Evening star., 1923-09-09
u PS 7 AGE

that diamond yarn whole--hook, line
ard sinker."
"It wasn't a yarn"
You'll tell me next your mother
bought the pearls, too"
Mol did--they're imitation"
He dung back his head. His laugh
frightened her
"And I put you above them-way
on top. But you're like the rest Of
them! Price-a string of pearls-a
diamond. Sit down! Sit down, say!
I'll get you home quick enough"
White and terrified, she subsided.
He crashed on.
"But you did put IL over! Got me
with the baby stare suff. Baby
huhr
Jimmie the voice struggled to
keep steady-"I swear to you-!"
Down on your luck--thought you
had an easy mark! Then something
better--pearls!-came along. It's
tough, though, when the first time q
man reaiiy-cares-more than he ever
thought" The words halted pain
fully.
"oh. won't you listen7 Jimmie
you-you had so much"
But the other fellows got morew
They stopped with a Jump that
made the roadster snort in protest
"You-you don't understand" The
sobs clamored to her lips.
She sprang out of the car and up
the steps.
MY deah--what's become Of the
orange motah?" Miss Mariette
turned her round stare on Sallie.
"What--d-do you mean?"
well, the yellow peril doesn't
seem to be on duty any more"
"Oh!' He--he's out OF town"
MN! Been out some time. take
IT,"
"F-fohr weeks"
HIM" Merciless blue eyes took
in the small white face. "And the
cobblss, my deah?"
"what?"
Pearls! The dog coiiar?"
"Ohl IL p-put 1t away"
Miss Mariette cast her eyes heaven
ward. You were a wise child not to
let him get back the diamond, too"
she drawled. IT'S plain he's gone his
merry way tra-la."
Like whip. sallie snapped round
at her. He hasn'tm
Then where's the car. the car he
| was giving your"
Grace, entering. Uttered.
Poor little car skidded on the way.
4 - nIa Z, FOL
lard.
Sallie's throat closed in a hard
knot. Her head almost dropped on
the table. But not quite. Pride kept
| II up. Pride and the determination
never to let them know how right
! they were.
Yet Miss Maliard. having resumed
ner tactics OF warfare, allowed to
/ slip no opportunity for attack. She
| teased and tormented and tra-la'd
with purring delight. sharp little
talons inhicting new wounds.
Sallie began 10 stink into the dress
| ing room as IL to hide from insinuat-
! ing smiles, And, coming out Of the
| stage door, she fairly ran round the
| corner to escape the torturing vision
| Of that line at the curb.
Tho pearls she had recklessiy let
| 20. After what he had said she
I couldn't bear TO touch them. She
even hated the money-something
more than half the amount she had
| paid-which was finally refunded her.
One thing. though, she did deter
mine. There must be a car! Never
must they be certain that Jimmie had
| gone for good! sallie suffered and
waited, lived on bread and milk, and
| hopelsssly priced the cheaper makes.
Other lips, mustached, clean shaven,
answered Saiiie's plea OF Wont you
| smile at me?" Sallie did not hear
them. other eyes sought hers from
motors at the curb. Sallie did not
know they were there.
Then one June day she saw a Sec
ond hand runabout painted a beauti-
full blue for only two hupdred and
fifty dollars, with a weeks trial be-
| fore buying. Her diamond! She
could get enough for that! A few
months in which to tear UP to the
stage entrance and spring out; TO
| display the shining blue body to
startled eyes; to make them believe
he had come back! Jimmie--who
never would!
When tho chorus assembled for the
wednesday matinee a ring dropped
tinkling to the dressing room floor.
Sallie picked it up, proclaimed that
the stone had come loose and wore
it no more.
Later. behind a window barred like
a prison, Sallie MacMahon's most
precious possession passed into other
ihands-probably for all time.
| y 4 +
lT<HE night arrived when the girls
j sighted at the curb a little cal
blue as the heavens. One Of them
fetched a key from her bag. bent
down, then sprang in and took the
wheel as though running a motor
| were a daily pastime.
Miss Mallard stopped in the center
of the pavement
'T'n tell the world!' she breathed
"she wasn't lying, Grace - she
wasn't"
Sallie MacMahon smiled upon them
and. with terror chasing down hel
| spine. spun round the corner.
/ Up Broadway, eyes starting with
fear. heart pounding, went Sailie
And every instant's progress petri'
fed her.
Never had she travelled distance
to equal those ten blocks. A centur!