The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-08-09

UP and give him this--Stein' 3
Academy on Broadway. Her.
mans a nice feller-family man.
An don't think, I'm trying you
to promote you, Miss Pope--I
know class when ] see 1t. An
the firm Pm travelin' for don't
stand for that stuff. With me
it's just social-society stuff,
understand"
Joslyn. slipped the card in her
dress. Suddenly the familiar
voice of George Ransom Yves
upon them: his wide shoulders
doomed beside the narrowness Of
Milton Stein.
How about this dance, Joslyn!
Isn't 1t miner
Ransom danced with the la.
bored earnestness OF a middle
aged lumberman, which was
what he was.
Notice anything tonight?"
Joslyn said she had not. They
strolled out into the black, vel.
vety night.
I'm not drinkin' thingi T
made up my mind wouldn't
and stuck to it, though there's
plenty around" His voice, Ill
at once, grew q bit unsteady.
''Joslyn, was 1t my drinkin' that
interfered? If you'll marry me,
I'll never touch a drop Of the
stuff till I die. I'll kiss the
Book and swear to it!''
A slow warmth gathered In her.
breast; such a warmth, Joslyn
imagined, as a mother might feel
toward her child. George Ran.
som was, despite his maturity,
oddly like a crude, half.grown
boy. But there was q stubborn
strength there, too. Sc
curity.
II don't know, George-I-"
Without warning, she was
seized, engulfed in an unre-
strained embrace. His hand was
at the back of her head; her
mouth was crushed with a fever.
ish kiss prolonged through an
eternity OF hatefulness. She was
clamped to the strained breathing
of his body.
by Heaven-you're miner
Ransona's voice was beyond con-
troll.
Frenzied strength tore her
loose. A crimson tide stained her
face; discolored something deeper
that had been always before cryst
tai clear and shameless. In one
wild gust, flash Of lightning out
of a hot cloud, Joslyn Poe under
stood the difference between girl
hood-and womanhood.
80 that's IT," she breathed. "It
would mean-that! If you ever
get me, George Ransom, you'll
have to kill me to do itw
The sound Of someone-a girl
sobbing, was muffled; yet 1t was
family heard through the thin
wall Of the rooming house. In
the adjoining room Kitty Lane
put, down the hair brush with
which she had been imparting
vigorous sheen to her modish
golden bob. Slim and pert, Kittie
Lane realized that her hair was
the trickiest feature In her stock
Of still youthful physical attrac-
ton; its grooming was something
OF a holy rite.
Dismal Cry.
The sobbing next door went on.
Kittie had heard it before in New
York roomfng houses. It was
very soft but very dismal.
Kittie put down her brush. Oh,
Lord, she exclaimed, in exaspera-
ton. There had been a girl once
who had sobbed that way before
she turned on the gas. Clutch.
ing her kimono, Kittie stepped
outside and ratified her neighbours
door.
Say, you, in there-can I come
in a minute?"
Abruptly the sobbing ceased;
there was no answer to the query.
Minor points of etiquette were
negligible in Kitties busy life.
She pushed the door open. The
girl on the bed lifted a wet.
startled face. Eagle eyed, Kittie
gllmpsed the cheap suit case and
the scanty array of toilet accesso.
RES on the vanished bureau.
WHATS the matter, Kid? Trou-
BILE with the sweetie?"
The girl came to her feet, dab
bing at her eyes. II had no idea
you could hear me. L"
Never mind the alibi, dear, I
bunk next door and a wink can
be heard through these walls. I
ouSHS hldyus you was crying
off q bun and a wet towel was
needed on the bean, but I see
you're stone sober"
The erstwhile weeper smiled
damply. II don't drink" she said
feebly. IT reckon I was Just a
little blue. New York is"
big and hard boiled" Kittie
supplied, "sure-I know. 1t
panicked me too when first hit"
Her eyes teeh in the style Of the