The Holbrook news., 1922-09-15


 he stopped abruptly at the door. The lady of his dreams was setting the table in the dining-room and chatting gayly with an invisible Kitty in the kitchen.
 The delicate fragrance of the girls personality went to Clay's head like wine as he stepped forward and shook hands. To see her engaged in this intimate household task at his own table Quickened his pulse and sent a glow through him.
 You didn't know you had invited me to dinner, did you?' she said, little flags a-fiutter in her cheeks.
 They had a gay dinner, and after ward pleasant hour before Clay took her home.
 Neither of them was in a hurry. They walked through Central park in the kindly darkness, each acutely sen- sitive to the others presence.
 Her gayety and piQuancy had given place to a gentle shyness. Clay let her. He knew that he had come to his hour of hours and his soul was wrapped in. gravity.
 She too Sensed what was coming, and the sex instinct in her was on tiptoe in flight. She was throbbing with excitement Her whole being longed to hear what he had to tell her. Yet she dodged for way of escape. Silences were too significant, too full pulsed. She made herself talk. It did not much matter about what.
 'Why didn't you tell us that it was MT. Bromfield who struck down that man Collins? Why did you let us think you did it?" she queried.
 "Well, folks in New York don't know me. What was the use of gettin' him in bad?"
 "YOu know that wasn't the reason. You did it because" She stopped in the midst of the sentence. It had oc- cured to her that this subject was more dangerous even than, silence.
 q did 1t because he was the man you were goin' to marry" he said.
 They moved side by side through the shadows. In the faint light he could make out the fine line of her exquisite throat. After a moment she spoke. You're a good friend, Clay. It was big thing to do. I don't know anybody else except Dad that would have done it for me-"
 You don't know anybody else that lcves you as much as I do."
 It was out at last, quietly and with out any dramatics. A flash of soft eyes darted at him, then yelled the shining tendernes beneath long lashes
 i've had an attack of common SenSe," he went on, and in his voice was a strength both audacious and patient. ''I thought at first I couldn't hope to win you because of your for tune and what 1t had done for you. Even when I knew you liked me felt it wouldn't be fair for me to ask you. I couldn't offer you the ad- vantages you'd had. But I've changed my mind. I've been watching what money does to yore friends. It makes them soft. They flutter around like butterflies. They're paupers-a good Ol bCNduSC lht. uOii pay their way. 4 mans tramp if he doesn't saw wood for his breakfast. l don't want you to get like that, and if you stay here long enough you sure will. It's in my heart that if you'll come with me we'll live"
 In the darkness she made a rustling movement toward him. A little sob welled up in her throat as her hand lifted to him. ''Oh, ClayI I've fougl against it. l didn't want to, butt ! love you. Oh. I do love you!'
 He took her lissom young body in his arms. Her lips lifted to his.
 Presently they walked forward slow ly. Clay had never seen her more love ly and radiant. though tears still clung to the outskirts of her joy.
 "We're going to live-oh, every hour!" she cried to the stars, her lovers hand in hers.
 Johnnie felt that Kitty's farewell dinner had gone very well. It was her first essay as hostess. and all of them had enjoyed themselves. But, so far as he could see, it had not achieved the results for which they had been hoping.
 i Clay came home late and next morn- ing was full of plans about leaving
 1.-Two more days and we'll hit the trail for good old Tucson" he said cheerfully.
 "Y'betcha, by jollies," agreed his bandy-legged shadow.
 None the less Johnnie was dis tressed. He believed that his friend was concealing an aching heart be- meath all this attention to impending details. As Benedict he considered it his duty to help the rest of the world get married too. A bachelor was q boob. He didn't know what was best for him. Same way with girl. Clay was fond of Miss Beatrice, and she thought a heap of him. You couldn't fool Johnnie. No, sirreel We'll then?
 MoOning on the sad plight of these two friends who were too coy or too perverse to know what was best for them, Johnnie suddenly slapped him. self a whack on the thigh. A bril- liant idea had flashed into his crani- um. It proceeded to grow until he was like to burst with it.
 When Lindsay rose from breakfast he was mysteriouSly beckoned into annther room. Johnnie outlined Skatc1ttv and with o pood deaI Inf hes