Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-21

Bancroft now regretted that he had not
permitted Stewart to enter ana given him a
thorough shocking. He might even have got
q glimpse Of the future through Stewards
conduct in being surprised. Instead he had
warned the man away. Had he, Bancroft.
been afraid? He wanted to be honest with
himself. If he were afraid Of Stewart physi.
cally he wanted to know. But, search as
he would. he could find no element Of fear
back of his action. He had merely jumped
at the first thought that had entered his head
-and missed q lot Of melodrama: Stewart,
blinking in the sudden light. n dagger in 4is
hand, for all the world like a child caught
jam handed in the pantry: and part Of the
fun would have. been to witness Stewart ex-
tricate himself from such a ludicrous situa-
ton; and in his rage or clagrin the man
might have exposed a card or two. Too
green, too green. Bancroft sighed; his brains
were still 30 much lumber. Stewart was
right. ...
So the alley rumpus had been Chane med
ley; good-by to his dollar watch, his eineralds.
and his several thousands. And he might
have escaped but for Craig's Thanksgiving
turkey! t#
One thing, however, was believable: he
would be the recipient of no more daggers.
That phase Of the game was played out; and
Stewart would recognize the fact readily from
law NAASSA AAS - ~ SAASNAs .A'NS = oAAAy
he had thought to let the man in and than
turned on the light! Funny how the right
thing came into ones head when it was too
late. But If one always thought the right
thing TO do at the right time human beings
would be perfect and there wouldn't be q
laugh left in the world. "
" His thought leaped back to Nancy; it
would always be leaping back to her when
any other thought began to lose its stimu.
liant. It~vas the most compelling thought he
had. Whenever he encountered resistance
in this queer battle in the dark he turned
back to the thought Of her. Rather a rnelan.
choly refuge, to be sure, but certified, unac-
companied by doubts. He loved her, but he
never thought Of her in the possessive sense;
loved her as he loved the dawn, the sunset,
the stars. the impossibility of possessing them
or her-being obvious. 2 ,
He had read Of the maddening attraction
of the theater, and Nancy would always be
on the stage or preparing for it. In a year
or so-according to, Jenny-Nancy would be.
come the idol of the town-that is to say, the
idol of the continent-and Collingswood Jere-
miah Bancroft tit was his habit of naming
himself in full when he was ironicaD would
become to her recollection an inconsiderab!e
mote. -
As all true men are, he was skeptical about
his powers Of attraction. Assembling his fea-
lures. he had a face, and that was all he
could see in the mirror. Eyes. nose, mouth,
and chin, blocked in with flesh; none of that
distinctive melancholy which drew women's
glances toward Craig Hang him! The
mere Bancroft thought it over the more he
became convinced that his face was merely
a sketch and that the Artist had not cared
to develop it.
And yet Nancy and Jenny could have told
him that he possessed what many women
would have offered their souls for-an utter
complexion, a scarless fine skin under whic
the clean blood came flood and ebb to his
emotions. He could still blush. He could
even blush inLthe dark: as he did when Nancy
called to him through the door. after mid.
night. He had slept ftfully, never soundly:
so when she knocked he awoke instantly.
"Jerry?"
who is it," he called.
Nancy" -
Twas then he blushed. You want Ling
Foo? The door is unlocked. Open it. a little
and I'll drop him to the floor" 5, !
When this business was accomplished
Nancy asked: How are your" +,
90, I'm all right. Head aches. but moth
ing to speak Of"
as the bandage all right"
40, yes!" he answered, eagerly, substan.
tally afraid she might offer to come in and
fuss overtthe bandage; and With her fingers
fluttering about his head, heaven knows !
Got the puppy?"
Yes. But your door ought to be locked"
Nobody will bother me-"
well.
How was everything tonight?" "A.
The same as usual"
Where's jenny"
Burning other peoples candlesf for them"
He laughed; there was a fash Of pain. ST
don't see how she does it and still keeps her
good look$."
Jenny is stunning, isn't she? I don't see
how men can resist kissing her.
They never kiss her more than once"
Why not?"
"Hatpins"
"O! Did she ever stick one into your
No" A wave Of knocking recklessnsss
rolled over him. /" only kissed her once
" What You kissed her?"
"Once. 7 didn't offer + do it again, be:
cause her eye was full Of hatpins.'
Silence for a moment. So you're the kind
that kiss and tells" I
!. But Jenny didn't kiss me. I'm not telling
on Jenny. I'm telling on myself She was
the innocent %bystander.''2
"sJerfy, your moral FIBER
But I kissed her only once, and I'm
sorry, he added, with a stab OF. remorse
What had made him tell7 I'm afraidI, d q
scad"ss ssS S59s
You would be II Jenny had kissed YOU.
Wen. she didn't. But please don't tel
4 No need to. Jenny told me ne herself.
Their + haven't spilled the beans, II she
would ayys--rslisyedly &
e; az ~, going g wear hatpins my
SELF after thiss.. .aiS .S8#5s saaS
~why. Nancy, 4 wouldnY-
z. Welt 4that's complimentary! Am i no