Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-12
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Agree to Disagree
by II. RAY BAKER

used to carry your books and share
my jaw breakers with you."
Eva Marlow adjusted bouquet Of
roses In a vase on the table.
Then why carry on this farce any
longer? It's making us both miser
able. We don't love each other; in
fact, it's quite the reverse. For one
are other. things about you that do
not like"
Thanks for the compliment" he
said dryly. rising from the chair in
which he had been seated. "Perhaps
i am selfish. but remember I am nn
only child. To be frank, I have much
the same opinion about you
She lifted the vase and inhaled the
fragrance from the flowers.
Thanks for. the compliment" she
Knocked. Perhaps l also am selfish,
but remember l, too, am an only child.
It's nice to have an understanding
isn't It? 1t appears to be mutually
agreeable for us to disagree"
Decidedly" he acquiesced. "It was
foolish for us to become engaged in
the first place.
1--WE wouldn't have" she reminded,
"if it had not been for our parents.
Just because they had all been friends
they tried to settle our destiny for us,
1t was all right when we were children,
but since we've grown old enough to
reason for ourselves It's different"
You are right. We have been keep
ing the affair going simply because our
parents wished It. 1t was not ques :
tion Of love or money, because both OF
us are comfortably fixed, you with tho
money your father left you and / with
my prospering business. was simply
honoring my parents wish, but II they
were alive they would not insist on it,
l am sure
"As feel the ,s same way abe about tit it.
and that is what they did.
When Fred left the apartment oc-
cupied by Eva and her aunt he was
not in the best spirits imaginable. II
was not pleasant to be called selfish,
even by girl he did not love. Hc
leaped into his roadster and drove
downtown.
Selfish, was he? Well, perhaps she
was right. Come to think of 1t, he
never had gone out of his way to light
en- any ones burden. Still. it wasn't
necessary for Eva to pick him to pieces
that way.
Down through the congested streets
he drove, unable to shake off feeling
he could not quite analyze. He was
as glad to be free of Eva as she was
to get rid of him. but that remark
about sclfishness ranked.
He had been driving abstractedly
when of n sudden a cry distracted him
A big touring car ahead had come
quickly to halt, but as abruptly II
, started off and disappeared. Jam
ming on the brakes, Fred managed tc
avoid striking a small, huddled human
, form on the street. :.
He looked with feeling of curiosity
! for a moment. He did not think OF
mingling with the crowd that rushed
from the curb and lowered about the
his, was his thought, until suddenly the
trend of his recent recollection flashed
hack TO his mind. You're terribly sci :
fish," were the words that echoed in
his ears, and they prompted him tc
leave tho car and join the group.
, A man held the limp form in his
, arms. Fred recognized the pale face
} as that of n diminutive newsboy ia.
, miliar to this busy corner.
: Poor kid" said the man. "That
: big car hit him and hurried away
What had ! better do with himT'
: Take him to DR.. Wilson's offic'
| across the street." Fred directed. 'Il
be there as soon as ! park my car"
r When Fred entered rae Office the boy
| was lying on q lounge, looking abou
/ with wide, inquiring, timorous eyes. .
, 1.-THE boy Is not much injured sait
) the doctor, but he ought to be taker
home at once.
The boy looked up wildly.
"No-no!" he exclaimed in a plant
i've little voice. II can't go. haven
sold my ,Papers-my papers! "her
"That's all right" said Fred. Com
on with me and I'll take you home,
: have the money for your papers righ
, here. You see, IL sold them for you.
J The lad lived with his father in I
! hovel in the worst part of the city. Th
father was an invalid, and it wa
necessary for Little Jim, as he affec
tionately called his son, to get out an'
earn their living. The invalid was
kindly old man, whD regretted that tn
boy could not attend school, but ''wha
are we to do?" he asked.
The plight of Little Jim played upol
some hitherto unused heartstring il
Fred breast.
"You will sell no more papers," h
said. "You will go to school,"
But Little Jim and his father wer
proud.
1--WE cannot permit it," said the in
valid. "You may help us some II yol
wish, but we cannot let anybody sup
port us fully
Fred visited them twice week
bringing them food, for they would no
accept money, and Little jim won hi
way into the young mans heart.
"You are very good to u.s. said tn
father on one occasion, "and there ar
other people who are good to us, too.
And like you best of anybody il
the world" Little jim told Fred, lex
cept daddy and one other"
Came a day when Fred called to fin
Little Jim in tears. His father ha'
suffered another stroke and docto
was busy about the sickbcd.
Don't leave me, daddy" waile
the youngster, throwing himself on hi
knees beside the bed please don
CO."
The sick man smiled sadly an
raised his eyes appcalingly to Fred
Then he uttered a deep sigh and la.
back, closing his eyes. Little Jim
father had gone to place where ther
are no invalids; and Fred understoo
that last mute appeal.
A little later Fred took the orphal
in his arms and carried him away.
"Where are we going?" sobbed Littl
Jim as they started down the ricket
stairs in the dimly lighted hallway.
"You are going home with me-" sal
Fred gently, choking back a sob q
his own. II am going to be you
daddy now."
The door at the foot of the stair
opened and a young lady started u