The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-05
Annlying Psychology

|I<<T EFFINGWELL," began tn ( es pretty girl with the very latest
 - scarf, looking touchingly sad s.do you know, I think that you are ter I ribly attracted by that Portulaca Jones h who has just moved in across the hall p
 "What!' gasped the seriously hand some young man in extreme cOnsterna- ton. Now, whatever should make ] you think that! I never heard of any thing so absurd in all my life, Herba- ria! p
 ''Now I am positive or it !' the pretty girl said in tremulous tones. When person is accused of fact his first instinct is to deny and ridicule the l idea! If it isn't so he remains quite calm and composed I learned that in my psychology class today! You grew excited and red in the face at once and nothing you may say can counter act those signs If l had paid atten- tiOn to my hunch all this trouble But there isn't any trouble lnslst- ed the seriously handsome young man vehemently. "Portulaca Jones never enters my mind unless 1 happen to meet her."
 ''Then you have been meeting her v cried the pretty girl in tangerine, sink l ing back in the corner of the hammock tragically. And you never told me It isn't that I am of a jealous nature, 1 I,effingwell, or that I expect you are never going to look at another girl though I am sure if you do find any body you like better than you do me it will be quite all right and l should give YOU up to her freely. But no mat ter how it may make me suffer to see you and POrtulaca starting off In your new red roadster"
 II never took that girl any place in my life" declared the handsome young man. I don't know what you are talk ing about I'd like to know why l shouldn't get excited at being accused of liking somebody who is simply noth- ing to me-" ltv girl told him sadly. Whenever a man begins to get interested in some body else he invariably declares that she is nothing to him. It is because he 1 ia trying to hypnotize himself into thinking nothing is happening which should not-the psychology book says l sO. Now, if the idea of POrtulaca was entirely new to you, Leffingwell, you would be interested in it and want to talk about it instead of evading it in this manner! Where did you meet her, Leffingwell?"
 "Great guns!" the handsome young man exclaimed. II was going into the Blivven for lunch and as l went Tn one door she came in another and we met in. the lobby. She said how do you do and I let it go for two-and that's aIl.''
 II expect you are dying to ask her to lunch." mourned the pretty girl. You might just as we'll, because there 8 no use fighting that sort of thing 1! Sooner or later you will cease to resist and that will be the end. l am very acute observer, Prof, Thumpp says, and the moment you looked at her that day I realized what was happening ]"
 "How did I look at herr" demanded tbe seriously handsome young man with cold interest.
 .There! p sniffed the pretty girl. Didn't you know that exactly 'as a murderer loves to revisit the scene of his crime so lover likes to talk about anything at all concerned with the Ob- feet of his affections? If you didn't l like Pertulaca awfuly it wouldn't make particle of difference to you how you looked at her
 You see, everything you say just gives you away, Leffingwell, and con 1 firms all the things the psychology book says! If weren't so upset and heartbrOken it would be most interest ing! I've no doubt she's home this i minute and 1 wOuldn'k detain you for worlds, when I know you are dying to go over there and see her"
 Say !" cried the seriously handsome young man., arising to his feet and l drowning fiercely. What does this book you are quoting say that it means when man begins to smash things and tear up the scenery generally and raise cain? Because that is exactly