The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-12
A REWARD
Chapter rs

In life even more than in fiction,
people often work at cross pu' poses
and make a muddle of days and weeks
that might pass happily with mutual
understanding.
So with George and Gloria.
And so was Pan deceived.
Gloria was in a curious mood. Pan
had never known her to react in any 4
usual manner before When the aver
age woman is worried half to death .
she is irritable or depressed or on the /
edge of tears
When Gloria was worried, she flew
to an excited gaiety, false Of course, /
but most deceptive When she was
tired and things were going wrong, |
she went from occasional bursts o.
temper into an exaggerated patience.
1t was never Frankie's naughtiness
that annoyed her. his pranks and dis
obedience amused her, his little i'm
pudences made her laugh. She grew
impatient now and then over a long
period of angelic godness on his part
over the days when he preferred a
book and the couch to play, when he
was good to the point of meekness.
'1want a tomboy, that's my trouble
she apologized once when she told him
Sharply 10 De real BOY anu 90 Jul
and play with his friends.
But Gloria these days had the nor
NAL reactions of the most ordinary
sort of woman to everything that hap
pened.
Frankie's I'm run away locomo-
tive, mother" accompanied by shrieks
as piercing as only a small child can
make them, brought a sharp:
ftGton that Frank I'll send Won To
bed"
This rebuke so astonished the boy
that he forgot his locomotive entirely
and retired to play mouse and cat with
himself in the next room.
Pan went to the hotel phone and
called for tea. Gloria laughed then
and said,
Are you going to soothe me with
hot drink and food? I am a cross
patch today, Pan as usual, you're an
angel I suppose I'm tired and I'm
wretched too. Did George say he was
coming around?"
Pan said yes-for George was
around every evening and often fot
dinner as well.
Darling George! My tempers wor
ry him, I'll try to be decent by the time
he comes | don't know what any OF
us would do without him"
George is awfully in love with you,
the girl observed. She wondered i
Gloria would tell her anything about
this.
Us he?" And Gloria laughed. Hes
certainly never said So I'm afraid I've
known George too long and too vel
for him to fall in love with me. He's
much more likely to fall madly in low
with you, darling. You're his type
with me-? No, he likes clever PEG
pie"
ooh does he? He also likes to b
much the cleverer of any cleverest
And he adores- ordering people aroun
oh. he does it nicely. of. course, bu
he does it just the same. | find evel
myself falling into the way of takin
directions from hints fatal, we a.
do ii more or less. George likes tn
soft sweet, yielding type of woman
you're type, Pan. | shouldn't be I
the least surprised if he wasn't alread
a little smitten.
Her quick eyes searched Pans fac
for any sign. But Pan was simply l
earnest when she said quickly,
a Oh no. I know better.
We'll, you are awfully young,
course-though there's only II yea,
difference between you. George seen
a bit older, you a bit younger tina
your real years.
He thinks I'm still in love with
Il know. Of course that would pl
man off, though we've all assure
him you've quite forgotten Morto
Lord, Pan, what different person yC
are from the scared rabbit who can
to live with me last winter"
81 know. it's all due to you-and
little to George" the girl answert
and touched Glorias hand lightly fl
moment. 81 feel as though the 81
came out last winter for the first tim
and began to warm me through. B
fore that. everything was dark al
damp, and chilly. and every face
threatening thunder cloud
She went on,
| don't know what I'd do witho
you. But George says you're apt
marry shouldn't go back to the o
life, I'd get a position in the city
so George is having me married
he?" Gloria was quick to resent.
In view of everything that's ha