Evening star., 1921-02-20

DO you mind il come in with
you?" he asked.
She frowned. Then she tossed I'D
her chin and with slight shrug Of
the shoulder led the way.
He ate nothing because he could
not. She dined with apparent relish
on sandwich and cup of cocoa. He
tried to appropriate her check, but
she baked him.
In less than ten minutes they were
upon the street again.
Il must take my walk now" she
Informed him.
| II may Gomez"
"But surely you must have a great
many things to do" she suggested
Nothing just at present."
draw upon for amusement"
I've been at it a whole week" =
THAT Is such little while" ii
True. but there's another week
| coming
She started at brisk pace on her
constitutional and he followed. That
Is the best that can be said of any
invitation to accompany her that he
may have thought he had. But it
served his purpose.
Il had fine little party all plan
ned for US" he explained.
"Really?"
Dinner at the Ritz
She nodded indifferently. =.
THE theater aftcrward-best in
town"
'It was thoughtful of you to re-
member me. That much 1 appreci-
ate" She said sincerely. '
But you won't Gomez
She shook her head. Then Talbot
made the mistake of getting peeved.
"Oh, very WELL" he concluded with
an Indifferent air. not nearly as sue
| cessful as hers because 1t was not
nearly as sincere.
She appeared relieved. and in her
relief chatted on almost gayly the
remainder. of the distance until they
| were in sight Of the Office entrance.
Then she stopped and held out her
hand.
"rll leave you here. Good luck to
you"
He took her hand, but no sooner
had he done so than it was with
drawn. and, with bright smile. she
was on her way to the other side of
the street. He started after. but at
that moment the big policeman in
the middle swung across his path
the blunt red sign. which read,
| stop"
WITHIN the next week develop
ments occurred in the life of
Talbot that promised to Justify the
/ hope of the press, but Barney missed
the beginning because he was busily
engaged just then in satisfying the
public interest in the life of an alb
sconding bank cashier who had tried,
on a salary of twenty-five hundred.
to support a wife and three children
and at the same time hit the high
places on Broadway. 1t made good
reading.
Talbot was dining alone one evening
after the Roof Garden show, in res
taurant famous for it's gayety and its
he was hungry-it was rare indeed that
he sat down to a. dinner with any real
appette-but because he did not care
for the other alternative of going back
to his suite and retiring. That was a
stupid business. and he was finding it
difficult to sleep soundly anyway. He
wanted the light. the jazz the tense
laughter, the association of others who
were drinking deep of life, responding to
the thrill of it. to the sparkling JOY
of it. His soup had been brought,
! half a dozen entered and grouped them
selves about table near his. Among
them was Mademoiselle Collette and Ted
Bangs-Bangs, who had made fair
sized fortune IN CopperS. Inc Two men
| caught each others eye and nodded. and
| a moment later Talbot saw Bangs whis-
| per to Mademoiselle Collette. Then
Bangs strolled across.
"AlOne?" he questioned.
Yes" answered Talbot.
Come and join us then. We've an
extra seat and F'ifi wants to meet you.
'I-I'm afraid I'm butting in"
Nothing to it. Come on
So there he Was-as quickly as that
| in the company of Fif Collette herself
and Il Blanche George. and one Car
! ruthers, and Mrs. Brown, and Jimmy
Bangs himself. 1t was Jimmy's party
| and he seated Talbot at Fits left
| seated him that nses her beautiful arm
i'seaieoehass Keen eas,axes-aada aaE