The Dolores star., 1923-11-09

Silu what
have you in mind?'
"Figure?" asked Tuppcnce, puzzled.
DO You mean tall or shortf"
NO. Sum-income."
"Oh. IL haven't worked that out"
what about me2'
Your
sure thing"
"Oh, I couldn'tl-
"Why notT
at would seem SO unfair"
81 don't see anything unfair about
II. call your blur. that's all. I ad-
mire you Immensely. Miss Tuppence,
more than any girl I've ever met.
You're so darned plucky. I'd Just love
TO give you a real. rattllng good time.
Say the word, and weIl run round
right away to some high-class Jeweler,
and fix up the ring business"
81 can't" gasped Tuppence.
because OF BeresfOrdr'
mo. no. not"
well. Them
Tuppence merely continued to shake
her head violently.
You can't reasonably expect more
dollars than I've got"
"Oh, 1t isn't that" gasped TuppcnCe
with an almost hysterical laugh But
thanking you very much, and all that
think I'd better say no."
I'D be obliged II you'd do me the
favor to think It over until tomorrow"
ats no use.'
"Stlll, guess Wen leave It like
that"
Very we'll" said Tuppence meekly
Neither Of them spoke again until
they reached the Ritz.
Tuppence went upstairs to her room
She felt morally battered to the
ground after her conflict with julius
vigorous personality. Sitting down in
front Of the glass. she stared at her
own reflection for some minutes.
Fool" murmured Tuppence at
length, making grimace. Little
fool. Everything you want-every-
thing you've ever hoped for, and you
go and bleat out mo- like an idiotIc
little sheep. It's your one chance.
Why don't you take II? Grab IT.
Snatch at IT. What more do you
wantr'
AS II in answer to her own question,
her eyes fell on a small snapshot Of
Tommy that stood on her dressing
table In a shabby frame. For a mo-
ment she struggled for self-control,
and then abandoning all pretense, she
held II to her lips and burst into
fit Of sobbing.
"Oh. Tommy. Tommy" she cried, II
do love you so-and I may never see
you again. :"
At the end Of five minutes Tuppence
sat up, blew her nose, and pushed
back her hair.
That's that" she observed sternly.
Lets look facts in the face. I seem
to have fallen In love-with an idiot
Of a boy who probably doesn't care
two straws about me-" Here she
paused. Anyway" she resumed, as
though arguing with an unseen oppo-
nent. II don't know that he does. He'd
never have dared to say 30. I've al
ways jumped on sentiment-and here
l am being more sentimental than any
body. What idiots girls are! I've al
ways thought so. / suppose l shall
sleep with his photograph under my
pillow. and dream about him all night.
It's dreadful to feel you've been false
to your principles"
Tuppence shook her head sadly, as
she reviewed her backsliding.
II don't know what to say to julius,
I'm sure. Oh, what fool I feel I'll
have to say somethlng-hes so Amer
lean and thorough, he'll Insist upon
having a reason. / wonder If he did
find anything In that safe"
Tuppence's meditations went off on
another tack. She reviewed the events
Of last night carefully and persist
emily. Somehow, they seemed bound
up with Sir James enigmatical words.
Suddenly she gave great start
the color faded out of her face. Her
eyes, fascinated gazed in front of her,
the pupils dilated.
Impossible" she murmured. I'm
possible! l must be going mad even
to think Of such thing. :"
Monstrous-yet 1t explained every
thing.
After moments reflection she sat
down and wrote note, weighing each
word as she did so. Finally she nod
ded her head as though satisfied, and
slipped 1t into an envelope, which she
addressed to julius She went down
the passage to his sitting-room and
knocked at the door. As she had ex-
pected. the room was empty. She left
the note on the table.
small pageboy was waiting out
side her own door when she returned
to 1t.
Telegram for you, Miss"
Tuppence took 1t from the salyer.
and tore 1t open careiessly. Then she
gave a cry. The telegram was from
Tommy!
CAAprEn