San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-12

The Making Of
a Husband
Ann Lisle' s N eW
Phase of Jim and
Amme's Marital
y Adventure
By ANN Isle
By ANN Isle
Chapter IFS.

Copyright. 1925. King Feature Syn. Inc.
Il think you'resgreat!" said, bend.
ing over the astonished Nicholas Perry
and giving his auburn hair a tweak.
I'm delighted with your news. But
think its up to you to break it to
Jeanie',-
II can't!" Nicholas Perry cut In
pieadingly. Don't ask me to tell that
poor little thing that I'm not inter.
ested in her-the way she wants me
How do you know what way she
wants you to be interested" / asked
inexorably.
"You see, she had to tell some one
about Pat-and Miss De Courcey--
and Jim's heroic attempts TO shield
her from the knowledge of the truth"
Nicholas Perry explained. thus clear
ing up great deal that had puzzled
me. Il was the only person to whom
she could talk. so she confided in me.
l pitled her. could understand her
humiliation. l liked her. I played
up. 1 knew 1t would restore her self
respect to feel that she could count on
me-
$50 you let her think you loved
her." suggested, feeling that Nicholas
Perry could do nothing more helpful
and healthful than to stand off and
get a perspective on himself and the
situation.
I'm not conceited fool" protest
ed Mr.. Perry.
"No, but women do find you at.
tractive."
stop making fun Of me-"
I'm not" ! said sedately. "Jeanie
finds you attractive. Your old house.
keeper, Mrs. Cruikshank. worships
you. And little Arlette-"
Nicholas Perry stopped me with a
gesture that was commanding in its
simplicity.
"My house-keeper spoils me. NY
little Arlette worships me-" he said
quietly. "And Jeanie dramatized her
self, the situation-and me. She be-
= gan by wanting to show Pat where he
got off. She was thinking Of making
him jealous long before she thought
of-caring for me. And it's on that !
want TO count at this crucial moment"
"Let me get II straight" I said. II
had It so remarkably wrong. I thought
you were sending me to jeanne to
plead with her TO stand by you-in
your hour OF need"
A hoarse laugh interrupted me.
"You thought ] was as much OF a
. cad as that" protested Nicholas Perry.
"You thought I'd send for Jeanne and
try 70 attach her to me by claiming
had-earned her devotion. You
thought in case I turned out to be n
MANNED hulk with my profession gone
and my hands frozen off, I'd want to
tie Jeanie to--that!"
ut sounded that way" I confessed.
II apologize Forgetting you so
wrong"
An odd choked sob interrupted me.
"I'm o worse cad than you think.
I got Jeanne TO care for me. I played
on her loneliness and bitterness and
confidence. made her feel she could
count on me. She forgot to be humil-
lated over Pats philanderings because
she had another mans devotion-my
devotion. And now I'm sending you
to her to tell her I don't care"
"But she doesn't" ! BEGAN. only to
be interrupted by Mr.. Perry who was
so intent on his own theory of the
case that he couldn't stop and listen to
mine.
"Because we an idea that I may be
MANNED or crippled. think life ought
to make it IN to me in any other way
| claim. I've always been determined
to let little Arlettc 20 scot-free. l
knew that in her position in my house
with her worship of beauty and art
and my paintings to impress her. !
could have taken all her youth and
sweetness have to offer. But l am
over 40 and she is seventeen. II
didn't seem fair. / let her 20. l
amused myself with others. ] said they
were able TO take care of themselves.
But now I'm going to bumiliate and
torture a woman. And ] haven't the
courage to do it myself. I'm sending
you-" :,
"what do you mean!' he demand
or. 4,
'I'm going to send Jeanie to you"
/ replied.
"You mean-I've got to tell her,
that I don't want her love and devo-
tion-that | was glad to play with her
when was free, active. well man
but that now Tina hulk, don't
want her hanging around? I've got
to tell her that?"
mot Just that" ] began. but
Nicholas Perry broke in again to
ave got to-break her hearth"
ITO be COntinuen