Evening star., 1925-10-13

to love- indicating something done
with. finished. ended. Yes, it is true.
! loved you. and therefore kept your
letters. I think / saved them all.
There's a nice big bunch Of them. all
tied up In baby ribbon. I looked at
them the other day and wondered
why l still kept them. Now I know.
| Yes. you've taught me to be practical.
Rolly-you've made me a business
woman. and you know what bust
ness is."
Now Waterman was no fool. He
knew when he was beaten. and the
| concentrated bitterness in the girls
ktoice convinced him Of his defeat.
Again he trimmed his sails.
You don't know Doris Colby very
! wen. / think" he said with a touch
OF irony. II fancy your psychology is
q bit behind the times. Doris is dis
tinctly up to date. Don't imagine she
expects her future husband to be an
angel OF light with downy, spotless
wings. She knows her way about. She
knows that men are flesh and blood.
and It's been long time since she be-
neVed that Santa Claus came down
| the chimney"
That may be-" responded Nina. lit
tie daunted, but I imagine that no
elri about to make a marriage would
| relish a nrSt-class, first-page breach
OF promise scandal which she could
read on the way to the altar Of ST.
Bartholomew's."
Waterman considered again. He
was not altogether unprepared for
this development. Indeed he had pre-
pared definite defense against 1t.
Now he fired tho opening gun Of that
| derense. 1t would be unfair to him
to say that he embarked upon this
course without regret, but In view Of
| all the circumstances surrounding his
present position he felt driven to It,
He knew 1t contained an element of
| risk, but he had balanced all the pros
| and cons and had made up his mind
that II worst came to worst. he would
take whatever chance there was. And,
| now that worst had indubitably come
to worst, he would take the chance
"All right, then.'' he said, ''if you re
q business woman, let's come to bust
| ness"
II mean TO-" said Nina. in a tone
that left no doubt Of her intention.
Go to Miss Colby" said Waterman,
| and tell her your sad, sad story
I mean to-" she said again.
Waterman sat on the corner OF
Stanley's desk. CROPPED for support be-
hind him with one hand among the
| litter OF papers upon the blotting pad,
and continued:
Good! Don't leave out any harrow.
| ing details: put them all ir.-mental
anguish and everything. Don't leave
| out anything that will wiring her ten
der heart with pity and stir her to
anger against the wretch who has mis-.
treated you. Go ahead. rub 1t in, pile
| It on. go as far as you like
Nina snifYed.
Don't worry about that. I'll attend
to the details"
Splendid, splendid. I have only
| one slight suggestion to make as to
the construction OF your scenario"
And what's that"
villain"
You ought to-it's your own
Yes. that's the point"
What are you getting at?'
Il suggest that you strike out the
name Of Rollin Waterman and substi.
tute the name CT James Stanley
"What?"
Precisely"
you want me to tell Miss Colby
that it is Stanley and not you?'
Exactly"
Nina had been startled to her feet
by this unexpected turn. Now she sat
down again suddenly.
Well. she said. little breath
lessly, "of all the: PERHAPS yo,,
that7"
''1'll tell you with pleasure" said
Stanley's friend. because you're a
business woman. Look here, now.
II you tell Doris Colby the truth you'll
get nothing but revenge on me-"
II expect to get something for not
telling her the TRUTH
Well. you won't get it.''
"No?"
mo. Because I haven't got it,"
She opened her mouth to speak, but
he hurried on:
mo. Listen-In practically down
and out
You're a member Of this firm" she
retorted.
"Nominally," he admitted. But my
interest Is SO small it barely gives me
a decent living. Stanley owns the
works. He's the lad with the money
always has been. What's worse, I |
owe everybody in the world. I'm short |
lot Of stocks in a bull market. I'll |
be wiped out tomorrow If the rise goes
on. In short, I'm all in. Only one
thing can save me-marriage to a rich |
woman. Well, Doris Colby is that-a
very rich woman. Now, stick by me |
and III stick by you
Nina sat a moment in somber re. |
Election. At length she said:
Il can't trust YOU"
Waterman went on swiftly, It wa
clear that he thought the battle half !
won.
You wouldn't have to-" he said.
I've got to make good with you. II I |
dont, you can queer me with Miss |
|; Colby at any time. either before or |
after our marriage. You're sitting |
very pretty. I'd say. Why, IL YOU
come in on this and we get away with |
1t you needn't do another stroke Of |
work as long as you live
He waited. but still she said nothing. |
why" he went on. "be reasonable. |
Look the facts in the face. AS things
are now
The door into tho outer office opened |
abruptly to admit Wilson.
'Oh, he said. beg pardon. Didn't |
know there was anybody here" And |
he went out again. Neither of the |
pair paid the slightest attention to |
him.
no?" "a
Still the girl was silent and, to his
surprise and CONSERVATION. he found |
that his hands were shaking.
i've got to think It over" she said |
at last.
At this there flashed through
WatermAn's mind the possibility that |
perhaps after all Nina did not know
az much as she pretended to, but this
pleasant notion was dissipated by her /
following remark.
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's StarJ