Evening star., 1923-04-19
I\-$ Desperate Lover.

IT was before prohibition. and a
soodly supply of 'Maine's Best
had been tucked in amongst the
supplies. Preventive against rat
ticsnake bite, etc, must be carried
along.
Most of the young men INDUCED
very sparinsly, and then for good
fellowship only. Thorne and couple
of his cronies, on a few occasions
abused their hosts hospitality. by in
dulginG too much.
It was on the last of these occa-
sions that the break occurred he
tween Thorne and himself. The glass
too much had always been Thorne's
failing. On this particular night
merriment was at its height when
Thorne was called upon for toast
"a good pun-anything TO add 10 the
fun of the evening.
Thorne was keyed up to the occa-
sion. complying with aiacrity. The
topic he hit upon was: beautiful
women who had loved him" He
made no distinction among them,
good, bad or indifferent.
Smith had heard all this SO often
that he was in no mood to listen.
o6lnG IdlneT ulSS uSl'u lit dN"
'rhorne was making of himself and
certainly bored. With boastful hi
larity Thorne mentioned the name of
Clairena Vail.
He got no further. In fash Jay
was on his feet. and instantly flung
the untouched contents of his glass
full into Thorne's face. y moment
OF great confusion followed, friends
intervening to prevent a serious end
ing of the affair.
oh ha1 onh
Thorne instantly. The knowledge
dashed through his brain that he
had gone a Step too far-that Smith
was in love with the colonels
daughter and would not brook the
slightest reference to her. Both
Smith and himself were athletes of
10 mean order. On many an occa-
sion they had. while at college, put
on the gloves in a boxing match.
He knew. by experience. Smith could
land a knockout nine times out of
len. He was too wise to invite such
a contretemps in his "groggy con-
dition. and unsteady pins" There
was another and important reason
Smith on this occasion, which was,
he had made up his mind to touch"
his one-time chum for a rather large
loan. He was in dire straits for cash.
Smith was his one hope ahead. He
dared not contemplate what it would
\ Snean If he were met with a refusal.
He had several reasons for dis
liking, not to say envying, Jay Smith
heartily. In the first place. he was
head Of the GLASS at college. learning
with ease what it took him by the
greatest effort to acquire. Secondly, he
had won Clairena Vail, the one girl
on earth whom ne thought enough
of to marry. He had money to burn,
could keep a high-priced car and
his own chauffeur. give spreads that
were the talk OF the college. He was
the shining mark mothers with pretty
daughters aimed for.
jay MarmaAuke Smith seemed to
have no wish that remained unful-
dlle6 With al his advantages he
was q mans man, as we'll. a good
mixer, q universal favorite because
of his likeab1e personality. He knew
quite we'll that every one to a man
in tho camp would side with Smith
in this affair. 1t must be hushed up
at all hazards. If it should leak out
that he had dared mention the name
of Clairena in a too convivial mo-
ment, and in that particular man.
ner. and it should get to the ears
of Col. Vail, there would be the
he'd dubbed him In the Army "the
flshing colonel, who would pursue
Hhe<og<o the death" No, no. this