Daily picayune., 1921-03-04
HIS GIRL
By LAURA MONTGOMERY.
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 Lens calm blue eyes placidly re- turned his mothers piercing scrutiny. Well. there Is 10 use in being too nasty; Rose is young yet"
 Mrs Ross moved so briskly that her alarming egg rolled out Of the sock and dropped. Young Do you know that she was twenty-nine her last birth day. You are three years older. and ] yet you go about placidly as though you were both eighteen years old. Haven't you seen Tom Briggs going into their yard every single dayf Do you know that he took her flowers yes- terfay and candy the day beforel Hell cut you out yet"
 Len flushed. Why. I thought Rose liked he stopped and stared qt the dapper figure of Tom Briggs who passed at that moment. There was a confident smile on the dark. handsome face of the young man who had re- turned to his home town for q few weeks on business.
 'Li5ed. yes-but do you suppose shes going to pass up q chance like that in case you might, sometime, get up enough spunk to propoSef Tom IS a wealthy ffssIl, he has had advantages that you've uever had. He talks French like native and his suits well, you inst ought to hear the girls rave about his clothesH
 No use If man being sissy commented Len. rising and standing over his mother. When he was stand Ing Len looked like q blond giant, with his thick, fair hair, and large. serene face.
 No Use Of man being afraid to speak out" Mrs. Ross smiled down Into her mending as she heard his halfsuppressed ejaculation.
 The whole village had been fluttered since the coming of Tom Briggs. AL though he owned the handsome brick house on Main street, he had not both- cred to open il up for his brief stay At the hotel he had taken the best room and his queer city ways were the unfalling topic under discussion whenever he was not present.
 After his early supper that night Len gave his thick hair an extra brush and changed his coat. Then he went slowly down the street toward Roses home
 Mother feller's calling on your girl" taunted Sam. and lodged back behind his faithful hedge
 Len began to think seriously. Tom was a good-looking man.
 Rose was working on a piece of croeheting. although the dusk gas ap- preaching swiftly. Tom picturesque figure in a white silk suit, was sit ting Well forward in his chair and talking in low. earnest tones.
 Len slowly pushed open the gate and went up the walk Rose greeted him quietly, and nodded toward another chair
 Don't you get pretty sick of this small-toWn stuff. Lenf" Toms dark eyes studied the others face.
 "No,' said Len, replying 10 the un- spoken, but implied taunt; guess it's just about my speed. They're all my home folks and wouldn't feel satis- fled anywhere else"
 "Bnt.a objected Tom. ficklng the ashes of his cigarette with a white hand, "lhere are no opportunities for biz deals here"
 Len followed the flash of the jewel on the effemlnate finger; Maybe not. I'm making more every year, and that satisfies me-
 Tom finally took his leave. He knew Len of old, and did not try to autsiay him, as he would have done with almost any other fellow.
 Think over what l said he had bent over Roses chair and the words were q mere whisper, but Len heard
 Rose" Len had waited until the click of the gate had sounded after Toms departure, ''are you going to marry Tomf"
 Rose failed to reply. Are you?" A new note had crept Into the quiet, assured voice. Len had become frightened.
 Rose evidently was undecided. The darper Tom Briggs, with his bale of wealth, the owner of the elegant brick house with satin-coyered furniture in the big parlors, had dazzled her.
 stray moonbeam rested on the girls dark head, turning 1t into a misty silver, and Len, rising hastily. thought fanelfully that she would look like that in % ears time when they were growing old. But" he thought, clenching his hands, "she shan't be Toms wife"
 Len bent hastily over the silent girl. You don't answer Rose. I'll put the question differently: Are you going to marry me-"
 Of coUse. Who else?" Roses ingenious eyes met his own in the light cast by the moon. The man was sure that a smile of amusement lin- gered in the usually candid depths, k. I Co fv,, FtIr