Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-11

I am sorry to 60. but, as a gentleman
who has just left us remarked--there
are other places. BY the why. II l
may venture on little advice during
my last moments in the club, / think
It would be advisable for all Of you
II not for your own-sakes, mt least for
Mrs. Brcnt's--to investigate the cir.
cumstances of young Charters, and see
that no scandal results from his having
been cheated" A little smile twitched
his lips. "You will forgive my fathcrly
attitude, won't you? Coco. by ~
His bow was for them all, but his
eyes were for Audrey nlone.
Constance seemed about to move for.
ward--perhaps she had an impulse.
even nt that late hour, to ask him not
to go-but she checked herself and stood
Harkncss and Lois walked out:
AS the door closed murmur of talk
arose In the room. Amid the buzz Of
1t Audrey whispered to her mother:
II want to 20 to bed. / am tired
| Constance hurried her from the room.
In the taxi which was carrying them
toward Lois's home, Hardness said to
Lois: THAT was the girl
II guessed it, said Lois simply.
Harkness tried to study her face in
the darkness of the cab interior, but
could not see her clearly.
"You-can understand now how i'm.
possible 1t all was, can't your
She was out of place in that club. l
think she Is very sweet, DO you still
love her rs much. Jimmy ?"
God help mel think I love her
more now I've lost her." muttered
Hardness. II realized 1t tonight"
! Lois was silent for moment. Hark-
ness did not realize that she was fight.
ing back the tears which had gathered
In her eyes. At last she said: 'lDo
you know, Jimmy, I think you are very
Hardness turned sharply to her.
There had been note in her voice
which had startled him. He cndeavored
to laugh. "iou always did pull my leg,
Lois" {.
Lois put her hand on his. Her
touch thrilled him. Il mean it, Jimmy.
That business with Studvatos. l under /.
stand exactly why YOU did it-and
everything"
What do you mean?'
"You deliberately picked this quarrel
in order to drive him from the Eros.
I know you did, Jimmy, although II
meant that you would have to leave
yourself. Am I right? Tell me the
truth, won't you?'
Hardness hesitated. "There might
have been something like that about
it," he admitted. % But. anyhow, the
man always annoyed me. 1t had tc
come sooner or later"
Lois's eyes flashed. "And then 20,
say you are not good enough" sht
whispered. "Oh, Jimmy, you fool.
You are good enough for the finest
woman IN all the world"
Harkness stared at her. Even ht
could read something in the throbbini
undercurrent OF her voice, and it tillet
him with pity.
And as he looked her face lifted aht
her lips pressed against his. He coult
feel the wctness of her cheeks, as u
last her tears came unchecked.
"Loisu'
Hardness breathed her name and Loi
drew bark. She was painting, and hat
abandoned all effort to hide the fac
that she was crying.
"Oh. Jimmy - That was all sh
said, and buried her face in her hands
Hardness put his arm across he
shoulders and drew her to him.
Don't cry, little pal" he whispered
II have been blind. silly brute, al
this time. Don't cry
"Are You Ashamed Of Me. Jimmy?"
Lois looked up at him. "You hav'
not, Jimmy. 1t is l who am silly
She hesitated, then said wistfully
"Are you ashamed Of me. Jimmy-for
because I have done this"'
Harkness looked straight into, hel
eyes. II am wondering what l have
| ,Io ha hnnnrpl
answered gravely. ,
Lois laid her hand on his. eve
can still be chums, Jimmy? You will
still-tell me-everything. won't you
II cant help loving you. Jimmy;
always have done; but ! thought was
strong enough never to let you see It.
because, you know, Jimmy, YOU are
awfully dense where women ore con =
cerned." She tried to smile. This Is
dreadfully wrong, isn't IT.. My making
love to you in dark taxi
Hardness patted the hand with which
she was covering his.
They were silent as the taxi sped on
through the almost deserted streets. Az
last Lois whispered:
Jimmy, may put my head on your
shoulder? have wanted to ever so
many times when have been tired, and
I am awfully tired tonight
Hardness drew her head down, so that
II rested on his shoulder and her hair
brushed his cheek. He did not say e
word. She snuggled close with little
sigh.
This girl, beautiful, talented, witty,
loved him, while he, who had for her
merely feeling of strong friendship,
loved another girl as she loved him.
He was fool. He repeated 1t again
and again. lie should take the gift the
gods offered him, and not strive still FOR
that which could never be his: Lois
there was nothing In his life to dis
cover. She thought him splendid
man-for she had just told him so. And
she was a good woman. Although he
loved Audrey. he knew she was not bet
ter than Lois. Audrey! How could he
dare hope that she would ever look at
him again? He had brawled In her
presence, had deliberately forced n quar-
rel with a card sharp and carried that
quarrel to the limit Of insult.
She was not sufficiently sophisticated
to guess that he had done so because
he had had sudden quixOtic impulse to
rid the Eros of Stadvatos. She would
merely see In the affair n falling out
Of thieves, q row between two men ol
equally base metal. And If Constance
Drent happcned to see what was be
: meath II, why he had done 1t, she would
be sure not to enlishten Audrey.
He had made mess OF 1t, rs he
always made mess of everything. This
love which Lois bore him. and his at
titude toward 1t, were typical Of hi
situation in life. To outsiders he wus
a strong man who did exactly what liz