Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-14

ing and revealing; but in his heart
there MAS q fresh stab OF pain. in-
duesd by the reflection that all these
earnest geslurihgs OF gratitude mere
ly meant that she was thankful 10
him for . reckless extravaganza that
had not ceased till Il had gone the
limit Tor her.
But while Joseph Hancock ar.
ranged his circumstances. practical
Leila Mason thanked her lucky stars
and went on to extract the last thrills
OF the day from the Junior Prom.
which. to her, marked the climax OF
the soeial experience in her young
life and left her In state OF sighing
ecstasy.
In this state Joe took her home.
irma Woods, her roommate, rode
with them. partly to make surer OF
the proprieties and partly because
she wanted to spite Charlie Moran,
with whom she had quarreied on the
way over. In the small hours they
drew up at Mrs. Mellheney's, TO find
that worthy woman's doors still
open. the light still burning on her
wistaria draped porch. and herself
drowsily, but eonseien,iously. count
ing her chickens as in groups OF
twos and threes they came tlut,ering
in.
Thank goodness, you're the last!"
she calculated from the doorway,
surveying with amiaSle relief the pair
OF attic roomers as they mounted
the steps. Irma entered aad went
upstairs; but Leila fingered.
"Put out the porch ligh, and lock
the front door when you come in.
Miss Mason" directed the landlady.
For Leila this was the ending Of
her most perfect day. and she felt
the necessity OF so declaring once
more 10 its author and hnisher.
Joseph Hancock. before she parted
from him for the night. Besides,
now that il was over. she had to
ask him a question. That curiosity
rcputed to be ingrained in her sex,
rudely strangled all way. had to be
satisfied now-had to be! She was
tired, but still spirited. Pale and
large eyed, she stood there. screened
by the wistaria and beamed upon by
the porch light, which gave her
sort OF halo.
"It's been wonderful beyond ex-
preston, joe" she. crooned. 20,
there isn't word in the dictionary
for the pleasure you have given me
todayw
Even Joe enjoyed a certain sense
OF satisfaction in the finality of
achievement. The day was over. He
had managed everything. In no
particular had he failed. The little
girl had had a bang-up time. no
doubt about it. He had given it to
her, and now he paused moment to
take farewell. Farewell! 1t was
going to be bitterly hard, much
harder than he had imagined, be-
cause in these last hours he had re-
constructed entirely his views of her.
He no longer misjudged her. She
was not mercenary-merely fun-lov-
ing and childishly simple-hearted. so
utterly honest that she had seemed
to be assembling when she was
frankest. Life had dealt scantily
with her, and now, when, as it SEEM
ed, tidal wave of the worlds pleas
ure came rolling toward her, who
could blame the child-woman for
throwing her arms wide and trying
to drink in is much OF it as possible?
Not he. Not Joe Hancock. with
whom life had also dealt skimpily.
Not one single blessed bit. She was
a treasure, and he had lost her-that
was all-and there she stood BEAM
ing on him, positively beaming her
gratitude.
"How ever did you do it," she de-
manded, as one who had worked a
magic. Wherever did you get the
money
20, it was some that didn't have
any use for" he laughed. but there
was cynical note in that laughter
which frightened the girl.
use for?" she asked in an appre-
hensive whisper. Joe? You-you
have spent money that-that wasn't
yours? That you hadn't right to
spend?"
20, it was mine, all right, he said,
drily. Il had a right to spend it.
But on me?" A tardy conscience
was beginning to stir the girl.
Every cent Of It'll" he reassured
her promptly, and then hesitated.
He had meant-it had been his pro-
gram-to tell her. at the end Of this
wild orgy OF extravaganza, how he
had got the money, and what for,
and let conscience twit her, if it would;
but now that his feeling toward her
had changed again, he was moment
arily in doubt. The doubts resolved
themselves, however. i earned it
for you," he confessed, wheeling
bricks-two solid months of after
moons Of wheeling bricks
us that where you were" Leila
almost screamed.
TO get money to buy dia-
1nond ring, so that we could be-be
engaged"
Lela's heart leaped wildly. Joel
You old dear!" she exclaimed, and
her face was sunburst of glad sur
prise. while. If ever there was adora-