The Dolores star., 1924-03-21
CHAPTER VI-continued.

your mind | was all right, and I'd
wait for that. But of course I'm on
his side" Jennie went on. "As l saiL,
Tn fond of him. All I've cared about
you WAS whether you were going to
make him happy or miserable. That's
all I've had a chance to care about,
because don't know you very well.
think | could get to like you. If we
ever had decent human chance.
You're enough like him for that.
But in this last particular mess l
was on your side. | did all l could to
keep il from being a mess. | met
your father at the train myself, and
lied TO him about the reason why
which isn't a thing l Ike to do with
people | care about. l kept him away
from home as long as l possibly could.
10 give George Burns chance to
bring you back first. So l haven't
been an-enemy exactly"
The girls eyes were smoldering. III
you weren't an enemy. why did you
give George away?" she asked, sui
ienly.
THAT was my mistake" Jennie ad-
mltted Il didn't think OF It as Civ
ing him away. | thought he'd done
good Job and wanted him to get the
credit for 1t. When l saw how your
father was taking it, it was too late
TO stop"
81 should think you might have
known"
1t wasn't a gracious reception of an
apology, but there was note of
waverIng in It that gave the older
woman an intlmation of victory. She
was content to say, That's right,
suppose must have" and wait.
"Oh. l haven't got anything against
you-especIally," Trix broke out at
last. And l don't suppose It's your
fault that you're here. But-did you
ever have anybody watching you and
telling tales on you? Making that
their business? Well, you'd hate it.
too. And you'd hate anybody that did
II. And the nicer and smoother they
tried to be, the more you'd hate them.
don't know why you've been letting
me alone. Ike you have: having me
give the orders and letting me go
wherever l liked in the car
But you think it was because was
trying TO get something on you. to
report to your father? Is that it?
Good Lord, Talk about poisoning
wells l don't mean yOu-nor your
father, either. But what situation :"
She took a minute to think 1t over;
bIankly at first. but then she began
to find her line Look here. Trix,"
she said well sign a treaty. I'll give
you my word not to write any letters
10 your father about you, or about any
thing that concerns you. You manage
the correspondence yourself If We
come to a final smash I'll write and
tell him why. but I'll show you the
letter before it goes. IN the mean
time, I'm not spy. I'm not watching
you, and I'm not having you watched.
either. l won't ask the new chauffeur
where you've been. That's the sort
of thing l mean. Is that all right as
fsr as It gOes?"
The girl had curled herself un in
corner of the davenport, her chin in
the crook of an elbow. There was
something compact about her poses,
even in relaxation. She looked quite
lot like young tom-cat She said
nothing to Jennie's proposal for the
better part OF a minute, and then 1t
was not an answer.
What do you want me to promise
on my side?" she asked
81 can't think of anything l want to
ask you to promise" Jennie had put
faint stress on the word ask" but
she didn't know whether it had reached
the girls ear or not.
After another silence Beatrice
asked, Does that include kilograms,
too?-that you won't send father about
meT
Until she tackled on the supplement
tary question, Jennie hadn't The least
Idea what she was talking about "Tel-
egrams?" she echoed. Then as the
meaning broke over her. "Oh! - Mer-
ciful heavens! -
The surge of Coniemptuous disgust
at a suspicion so mean. and mind
ungenerous enough to entertain 1t, was
openly revealed In her tone. Trix
looked round, met Jennie's eyes, and
then lowered her own.
I'm sorry" she said. 81 beg your
p0rdOn 1Or ASKING tnat. only, what
are you doing 1t for? II you're that
kind of person. why did you come?
And II you despise me like that and
and aren't going to tell on me, why do
you stay? know you hate It, You
said you did. And it seemed as II
there must be trick about it, some
how"
Jpnnie's mood yepred suddenly round
to pity. "You poor child" she said !.
'you have had rotten time OF it,
haven't you? I'll try to tell you the
why of it all. as far as I'm concerned.
came, as l said, because your father
wanted me to- 1t was little weak
minded Of me, I guess One Of the
things in the world I'm proud Of is
the idea he's got tlnf | never fail him.