whizzed by, going at least forty
lfles an hour. And he was supposed
catch these demons. Well. he
'uldn't perform his duty by standing
lere, so he started the engine Of his
otorcycle, mounted. let in the clutch
nd started down the boulevard.
The job was not exactly to his lik-
g. In order to make arrests he
ould have to appear stern, even pug
acious. And that went against Jer-
g grain.
AS he neared a curve In the drive he
lard car coming, with the cut-out
zen. He knew 1t was a speeder by |
e sound. He supposed he would ,
I'VE to make an arrest, and yet he {
eaded 1t.
Around the corner came the auto
n