The Meeker herald., 1923-01-27
THE R0MANCER
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sy MoLLiE MATHER
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"a. III s. W.SsS NsSssSSss TsssS.S
There goes that woman again."
Phoebe few to the window. and the
Merry Makers club followed In body.
"Doa't 1t beat all. the way the fel.
lows 60 to see her? And she's not
even good looking. In my opinion"
"what surprises me-" Mrs. Tomkins
remarked. "is the way folks will take
to 4 stranger. Mrs. Lew Hampton
has her out often In her car, and never
any Of us. Mrs. Tomkins' old neigh.
bors. asked to rider
NettIe Wells smiled. "We don't
wear the stylish clothes this stranger
does" she said signincantly.
"Where did the girl come from?"
Phoebe wanted to know. land 10 her
name Jewel Joyce. rs they ssyf
Sounds made up to me-"
"Aiiys Joyce seems real agreeable"
q small woman timidly suggested. The
others laughed. $50 the men folks
think" they said.
The object Of conversation passed on
her way. Miss Jewe! Joyce was al
ways provokingly happy. suubs an.
noyed her not. ill-natured coolness
passed unnoticed From an ONCE
stairway young man sprang to walk
at her side
II saw you from the ONCE window"
he said.
" am on my way to meet the 80"
Jewel told him, and smiled.
The young mans bright expression
faded. Say" he asked aggressively.
"hOw often Is that man coming out
here, anyway1"
AS often as he can." Jewel replied: {:
as an afterthought she added: (which
mani"
You'd better ask" Nettie Wells
brother sarcastlcally replied; folks
here are betting on which fellow comes
most
Jewel Joyce stood still and stared
at her informer.
"You mean to tell me-" she indIg-
nantly cried. "that the people here are
Sossiping about mel"
"GossipingT Jim Wells laughed.
"the men In the stores are guessing as
to which Of those two men from the
city will be the winner. and the won.
en- say that neither Of them IL serious !:
and my sister thinks you want me.
GOSH" added Jim, II wish you did"
Jewel glanced at the boyish face Inn
patiently, then she laughed. "Oh. Mr..
Wells" she said. please don't be fool.
ish. go have come to q town Of ro-
mancers." Her pretty brows drew to-
gether In frown. "0ood.by": she dis
missed her new admirsr. abruptly.
The frown had eisappeared when
she returned from the station, q tall.
pleasing man At her side. The men
in the store windows gaped. and the
little stranger returned their bows Of
greeting. flushing. remembering Jim's
conversation.
"Queer one, that" shrewdlookinE
character renarked: 'saw her when
fawas In the city. and she was at a
movie thsater with q different man
from them two what come out here
q thick.set, prosperous sort Of looking
man, and" the speaker leaned close
to his eager audience-"the man was
holding her hand all through the play.
She passed me going out, and smiled
a. cool - you please. Knew I'd seen
her, too, all the time"
Lyn Wendell spoke up excitedly.
Young chap. wasn't hef Lishtish hair.
actorish lookingr'
The first speaker regarded Lyn with
interest. "what are you taking aboutf
The man In the theater was middle
aged maybe. dark hair. acted rs
though he owned the GIRL. engaged to
her, you'd think-and them other two
coming out here all the time. both
paying her steady attention, and
knowing nothing, I'll be bound, about
this bird In the theater."
Lyn Wendell shook his head. Prob
ably she's waiting to see which one
Is worth the most money. Our young
Jim here ought to be warned. She
might even marry Jim and spoil his
career at the start. But what ! was
talking about was q fellow saw this
Jewel woman with in the city. Light
haired, young. She was driving with
him, and they stopped for gas at the
place l did. How do you dor she
says to me. Mr.. Wendell. this Ia Mr.
Bruce'-Bruce was the name. Philip
/ heard her call him, and he said
right out, Yes, dear"
Lyn Wendell. returning some days
later from mis- farm. passed an auto
mSbile driven BY the same Aght'halred
chap he remembered having seen In
the city. The Jewel woman was by
his side.
"How do you dot" she again greet
ed the astonished Lyn: she stopped
'This il my husband, Mr.. Bruce. Mr..
Wendell. We are driving out to look
over the field OF my half-brother's new
work. You have seen Mr.. johnson, my
half.brother. here with me often. He
IL q civil engineer. The shorter man,
L ...hn.n x.sa -.,an also rennemher Is my