The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-15
Short Change

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 "Anything wrong, angel child?' the girl inquired solicitously. Did you for get to break your date with the other girl before you asked me to go trampine up here in the forest preserve this gor. geous Saturday afternoon or any little thing like that?"
 The young man was obviously embar- rassed.
 "Worse, far worse," he admitted. q have been trying to tell you the facts tactfully, but guess I'll have to blurt it all out. I meant to replenish my purse this morning, got awfully busy, and never though of it again until l hauled out my wallet to pay our car fare, and then it was too late to turn back"
 Awful 7" laughed the girl. And we are twenty miles from home. But cheer up. I can contribute a dollar five and couple of street-car tickets to the re- lief fund. What will you give? And be sure to give till it hurts, this time. y
 "I'm eternally grateful to you for taking it as a joke especially when I'd talked about our having dinner at the little restaurant out here.
 "Now be, a good fellow and tell me whether we can subsist on our combined fortune which will total $265. Re member, it must cover dinner and re- turn fares !'
 That's lot" she responded loftily. You'll see what good little selecter l am. We. will just put our hands over all the menu except the prices and pick from them. I'm sure we can get a unique and economical meal that way. Come~On let's try it..
 There" she commented little later, when they were seated comfortably in the restaurant. Minute steak is cheap and satisfying. We can have one order of salad and still tip the waiter and maybe have a dessert, if we want it. We're rich !"
 You certainly are good selecter. Why" he interrupted himself, 'fisn't that Burton, over at the end of the room, talking to the waiter? He kind of turned as if he saw us and didn't want to recognize us. You know him ?"
 If you'd be so good as to step-t to the door, please, sir, gentleman would like to see you q minute" the waiter whis- pered moment later. 't
 Queer Well, you order and I'll be back in second. Why doesn't he come over here, anyway" When he returned the dinner was be- ing served but he seemed unhappy.
 Don't look so sad," the girl said at last, grinning appreciatively. Burton, wanted financial aid, didn't he? or dered only the meat and coffee, so you are safe."
 ''You surely have intuition p the young man admitted. Burton has tramped all the way out here with the girl and then found that when he had changed his clothes he forgot to trans fer his wallet. He was pathetically glad to see me, although all I dared loan him was enough for coffee and a sandwich apiece and carfare home. And I'd ask you to order for us"
 Never mind. We are both too plump for perfect beauty. Tonight we diet"
 That's well enough, but here I was trying to impress you with what n good time could show you if you'd only come out here. And look at the mess I've made of it. Wonder what you'll say next time I invite you"
 "Oh, when you ask me to stay. down. town with you next Monday I'll say that we are both thin enough and so you may treat me to dessert after you take me to dinner"
 But what she really did say on Mon day evening was this: Goodness, there I let you go away after you'd seen me home on Saturday and never thought