The Dolores star., 1924-01-18
CHAPT ER u
The Better Half.

no 6etter nav.
Joe Invited her to such u dinner one
night In May about u month after the
directors meeting. and within Few
days Of his return from q trip to the
Northwest where he'd been engaged In
settling the last details and letting
their fax factories.
Invitations of this sort weren't 50
very frequent, and they generally had
n real occasion. He had something
he wanted to talk with her about. he
said. "Oh. it's got nothing to do with
any of this" He smiled as he added
on leaving her. I'm going to surprise
you. Jennie"
A dinner Mt Joe's fiat. whatever Its
occasion. deserved to be treated as 4
party, so she went home a little early
from the ofiice-there wasn't so very
in Il leisurely and luxurious manner In
satin frock which she had bought,
luckily. only the week before. Jennie
candldly enjoyed dressing up, and one
of her few grievances against the sort
of life she led was that II offered so
few opportunities for this indulgence.
The dinner was at seven-thirty, and
It was still broad daylight when she
parked her little coupe in the side
street nearest Joes doorway. In the
doorway she found Joe's chauffeur
waiting under his employers orders
for hpr m lriun that hn ruIpht
take her car into the garage and bring
1t around again whenever she want
ed It,
He was a prepossessIng youngster
who had taken this job on getting de-
mobllized from the army few weeks
the touch Of variety about 1t made 1t.
Jennie supposed. less unattractive to
him than most Of the berths open to
man in his position. But he was
too good, she thought, for this sort of
thlng-taking Joe's actresses on Joy
rides in the small hours of the morn
Ing. and SO on; and she made a men-
tai note, as she spoke to him, Of q
resolution to persuade Joe to dnd
something better for him to do. His
name was George Burns.
She told him her car was all right
where 1t was. and that when she was
ready to go she wouldn't mind going
out to 1t alone. so II this was to have
been his only duty for the evening he
might as well consider himself at lib
erty. He thanked her. but she
guessed from his manner that he
didn't intend to act upon her permls-
sion. In the same moment she real.
lied. and she blushed bright pink as
1t broke over her, that the boy was
shocked. That lie attrbuted--it must
be that-a sinister Interpretation to
her visit. Once or twice he'd driven
her home from the office when she'd
worked late. and they'd got to be quito
good friends. Tonight he seemed to
see her in new and rather lurid
light.
In the elevator she decided she'd
say nothing about the encounter to
Joe. at least until she'd cooled down
enough to laugh over It But he.
meeting her in the hall as the butler
opened the door for her. had 1t all out
of her in two minutes.
Good Lord, Jennie! What's tbe
matter with yOu?" he asked at sight
of her.
And to her well, what is?" he nm.
swered. You look-as II you'd Just
been kissed by n travelling man."
At that. she laughed and told him.
That's nice mess" he commented
with grin. Here, give me your
keys. And go and take of your cloak
You know the room, don't your ri
be back in a minute. No. DOM
blame him bit. It's all your fa,lt."
He had. 1t struck her. a rather
thoughtful air when he Joined he4 n
few minutes later In the drawing.room
He stood for moment little wav
Off. candidly regarding her before he
spoke.
you wear better-looking clothes
than most Of the women who have
nothing to do but buy them. How do
you manage 1t, Jennie?"
She felt that her new frock was
indicated. for 1t wasn't often he
showed the slightest consciousness Of
what she wore.
happen to be the right size to
wear models" she said. ."That's the
answer. 1t saves lot of trouble"
The right size and the right
shape." he amended. IT'S more than
your clothes that looks good to me-"
Ihere was the same quality. oddly
renect,ve for him. about his gesture.
ior as he finished speaking ne came
up and took her by both bare arms
JUST above the elbow, gently enough,
az II he merely meant to hold her
mere until the end Of his train Of
thought.