The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-02-24


best detectives on the force?"
"Well, the chief as good as told me
that last week, and they raised my
pay. But being on the police force
doesn't strike Stella as being quite
heightened enough. She asked me If
/ couldn't get into the bank, or go into
brokerage or something"
brokerage" shifted his sister.
"She'd rather you'd make money-or
rather swipe somebody else's money
that way than get 1t honestly the way
you're doing"
"No! MOI" ne broke in emphatical-
~. "Stella is as honest and as straight
as a debut"
But she's a snobbish little fool"
'Mary!" he flashed out. You know
/ won't stand hearing a word against
Stella! You've got it out of me, and
you've known all along she's the only
girl in the world for me-"
Eyes, John, l didn't mean to hurt
you. But I haven't any patience with
such notions. Just because her grand
was ulhtI, SHC SNCAlio
to think she ought to marry a banker
or a corporation lawyer at the least.
Her father squandered every penny
they had, and they've been poorer than
Jobs turkey all their lives"
"Well, you know what's bred in the
bone,'" began John.
That's all right" broke in Mrs.
Frink, "but any girl who don't care
enough for you to take you just as
you are, isn't worth thinking about"
"Oh, but she's worth it She's bit
notional about that one thing, perhaps,
but she suits me-" said John with the
usual lovers enthusiasm.
"Oh dear!" thought his sister, as he
went out. 81 just wish something
would happen to bring him to his
senses"
Meanwhile Stella Barker, all uncon-
scious of the wish hanging over her,
went her way with the thoughtless-
ness and inccnsequential ways Of
youth in general. She loved John, but
not with the understanding and depth
of women of more experience in the
world might have done. She was only
eighteen, very romantic, and a silly,
shallow mother had not contributed
much of real worth to her education.
Only about two weeks after the talk
between John and his sister, a letter
came to Stella telling her she had in
herited about forty thousand dollars
through the death Of distant rela-
tive. 1t was not an enormous sum, as
fortunes 90 these days, but enough to
draw around the girl a good many new
acquaintances, and would-be suitors.
There had never been anything more
than kind of tacit understanding be-
tween John and Stella, but the young
man had never given up his determine
ton to win her.
The change in Stellas fortunes
seemed somehow to also alter their
relations He could never get any
meant that she should now see some
real society,"" and entertaining alb
sorbed the two completely. Even q
more sensible young head than Stella's
might have been a.trifle turned by the
new order of things.
A new admirer of Stella's named
Cecil Brent began to pay very assid-
uous attentions. Mrs. Barker regard
ed him with favor His manners were
so polished, 80 English" she was sure
hn RI thinl faD1.
fly" Brent was certainly something
of a dashing figure. Good looking, ex-
ceedingly well dressed, of ready wit,
and pleasing address, he might have
captivated much more sophisticated
young woman than Stella. He took
her to the theater and suppers few
times, and spent money freely.
John felt that the time had come
for an understanding. If Stella pre-
ferred this man to him, he must know
1t. He came in his usual straight
forward way, and asked her If she
was engaged to Brent.
Stella looked a bit conscious; then
she laughingly asked: "What makes
you think SOP
"Well you're going about with him
a great deal, and"
"And what?" she smiled.
"Most anyone would think so.'
Some vanity, and good deal of
deviltry, natural to almost all young
things, came to the surface.
LET them think so If they like"
nv,
"Why Johnl" she parted. Does 1t
really make much difference to you"
'Does it make much difference to
meT he repeated in slow amazement.
"Why you know 1t does!'
"I-don't know how was to know
It," she again parted. "And anyway
suppose did. What is the harm in
having a good timer"
mo HARM" said John. But with
him-I don't see how you can"
"What have you to say against Mr..
Brentf" she asked Indignantly.
"He doesn't ring true, he is not what
he seemsl'
"Oh!" she answered with pointed
sarcasm. us that your acute detec-
tive talent, or Just simple, unadulter
ated jealousy?"
Neither one. Ordinary common
sense"
"In which ] must be woefully lack.
ing" she added.