The Washington herald., 1922-06-14
Continued from Yesterday

20. IL was mine. all right" he
said dryly. had a right to
spend IT,"
But on me?" A tardy con-
science was beginning to stir the
girl.
Every cent of IT," he reassured
her promptly, and then hesitated
He had meant-it had been his pro-
gram-to tell her. at the end of this
wild orgy of extravaganza. how he
had got the money. and what for
and let conscience twit her. IL II
would: but now that his feeling
toward her had changed again. he
was momentarily in doubt. The
doubts resolved themselves. how
ever. # earned 1t for you." he
confessed. wheeling bricks-two
solid months of afternoons OF
wheeling briks|
is that where you wereT Leila
almost screamed.
TO get money to buy a dia-
mond ring. so that we could be
be engaged"
LeIa's heart lesped wildly. Joe!
You old dear"' she exclaimed. and
her face was a sunburst Of GLAD
surprise. while, II ever there was
adoration in woman's eyes. II
looked out of hers
Not even Joe Hancock. blind as
his erroneous deductions could
make him, failed to comprehend
this. For an instant his face eX-
pressed astonishment. bewilder-
ment, mystificatiOn. Then ne
gripped her by the elbows and held
her almost violently while II seemed
thar he tried to read her very soul
in her eyes.
"You-you don't love Fat Frank
linz" he demanded.
Joe" the girl began to answer
in tones that, while tremulous with
emotion. were none the less suo
dued. for she perceived that he had
been the victim Of painful misap
nrehension, Joe. dear. l didn't love
anvbodv in the world until today
never saw anything in any man TO
love until today. and that man is
YOU, Joe-you! You are great!
Great love you. and never
could love anybody else.
For a moment Joseph Hahcoch
was dazed. still as a statue. unwlit-
ing that any other sensation snouio
register In his mind except the
wonderful thrill OF hearing this oe-
1ritching little creature say that
she loved him, and of seeing her
look 1t with every beam out of her
sparkling eyes: then speech ana
action found themselves.
20" he groaned in transports o;
relief and joy 20. you darling"
And he gathered her close into his
arms and held her there as II de-
tArmined that she should never es-
cape from them.
Yet whole eternities of bliss upon
the mountain top OF existence may
be ticked of in a few seconds. and
presently the pair were STANDING
quite still. with arms about each
other. but In conversation once
more
But about the ring. why-why
didn't you buy it," Leila inquired
and, then Joe told her about seein"
Fat purchasing the huge diamond.
and his deduction therefrom.
To this Leila contributed her own
explanation.
Milton told me night before last
that he loved me-" she replied. and
that he wanted to marry me. but
told him that he'd said that to a
hundred girls already. and he
puffed out his lips. sull<ine as usual
when he doesn't get what he wants.
and went away muttering that he
would show p1e''
LEILA shrugged Milton Franklin
out of further consideration with
one switch OF her shoulders. as II
impatient that Joe Hancock should
stand before her as the sole male
fact in the universe. Joe mean
while had possessed himself Of tAf
engagement finger. and stood look.
i'm at il half fooIishly.
But now he remarked ruefullv
It haven't got any ring to put or
IT"
You've got the finger" LEILA re-
minded.
And that's better" he said. kiss