Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-08

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Why was she 80 sorrowful and pathetic
about IL? And what was she getting
him into. anyhow? The mystery was
growing deeper all the time. ..
"l'll remember that YOU are charm
ing and pretty and adorable. no matter
what happens cried Ernie, with
sudden access of fervor rs he gazed into
Grace's beautiful pleading eyes.
Grace blushed at this and turned her
head away abruptly.
II don't know why in the world ]
ever consented TO do it," she mourRed.
"lf I'd only met you beforelsand 1t
would have been SO different. Then
I'd never have been in this mess,
George"
The girls distress was so very evil
dent that Ernie came to n sudden de-
csion.
IF that's the way you feel about it,
he declared. suddenly. I'll soon get
you out Of your trouble. I'll leave you
here and now
Rising in his seat Ernie made ready
to leap from the ear. But before he
could do so Grace stepped on the ac.
celcrator hard and the machine leaped
forward at such speed that 1t would
have been suicide for Ernie to have
leaped.
Don't do it Don't leave me- cried
the girl. THAT would simply make
things worse than ever
Ernie relaxed in his seat and looked
at the girl curiously Who did she
think he was, anyhow? Had he best
tell her his real identity?
After considering this last question
for moment or so Ernie decided to
postpone the time for revealing his true
name. And the main reason why ne
came to this decision was that he felt
he would lose the girl the minute She
knew he WASH 't'"Georgc.
~ won't leave YOU. said Ernie,
finally. until you tell mo to. ] won't
leave you ever until you tell me to.
At the fervor in his voice and at this
statement the girl looked around at
him startled. Her checks were flushed,
her eyes sparkling.
"You don't mean that she cried
1T is simply impossible that you could
actually mean what you are saying,
ITS not impossible. do mean 1t. y
retortcd Ernie stoutly. " You We heard
| of people falling in 10. hat is. learn
ing to like people very much at the first
time they've seen them. haven't you:'
Yes" said Grace. ''but it is abso.
lutely impossible that you could actual
~ mean it, You are simply trying TO
make me feel bad. You've got a hunch
as to why you're here and you re trying
to take it out on mo.
I'm not at all - cried Ernie.
Then it seemed to him the psyche.
logical time had arrived for him to re-
veal his identity.
'Bcsidcs. he went on, ''you rc going
under the false impression that I'm
some one other than the person | really
am. My name isn't George at all.
! "What?' gasped the girl. in very evi.
dent astonishmcnt
! II tell you I'm not n George said
Ernie. "l'm an Ernie--Ernest Crane.
And I hope YOU like the name
Apparently the name Ernest Crane
meant nothing to the girl, who con-
| tinucd to look at him in the utmost as
tOnishment
Il can't understand It.. she said al
last. shaking her head.
Then n sudden thought seemed t'
come to her. She pulled the car NJ
short before Il general store in n LITTLE
town through which they were passing
~ want tn telephone sh" said
"Will you wait for me?'
"l'll wait for you forever OK
claimed Ernie fervcntly.
The girl blushcd AZ She lcapcd from
the ear and ran into the store.
Grnces look was rather blank as sh
came back to the car.
II never would have thought II ~ sh
exclaimed. Il never would have though
it in the world ~
''Thought WHAT
"l'll tell you later. But first wan
to explain things. Bertha Gilbert
my best friend. She's been engaged t
n man out Of town. He was TO con,
! to marry her. In the meantime sh
! had been flirting with another man. a
: the last minute she decided to MARI
: this second man instead of George. $
she told me to take George way on
in the country so she could marry tn
second man. She said he was a prur
and n poor fish and everything else. ~
: arranged by phone for him to leave h
: hotel nt II certain hour. was to me'
= him. She said he'd wear n gray over
coat and gray hat. And-and | INT
you
She turned to Ernie again and gaze
2 at him questioningly.
"Who in the world are you, any
. way?" she asked
, "Why.' laughed Ernie. I'm the be
l friend of George Fishcr-thc man yo,
friend was going to marry. Bot
!. George and | are wearing gray ha
: and gray ovcrcoats-that' why "
picked the wron. man. But. tell m
- what's happened that you nev,
', thought would happrn?
!, Grace looked at him and laughed.
Il "Why." she said. "whrn ] wei
- away with the wrong man George we
y y over to see Bertha and they we
married this afternoon.
Whcreat Ernie laughed. too.
"Finc business" he said. 'lct "
w and me- go and do likewise some time,