The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-01

He walked down the avenue Al
rapidly as possible. his hands tr
his pockets. his head bent to the
wind, no longer transported: tore
ing his mind to dwell on the warmth
Of his rooms and his bed.
His head ached. He'd 60 to the OF
fee tomorrow and write his column
there. Then think things out
How was he to win such a woman
Make her sure of herself? Conver,
her doubts into q passionate GER
tainty? She, with her highly tech
nical past! Make no mistakes? II
he made q precipitate ass of him.
self-what comparisons!
His warm bed the complete
and personal isolation OF his rooms
|. he had never given even q
tea to women he gave his
dinners in restaurants. How
many more blocks? The snow was
thicker. He couldn't even see the
arcade Of Madison Square Garden,
although q faint dinfused radiance
high in the air was no doubt the
crown Of lights on the Metropolis.
tan Tower. Had he made q
wrong move in bolting-"
His thoughts and counter.
thoughts came to an abrupt end.
At the corner Of Thirtieth street
he collided with q small figure In
a fur coat and nearly knocked 1t
over. He was for striding on with
a muttered apology, when the girl
caught him by the arm with light
laugh.
Lee Claveringl What luck! Take
me home"
He was looking down into the
dark naughty little face Of Janet
Ogethorpe. granddaughter OF the
redoubtable Jane.
What on earth are you doing
here?" he asked stupidity.
Perhaps I'll tell you and per.
haps won't. On second thoughts
don't take me home. Take me to
one Of those all-night restaurants.
That's just the one thing haven't
seen, and I'm hungry"
He subt1y became an uncle. "I'll
do nothing of the sort. You ought
to be ashamed Of yourself-alone
in the streets at this hour of the
night. 1t must be one o'clock. I
shall take you home. l suppose
you have a latch-key. but for two
cents I'd ring the bell and hand you
over to your mother"
Mother went to Florida today
and dads duck hunting in South
Carolina. Aunt Mollie's too deaf
% hear doorbelis and believes any.
hing I tell her."
Il am astonished that your
mother left you behind to your own
devices" Il
Il wouldn't go. She's given me
ip-used to my devices. Besides,
rye one or two on her and she
doesn't dare give me away to dad.
He thinks I'm darling spoilt child.
Not that I'd mind much II he didn't.
but it's more convenient"
"You little wretch!. believe
you've been drinking"
$50 l have! So I have! But
rye got an asbestos lining and
could stand another tall one. Ah!"
Her eyes sparkled. Suppose you
take me to your rooms"
"I'll take you home"
you'll take me to one Of those
all-nighters-"
II shall not"
"Then ia ia! I'll 60 home by
myself. I've had too good a time
tonight to bother with old fogies."
She started up. the street and
Clavering hesitated but q moment.
Her home was on East .Sixty-fifth
street. Heaven only knew what
might happen to her. Moreover.
although her mother was one Of
those women whose Unsuitable de-
mand for admiration bored him. he
had no more devoted friends than
her father and her grandmother.
furthermore, his curiosity was
reused. What had the little devil
been up to?
He overlook the Oglethorpe flap
per and seizing her hand drew It
through his arm.
"I'll take you where you can get
q sandwich" he said. "But I'll not
take you to a restaurant Too like
~ to meet newspaper men,"
Anything to drink?"'
ice cream soda"
Good Lord!"
"You needn't drink It.. But you'll
get nothing else. Come along. or
I'll pick you up and carry you to
the nearest garage"
She trotted obediently beside
him. a fragile dainty figure: car
ried Imply. however. and little
more distinguished than flappers Of
inferior origin. He led her to a
rather luxurious delicatessen not
far from his hotel, kept by enter.
prising Italians who never closed
their doors. They seated them
selves uncomfortably at the high
counter. and the, sleepy attendant
served them with sandwiches. then
.o&iaa - IL