The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1921-01-20

Oh. But IL didn't stop ron, you pravs
boyi"
Amy burst into gurgis Of irrepres
sible mirth.
"see here" he admoaished. -Even
II am"
Indeed no. not even II ycu are my
brother. I mustn't see. It's--it's real
" too sh-shoclingf'' This time sho
startled the silence Of midnight with
burst Of ringing laughter.
'Miss Lowriei" he reproved in
tone that left no doubt as to his ruff
fed dignity.
Though bubbling with repressed
merriment. the girl had paid close at
tention to the driving Of the coupe.
She kept to the smoothest Of the more
secluded streets, and slackened speed
while passing through the radius Of
light at the intersections, that the
coupe might not attract the unwel-
come observation Of a chance police
man. But between intersections she
threw on the high gear.
"We must get home before they
learn Of your escape" she explained
when Clinton suggested a more mod
crate speed. @They may telephone
about 1t. and II they should flud am
not at home-don't you seef--that
would let the cat out Of the bag. They
would come for you at once"
you've ventured to do oil this abso-
lutely aloneT"
"Of course. Keep quiet. Here's our
block. S-s-shi Keep still now. No
one must see us 60 In"
She turned of the coupe lights and
drove slowly toward the other END of
the long block. The light from the
nearest intersection was Just sufficient
to show her clear young eyes where to
turn into the yard. Under the pergoia
the darkness was so dense that she
entered 1t at a snail's pace. one hand
on the steering lever and the other
thrust out of the side window to touch
the grape leaves with the tips Of her
fingers.
"Tho porte-cochere door is un-
locked" she whispered. "SlIp out
now, and creep up to your room. I'm
afrnid to STOP"
"If you insist" he acquIesced.
The stairway and upper hall offered
him the relief Of clear passage. He
stole up to his room. The door was
ajar. After pauslng to listen, he ven
tured TO light vesta. The little Hare
lasted long enough for him to make
sure that all the shades were drawn
down close over the windows. He
closed the door, lighted a single gas
Jet, and dived into the closet. When
he emerged. his pajamas were covered
with trousers and his stockinged feet
cramped into pair OF tight shoes.
At the same moment Amy slipped In
at the door. beaming with the mis-
chievous delight and exultnnce Of a
college girl at a midnight feast. Her
tirst act was to turn down the gas. her
second to hold up her lips for Clin-
ton to kiss her. Instead. he caught
her hands to keep her away from him.
He tried TO force his gaze away from
her sweet face. and could not. He
drew in a deep breath and murmuref
protestingIy: Miss Amy. you refuse
to realize"
"No, It's you." she broke In. "Now
that Ellen has Tilted you and Charlie
has Tilted me-"
"whatl You weren't engaged to
BemmT"
The girl blushed under his intent
gaze. "I-l did think that perhaps l
might But that was before You came
home. Since then" She faltered and
looked down.
"It's so Queeri Actually believe
love you twice as much more-so
much that I haven't any room for
Charlie"
"You are certainT"
"POsitive. And the Afunny thing is
was going TO encourage him Just be-
cause you didn't want me to. Then I
began comparing him with you. and
somehow Why. do you know--you
mustn't even smile. because fists
really trngic-but actually was he
coming jealous OF Ellen. Wasn't that
selfish of mel"
| Swiftly ne Oent uoWn 10 sWStp her
into his arms and shower kisses on her
lips and eyes. on her dimpied cheeks
and white forehead. and on her ex-
quIsite pink ear and fragrant hair
when. overwhelmed, she snuggled her
face on his shoulder. Bewildered,
blushing. filled with rapture yet still
Innocent Of fits meaning. she flung her
arms around his neck and returned his
embrace with blissful tenderness.