Evening star., 1926-04-11


The truth, nevertheless, was that he
wanted her to tell him that she loved
him and always would love him and
that he was a silly-billy and that she
was sure the carburetor would be a
success and that she didn't care II 1t
wasn't. And that she'd like to see
him try to get rid Of her!
Instead, he saw q taxi stop in front
Of her house. And second later he
saw red, green and purple. Jealousy
strikes as swiftly as lightning, and as
devastatingly.
so that, he thought. "is what
she's up tor"
OF his proximity, Marge, watching
est premonition.
"Who," demanded Jimmy, without
preface, twas in that carr"
Marge turned on him Indignantly.
"yVhy, Jimmy Norris!' she snapped.
Don't you ever creep up in back of
me like that again. You startled the
life out of me-"
"Ill say / did," he agreed misan.
thropically. Had no idea 1 was
around, did you? No wonder you put
me on the shelf! You work on your
invention, jimmy" His voice
pitched to savage mimicry. "'I won't
mind, dear I'll say you don't!'
Marge stared at him. "Why, Jimmy
Norris! Have you gone out of your
SenseS?"
mo, I'm just coming to them, thank
You! Go on! Explain! I suppose
didn't see you put your head in so
that he could kiss your
kiss me-" The light cast by the
street lamp shone on her utter be-
Wilderment.
"You do it well! But 1 tell you /
saw you"
You're crazy?' was all that she
could gasp.
i've been crazy, you mean. Crazy
enough to work night and day while
you play around with somebody else.
Well, I'm through"
This was not as he had intended to
say it, but at least it was the sub
stance. AS for Marge, her eyes
flashed the while her pretty lips tight
didn't love him. The only feeling she
had for him was the desire to hurt
him, horribly. And so. controlling
herself, she spoke with misleading
sweetness.
You're right" she acquiesced,
We've both been crazy. But l know
better now"
And then the engagement ring slip
ped off her finger. Jimmy blinked,
then swallowed as It dropped into his
hand.
The front door slammed behind her.
UWHERE is Jimmy these days?"
w her mother asked, when his alb
sence finally percolated.
"I haven't the slightest idea where
he is and I don't care" Marge as
sured her icily.
"I can tell you," announced Bar
bara, too smugly. HE was at the
movie last night with Mabel Edmunds.
He's got a new car, too-a peach. -"
That was true. all of 1t. The new
car had been bought by Jimmy in a
dark moment when he pictured Marge
riding around IN taxis with persons
as police say-unknown. The car had
classy lines and he, could tune the
engine up. Anyway. 1t was a bargain
and he'd show Marge. And If, as
was possible, he used Mabel Edmunds
to the same ends, why-well, Mabel
was the sort that grabs every man in
sight and so her feelings were not
to be considered.
The very day after Barbara bore
news Of him Marge saw Jimmy. the
new car and Mabel Edmunds, all to-
gether. And she wished nightly
that there had been somebody in the
taxi that night and that she had
kissed him.
The next day at noon she crossed
to the bank where she deposited.
1.-Two hundred, If you please" she
said to the paying teller. And added,
with a smile, mice new bills. please.
I'm going shopping"
Clothes may not make the man, but
they make any woman feel better.
'Well, will you look who's here"
exclaimed the switchboard operator
later that same day. Say, grille.
when you threw over that inventor I
thought you were headed for an early
decline. But signs of life? I'll say
so. Where did you get that hat and
that
But Marge ignored her. Edward
Dodge, she saw, was lowering about
her desk.
"How do you do!' she said breath
lessly. Were you looking for me?
You've been away, haven't you?"
II am looking for you," he
acknowledged. And I have been
away. I went the morning after I
overworked you SO mercilessly. And
I've wondered since how you sur.
vived."
"Oh, that was nothing" Marge re-
assured him. 1.-THE taxi more than
made up for it,"
The taxi that had cost her Jimmy.
But she was not thinking of him
then. In Edward Dodge's eyes there
was something that made her pulse
quicken.
ITS the hat" she surmised
shrewdly.
"Do you know-you look like
Patricia Collinge," remarked Edward
Dodge suddenly and for him impetu
ously. HAS anybody ever told you
so?"
No one ever had, she confessed. Nor
had she, she admitted, noticed any
such resemblance herself. She had
not indeed even seen Patricia Col
linge.
'I haven't been to the theater fo1
ages" she explained. and then. fear
ing he might think she was limiting
she added quickly, II don't really
have such an awful lot of time, you
See."
IT rather suspected it wasn't fol
| lack Of invitation" he ventured.
"Few that I'd care to accept" she
| flashed back at him.
She turned to take off her hat. As
she faced him again he said:
IT wonder If I couldn't persuade
you to come with me some evening
with your mother, Of course" The
invitation surprised him as much az
| it did her.
She had been about to refuse, but
she paused for second thought
And-well. second thought may bt
wise, but it's results are not com
mendable. For Marge, reconsidering
remembered Jimmy - Jimmy. wht
was running around with Mabel Ed
munds. If Jimmy thought she cared
she'd show him.
"I think" she finished, "that it.:
awfully good Of you, and I'll be glat
! to-"
X X * *
| n xrn1rId throw fhl