The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-10-07

n ETY. CLARk's RED lips part
ed and q merry laugh peeled
from her throat.
,Trcnss me for laughing, Jerry,
but its really funny j Jerry Holmes
making a proposal Of marriage!
Can you imagine It? But It's true.
heard It with my own-ears. Oh,
lear!,'
And again Betty laughed, while
Jerry looked glum and crestfahen.
whats so funny about It?' he
growled. Haven't known you
long enough. Betty? Haven't we
lived next door to each other all
oFir ilves3 Who's got better right
to propose to you than II"
She became more solemn, al.
though traces OF a smile remained
on her attractive, rather pert coun-
tenance,
''Why, its SO foolish, Jerry. Think
of you. Jerry, looking out for a
wife; you who never did days
work in your life who have no re.
gponsibilities. Jerry, you're not the
Kind Of man girl wants to marry
lat least not my kind OF girl.
You're too easy, for one thing.
Most girls like to be bossed, though
they won't admit Il. Can you PIC.
ture yourself making me do some.
thing? No. Of course you can't. At
least, can't and II could I might
picture myself marrying you. I'm
fond OF you, I admit, but can't
take your proposal seriously. be-
cause l can't take you seriously !.
You don't yourself. so how can I?
No, Jerry, forget It; it can never
Jerry picked up his tennis rae.
auet and walked slowly away,
scowling fiercely at Betty's big
roadster resting near the porch OF
her home. He was always beaten
at everything he undertook. When
he tried to take Betty to Mrs.
Longworthy's BALL he was beaten by
Henry White who had more COM
mandIng way. This afternoon 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 rooms, bang.
cd his racquet , into a closet and
flung himself disconsolately on the
bed.
He was discouraged, and at the
same time he was deperate. He
thought of bring gang Of thugs
TO kidnao Betty, just 80 he could
rescue her and he hero. His
brain framed up other wild schemes
all OF which he abandoned. lie ter
minated hts frenzied coujecturInE
By arriving at the determination 10
get a Job and 20 to work and provo
himself worthy. He had in mind no
particular job; the first one thai
Z happened along would satisfy.
Down into the city went Jerry
Leaving his car in a garage. he
started out job hunting. wandering
rather aimlsssly. He happened hy
police station at n time when 4
file ot h'uecoats was coming out
AMI It made hip stop and think.
"ThHts good chance. he told
) ltsp7-elf. "Why not be = policeman
\ Perhaps 1t. vonld make nj" moo
commanding It's worth trial. any
way. :"
Into the police station he went.
found the captain in charge and
asked for a Job.
The captain smiled rattle: per
plexedly at 'the good looking, we'll
dressed. rather large youth.
"a Job, eh? Well. we need mon
Can you manage motorcycle"
Jerry nodded vigorously. A mo-
torcycle was one Of the few things
he ever had been able to manage
Well, we'll give you 4 trial.
Jerry went through the formal
ties necessary to become q guar.
dain OF the law, was equipped with
four cylinder facing motorcycle
and in the course OF time was sent
ou to Cranda1l park to patrol the
boulevardS in quest Of speedcrs.
He felt miSgivings aplenty. but his
nice blue suit impaired certain
degree Of confidence.
He stood for some time In the
shade Of big tree and meditated !.
While he stood there at least three
big machines whizzed by going at
at least forty miles an hour. And
he was supposed to catch these
demons. Well he couldn't perform