The Washington times., 1924-01-14

this; unconsciously she was conn
pairing others-all the men who
came into the office with Jimmy.
Oh--they weren't as tall, nor as
quick, nor anything like Jimmy
was.
1t used to be that when these
men stopped at her desk her face
would flood with color; her hands
fidget. Janina would mock after
wards.
Now, she glanced at them quiet
ly. Now, when they asked her to
go out she was not dumb with
awe as she had been with Harry
Lewis. She thought to herself
with a gay flippance, "Oh. who
are you! Little cricket! Look at
Jimmyp'
It gave a happy dash to all
her wtnsome caprice. Janina
noticed. "Glad to see you pick
ing UP, baby. Not above taking
the tips after all. eh?"
1t was like a scattering Of dirty
water on a sheer, white dress.
Chickie answered, airily: Ho!
You'd like to know my hidden
charm? Come around some night
after dark, Janina. TIL give you
two and a half ounces of my own
secret potion-guaranteed deadly.
No man may quaff and survive"
Thanks, baby. Don't get the
fat head. You'll need the whole
dose yourself. Besides, I've lots
more in the chest where that
came from. What does dear
papa have to say now that you're
stepping out nights?"
Chickie WINGED. She could feel
Janina's hand as though it ripped
in and tore a bit of flesh from
her heart. She answered: Moth
ing that you could understand.
Janina."
Yet Jonathan was a sore prob
lem. He had such a way Of fol-
lowing her with his eyes from
the moment she stepped into the
house. When she was going out
he grew silent. AS she kissed
him good-by he held her hand
often for a minute or two, and
kept his head lowered. She
couldn't bear that. She wanted.
sometimes, to throw off her hat.
to say bitterly: "Oh. ali right,
then-ITl stay home forever"
Because Of Jonathan she some
times made no dates for a whole
week at q time. He went about
chuckling-full Of young spirit.
He read his paper. then put out
his hands, showing the long.
tough nails, insisting that she
manicure them up pink like her
own. He lay back In his big
leather chair, exulting.
isn't this great. Chiclie girl!
Now, aren't you happy? ]
''Yes-you selfish old Jonathan
had no feet and no eyes and no
senses at all, but was just big
lob Of jelly to sit here content
night after night. Now. honestly,
cutielove. do you think that's a
bit fair in you?"
He gave snap whether 1t was
fair or not! There she was
there he wanted her. He laughed.
But what about yOuI old dad
and little Jennie alone so much?"
1t always made her want to cry
when he talked like this; It took
the JOY out OF things.
And she was lonely enough with
Jimmy gone and Mary married.
Twice after Jimmy's return he ask
ed her to go out. Each time, as it
happened, she had the evening
promised. For a long while he
didn't drop in or ask again.
Then Mary's son was born. Her
whole thought and all her soul
were just poured out on that help
less little bundle, on that wrinkled,
funny little thing, so out of shape
in Chickie's eyes, so soft and per-
feet in Mary's. Chickie couldn't
spend all her evenings watching
over little James Edward McPike.
Why shouldn't Jonathan want
her to see the good shows--dance
once or twice a week? Just sweet,
harmless things like that. She
wanted no vivid adventures, as
Janina told with such a crimson
tongue.
She could otter have gone out
with a crowd-stayed till the drab,
gray morning broke. Other girls