Evening star., 1922-03-18
TEMPTING OFFERS.

TINE March rain was pouring
down. Merriam Lindsay. snug
gled in the corner Of a sofa be-
fore q glowing fire. struggled
with her knitting and called to Susan
every ten minutes to pick up dropped
stitches for her,
She threw down the wool joyously
at noon whom Nan Blaisdelrs car
stopped before the door. Regardless
of the rain and her thin orchid
neglige, she dashed out to the porch
to welcome her gray-haired friend.
you seraph! You cherub!" she
cried.
Nan doffed her, dripping raincoat
and patted Susan. Sues shoulders as
that faithful soul 'knelt to remove
her former mistress overshoes.
May I stay to lunch, Susy?"
Susan. dash out and kill our fat
tedest calf" Merriam ordered. gayly.
And open can of asparagus tips
mo, thank you." Nan objected. NO
dolled-up party food for me. I want
Susan to make me a big, thick. two
egg pancake with some melted but
ter and currant jelly on top"
Susan brindled with pride.
THAT WILL" she cooed.
"And, Susan" Nan seemed to add.
casually, shut the, kitchen door so
the smoke doesn't get in my eyes"
Merriam squirmed back into the
farthest corner of wing chair and
pretended to hide.
"Ouch!" she murmured. Now what
have l done?" 70
Nan stood beside the fire warm
ing her hands man fashion.
You jelly well know what you've
done, you imp! she glared down into
"Heavens! / hadn't finished my
breakfast before my phone was ring
ing and that husband of yours was
implorinE me to fly over here at
once to prevent you from eloping
with some motion picture producer.
Come now, out with it! AS one
John or. are. you serious?"
soh; the man made me a most in
= Look here at me. young womanl"
Merriani looked. widening her eyed
Just: beoapse. all Of you get in
the habit of thinking, of me as a
stupid, little, passe thing" she pout-
ed, you mustn't think that there's
be- attractive to other persons.
Nan became genuinely alarmed
She dragged Merriam over to the sofa
and held her hand firmly.
Merry" she entreated, have you
forgotten that some day you are go
Goodness, not" Merriam chartered.
TIN gladder Of that every minute!"
Hasn't It occurred to you," Mans
voice lowered impressively,1"th that it's
not exactly a time when you can con-
.Thep baby made me consider it all
dreamtIy. .Think how splendid it
wifi be to have all the movie money
to spend fors baby's things"
You'd, be- more likely to have, to
, spend it on Doctor" Nan snapped.
most exacting, the hours long and
hard. And s-for-
T-,could buy q pram and a baby
Merry, want you to keep still.
AS for prams and baby cribs, I've
an attic full Of them that you're
Nan. you darling! Thank you 90
muchW Merry's gratitude babbled
forth gaily. Then l can put the
movie money in the. bank for
"You mercenary llttle 'wretch! MRS.
BlaisdelI stared at her. "Are you try
ing to force me to make Thorne raise
Johns salary? Because 1t won't do
you any good! You have everything
. woman can possibly need-a nice,
warm, cosey little home that is we'll
within your husbands means, plenty
Of proper clothing and Susan Sue to
wait on you, and John has very good
prospects Of material raise In sa1-
QPy neYt- war" =
~.S .But T Nan. Merry protested, 'rt a
man came along and made you q
really wonderfui offer. and you were
as poor as I am, don't you think that
you'd think it over pretty thoroughly
before you decided what you'd dor
ut wouldn't take me two minutes to
say no." Nan tefked out her words
II think you must BE- crazy-.
:.rh.ss Yn.s - 5oan anp,,4t ssi aa,aAa.sssll Assl
"one. two. three {our r oo1nted
& "a n I