The Dolores star., 1924-04-04

Echoed.
| first night we had dinner after came
| back. Down at the restaurant-re
member? | thought if | could prove
to you that he was running with some
body else you'd quit thinking about
| him. That's why told the agency to
| look him up. | never thought they'd
get you with him."
"Why nOt?' she asked Her re son
had accepted his explanation as about
| half true. ''Why shouldn't 1t have
| been me?"
His face darkencd. "Why not?" he
echoed. Because / couldn't believe
it of you. | couldn't believe that a
| daughter of mine could ever lower
herself to be the private snap OF dis
charged chauffeur. Why, good God
Trix. when l read that paper this
morning in Nathan's office-some-
thing queer happened to me. | didn't
know where | was. ] don't know now
where l went after ! left there. until
the car hit me When l came to
| been a kind of nightmare that I'd had
since l got hurt-going to Nathan's
| office and reading that id paper
and all. And when you put your face
| down on my hand while ago and said
you-you wanted me to love you
again"
His voice broke at that, and she felt
the tears coming up into her eyes.
''Trix," he cried at sight of them.
Tell me it isn't true-the stun in
| that paper. Tell me it's lie from
beginning to end. Say the bare word
and I'll believe you, even now!"
She took him up. ut isn't true"
she said, quietly.
AT the blankly incredulous stare this
drew from him she uttered short
laugh. "What II says is true." she
went on. But what that detective
thinks, isn't true. Nor what you think,
either. George is in love with me, but
he wants to marry me. ! didn't know
whether wanted to marry him or not.
but I'm going TO now
There was long silence bet zen
them after that. She knew it for lull
rather than the end, hut she waited
comfortably. feeling very solid AMI in
gincible. She'd never said outright
before-even to herself-that she was
going to marry George, and the declar.
alton steadied her.
..If that's true" her father began
at last, but he flinched under her
smile and revised the sentence. "As
long as that's true. say the word and
I'll buy tickets tomorrow for a trip
abroad. Mediterranean cruise Al.
giers-Cairo; ride around on cames
and things. We could start right after
Christmas. | could get away by then
think"
Her momentary security collapsed
1t was n dazzling bribe he offered
Travel, adventure. bright colors in the
sunshine, hot sands, camels. But he
didn't stop there: hardly paused.
81 wish we could start tomorrow
It's this next couple of months
That's only half the bargain, Trix
You'll have TO cut this other business
out, absolutely. No tapering off witt
last farewells and that sort Of stun
You've been on thin ice-and II yor
have got by SO far. it's just a plair
miracle. Take my word for that.
know how those things 60"
II suppose you do she said, re
fectively. and this stopped him short
with dull flush and n shifting of the
eyes. II wonder" she persisted, "it
you ever saved girl-against her
self, the way George has saved me-"
Drop that line. right there!' h,
commanded. THAT isn't decent"
. II wasn't trying to be decent" sh,
said, listlessly. "but that's as you like
) Only I don't see why you should be $,
down on me marrying him."
Then you don't read the papers
Good Lord Trix, you're out Of you