The Omaha morning bee., 1922-11-12

ones with Rola. For even under
her keen eyes, he found. no could
scarcely resist the tales that tickled
his tongue for freedom.
Never would she know how hard
he found his new procedure. Never
would she know how Taylor, the
revercd senior member Of the firm,
eyed him when Bennett pleaded a
tbrobbing headache to avoid accept.
Ing one Of Tnylors infrequont and
cherished dinner invitations. Nor
would she ever know the degree Of
himself up In his room at the Drake.
and staring moodIly out Of the win.
dow, he let his eyes travel up the
Lake Shore drive, and rest on
Jimmy Trees imposing gray house.
A poker game WAS on there, and
Jimmy had asked him.
Abruptly turning from the win.
dow, Bennett seized his hat and
bolted out. But not 10 Jimmy
Trees. No. Seeking a change Of
scene. he struck westward. making
the quick transition from the Gold
Coast 10 the boarding house district.
and thence into the Clark street
badlands, and into dingy residence
section that was still more remote.
After ho had walked himself weary
In a Chicago he had never seen be.
fore, he i1x,cabbed back TO The
Drake. and went to bed. There he
tossed.
On a Sunday, when 10 days had
passed Of the terrible 30, Jimmy Tree
met him on the drive and conscript.
ed him for some tennis at the Ca.
sino. IL was there that Bennett
nearly rendered unnecessarysthe re.
naming 20 days Of his ordeal.
Between sets, while several, of
them were watching some others at
the nets, Russ Muir remarked on the
force Of Jimmy's serve.
Remarkable" Bennett agreed.
Suddenly his clear blue eyes glowed,
and no added:
"But what would you say to
man who served hand grenades In
tho same way?"
Hand grenadcs?" Muir echoed In
amazement.
20, you mean war bombs?" de.
manded Alice Pankin.
yes" Bennett insisted. What
would you say to a man who used
solid piece OF wood, shaped like
racquet. to serve hand grenades
into the enemy's trench with az
much speed as Jimmy puts on
tennis ball?"
Great Scottw said Muir in awe.
For although he had not been In
the infantry he could appreciate the
miracle that Bennett was describing.
Il once knew a doughboy-" Ben.
nett began; and stopped, going cold
az he realized how nearly he had
done it. IL was not too late, though;
80 far he had merely asked ques.
tion.
I'D better not talk about that"
he said abruptly, and walked away.
Alice Pankin looked after him In.
dignantly
What in the worlds the matter
with him?" she demanded.
Russ Muir leaned toward her.
"He didn't want to give It away"
he whispered. I'll bet they're say.
Ing 1t for the next war"
Less than a week later Bennett
again found himself with one leg
over the brink.
Because Rola insisted, he took her
to dinner dance Of the Friends OF
Opera. 1t was the gayest thing he
had attended for weeks, and he
breathed happily, forgetting his pre-
dicament.
Some vague thing Of color in the
affair delighted him. Pondering
this, he decided that II was the pes.
ence OF number OF opera stars.
One Of these, Fania kazaroff, was at
the table with him and Rola and
Jimmy Tree, who had brought her.
Bennett liked the occasional com.
pany Of opera singers. Usually
foreign, they carefully cultivated
their natural exoticism, He liked
their mobile faces. their thick hair
and big eyes, the insignificance OF
the things they said.
Here was Madame Kazaroff, now.
talking about her jewels. He
couldn't quite make out whether
she considered them too glittering or
not glittering enough. II didn't mat.
ter, lie was watching the way her
nimhle hands opener fanwise when
she smiled. and curled up into fists
when, as now. her smile curled up
into seriousness.
She was saying she had lost a
ring.
Il lose Il two days nov The po.
lice-stupIdl Cannot find