Evening star., 1923-04-01

IL
glaries in the town down on Long
Island where the Mayos had their
! summer place. Only a couple OF
| nights previous the Mayos' night
| watchman had been shot and was
| now in the hospital down there,
though he at least succeeded in scar
| ing the burglar off. Well. Marianne's
uncle happened to be away some
where's on a business trip. and the
two women was naturally frightened
to stay on the place, at least till
they got new watchman.
IL don't really know what were
going to do" she says. i've tele-
phoned Mr.. Zabriskie three times al
ready today, but he can't find a
watchman for u.s.
1t was right on the tip OF my
tongue to say, of course, I'd be glad
to volunteer on the job, but 1 decid-
ed to hold back on the idea and
think about 1t for awhile.
After the show Marianne felt like
dancing and I steered the way to a
cabaret 1 was pretty sure none OF
the Burman outfit ever thought OF
going to.
Between dances Marianne got
started about Wyoming, telling me
how often she'd thought of>that last
week we had together out there and
how some time she'd like to go back.
Seems she wasn't a New Yorker at
all. Been born somewhereS out west
herself and hadn't come east till her
folks died.
She begun kidding me again about
my profile, too.
I'D hate to admit how hard I fell
for you the very first time l laid
eyes on you." she says right out.
Then for a time I was afraid New
York was spelling you. the way It
does most good looking men. And,
oh, I'm SO glad 1t hasn't"
1t seemed like my cue to tell her
how much loved her. Well, was
just getting started when who should
blow into the place but Perlita, with
one of the other Greeks In tow.
Marianne seen her. too. why,
there's your business friend, Mrs.
Witt! Wouldn't you like to have a
dance with herr"
NO, thanks" Periita seen US
right away, of course, and give me
an awful sour look, but then she
managed to smile and said hello.
Pretty soon Marianne was ready TO
go, and 1 begun to breathe easier
Then 1 noticed that Perlita'd follow
ed Marianne into the dressing room.
Marianne come out smiling, but the
| minute we got into the taxi she let
loose on me. Perlita'd spilled the
whole works.
so that's what all the mystery was
about" Marianne's eyes was burn
ing, and she stamped her foot. Il
don't wonder you were ashamed to
tell me. Honestly, 1 wouldn't have
minded your being a street cleaner or
anything else that was self-respect-
ing. but turning into a he vamp!
No. that's too much"
put up what little defense I could
"It was that or starve."
mo, that might excuse your doing
1t for a while, but not sticking to
it for five months. oh, Ben, so New
York's gotten to you, after all. You
were sort of an ideal to me-and now
look at your
The taxi stopped in front of her
house. and she jumped out and threw
| something back at me. There's your
tip!" she says. and slammed the door
in my face.
X x + X
| 4 FTER walking the floor all the
1 n rest of the night, wondering il
| they was any use of my keeping or
living. I finally had gimp enough
to remember what Marianne'd said
about Asa Zabriskie. That looked
my one hope. So 1 beat 1t for Ia.
briskie's office.
| "Filled that watchman's berth down
at New Compton yet2' I says.
Hello! How'd you known" Ia.
briskie wrinkled his eyes at me
you want it"
| Done" / says. But theys one
condition, and that is I go down on
your pay roll as Smith instead OF
/ Benbennick."
| So that same evening there I was
strolling around the Mayo's country
place on Long Island sound. That
first night I didn't see either the
| burglar or Marianne, but the nex'
night. after I'd been on the job 8
while. she walked out of the house
and over to where I was standing.
81 recognized you through the win
dow" she says. Look here. now
warn you I won't have You hanging