New Britain herald., 1925-12-31

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Barbara plunged into the days
work. attempting not to think OF
Fancy or Jerome or OF Nioletta or
Bruce. That afternoon her lovelorn
column contained the last letter
from Violetta, with Winnifred's ad-
dress to this effect;
you should stand by your
husband and try TO help him
weather his business troubles
! You don't want him TO think
you gold-digger, do you?
! u am sure ] cannot say
/ whether all women can love
! second time as well as the first.
can only say that there are
many women who cannot, And
there are many women who
never really love at ALL"
At four-thirty Barbara approached
the city desk. I'D like to so home
now. Mr.. Wells. ! have an important
engagement and my work is fin
ished"
Wells gave her a curt nod and
went on scratching copy.
Barbara reached home shortly
! after five. She washed her face
and hands and changed her dress.
Then she sat down In the living
room 10 wait
At five-thirty the doorbell rang
and she opened the door TO jerome
Ball.
He was looking particularly swag-
ger and good humorcd. He laid
aside his hat and cane with a lordly
gesture. by jove, Babs, this is
great to be here. | never thought
you'd call up your old pal and invite
him round"
Barbara detected note of anxiety
beneath the flippant words. y
wouldn't have, Jerome, without good
cause"
"Cause?" Jerome lit cigaret, and
then with elaborate politeness offer
ed her one. She shook her head.
Yes, cause. There's no use play
ing dead in this matter. Jerome. /
know your game. In short, the
sooner you stop running around
with Fancy McDermott. tn" better
for both of you"
jerome raised his eyebrows. "'Zat
so?" he Knocked. And who was it
said so?"
Barbara waved his insolence
aside. III you don't drop out of
sight as far as Fancy is concerned,
| shall tell her father all ! know
about YOU" she persisted. "And ]
don't think even your impudence Is
a match for him. I'd hate to have
TO bother him. but Of course. I'll do
it, If there's no other way out"
Jerome seemed to be enjoying his
cigaret. Now dafivdil. be reason
able"
| The name maddcned her. She
turned on him. Don't try to bluff
me, Jerome" she warned. Just as
certainly as you keep up your at
tentions to Fancy, I shall tell her
father everything I know about
you"
And what. pray, is that? Merely
that I've flirted a bit and drunk a
little and generally enjoyed myself,
in a comparatively respectable way.
You can't hang fellow on that. you
| know. Anyhow, the day is gone
when fathers have such almighty
power over their daughters. Bring
on your McDermott. I'll meet him"
Barbara Strengthened her shout
ders. I'm not pretending TO know
anything heinous about'you. Jerome.
This isn't blackmail. But know
you're heartless and tickle where
women are concerned. And ! know
that kid like Fancy has no chance
of holding you for more than few
weeks.
1T looks to me as though she
we're rather seriously smitten with
you. Oh. you have manner, you
know-and that's enough to get wo-
men.
But you took that child last
night 10 roadhouse that is distinct
ly question: bic. You drank whisky
here with her before you left. Oh.
yes you did found the glasses.
And you brought her home after
one o'clock In state Of exhaustion
and nerves that kept her In bed all
morning.
"This sort Of thing simply can't
go on"
Jerome looked at her. half-smil-
t. popharn
You're one Of those damnable Wo-
men who take 1t on themselves to
plot out the course OF the universe
and then see that II goes according
to the plan.
WHO DO you think you are to
interfere with my happiness or
Fancy's either?
I'll admit I'm fond OF her. and
I think she's decidedly fond Of me.
Maybe you'll realize that do care
for her when ] tell you that I've
broken with Angela. Angela's d
pale. spineless namby pamby beside
Fancy. I tell you that kids a
knockout, all fire and 50. And looks ?
Lord Almighty"
Barbara was holding her temper
with difficulty. mo. Jerome" she
said. 'it doesn't comfort me to know
you've turned down the other girl
for Fancy. That sort OF thing Is a
mere episode In you long career.
The ladies you've turned down for
other ladies would stretch from here
to Harlan. If placed side by side,
Fanoy'll have her turn and then 60
, ike the rest
Jerome shifted in his chair. We'll,
is there anything more to say? Guess
I'll be rambling along"
No" answered Barbara. there's
nothing more TO say. but there are
things to do"
Jerome laughed, his head thrown
back. They heard the door open be-
hind them. Fancy stepped into the
} room.
She gave them a startled look