Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-23
Herbs Gift

YOu look like million dollars
girls" said Tommy as we got in
the roadster. Gee, but you take
up a lot of room with those fui
coats"
Eyes, I was just going to ask
Ria where she got them. I've
never seen them before and won
dered if such things made their
appearance in the movies like Gin
derella's coach and four in the
fairy tales" E
"Well, Virgie, I was just won
dering if you were going to ask
about them. 1t is owingtp Herbs
thoughtfulness that we have
them" W.
1--WE have them? Are they ours:
1 thought you borrowed them"
where do you think I could
borrow them? Unfortunately, my
friends are not among those whose
salaries permit coats of this kind.
My dear, Herb brought these coats
up to us this afternoon, They are
his wedding present tovyou and to
me-" Af
81 always knew that,Herb Rich
ardson was some boy. pbeamed
Tommy.
"And this shows us that he has
some money" l commented, over
whelmed at his generosity.
"And some unselfish thought
fulness," murmered Ria softly.
I slipped my hand over hers.
We burned up the sixty miles
between Los Angeles and Riverside
rapidly. Tommy lervently suppli-
eating the Fates to keep the "cops
out of the way" because he said:
II am afraid it wouldn't look very
well for you to get into the papers
Virgie. And ten days in Jail has
been used before as a press agent
yarn, Gloria. Even that would not
pay you for missing the wedding"
Hurry! Hurry, TOMMY" Glor-
la kept saying.
Gee, Gloria, watch the speed |
ometer! I forgot / stepped onI
that gas so hard. We have been
making seventy part of the time. |
Wen land in Jail or in Riverside
in not much over an hour"
Gloria gave sigh and Tommy
hit it up a little faster.
We had to slow down as we
went around Mount Rubidoux.
/ looked at the clock on the in
strument board in front of us. I'll
had been just an hour and ten
minutes since we entered the car.
at will take us five minutes
to reach John SApdtn's house,"l
srinned Tommy complacently.
Pretty good for the old boat"
Tommy, you are a dear" COM
nented Gloria. "And 1 am glad
It is dark"
Don't want to be seen riding
With an assistant director?" ban
,ered Tommy.
Gloria made no reply, but she
eaned a little closer toward Tom
ny and he understood.
We were met in the broad hall
way by Herb and John Storm.
Herb bowed rather formally to
Tommy and to me and, claspfng
sloria's hand, he led the way In
o the living room, where the bril-
liant flames of q wood-fire in the
.reat fireplace welcomed us.
John" said Herb, .sthis is Mar
'aret Smith. the girl Fam to mar
y" y ts7f
Margaret SMITH" whispered
'ommy to me. A
Eyes, Tommy. that is her real )
ame." 81
"oh, that will make it easier
D keep the wedding secret, al
hough I haven't found out yet $
'hy they want 20 keep it secret.
know Herb Richardson has got Z
lads Of money, but I have known
ioria ever since she started in o
iovies and I'll tell you she would il
ave gone farther in less time IL n
lie hadn't gone so straight" n
Immediately I thought Of Ruth
rayt0n and I realised that. view
by movie standards. her speech I
Id not been so catty after all. 10
Tommy was taking of my coat II
ID In silence we ranged ourselves L
front Of the minister. Shortly s
heard the words: IT pronounce, t
"a husband and wife" d
Even at that solemn moment I L