The Washington times., 1927-08-29
By Rayner SeeIig

before. there was none now-this
pale and blue-eyed girl attacked
meat after the fashion of one
who finds water in q desert
every mouthful brought tears to
her eyes. At LAST
1T don't seem right to waste
what's left, /" she said gravely. put.
ting down her fork. But ! can't
eat another mouthful." She
looked down at her hands, IT
dunno how to thank you," she
went on, "But I-well honest. /
haven't been so warm for q
month. ''I'll tell you the truth"
she went on, leaning impulsively
toward him, 81 was fearfully
hungry, see? I did q terrible
thing today. I almost took some
thing in the store, see
- that thought could sell,
to make up what ! needed for
board. What I'd Of done II you
hadn't been so good l don't know.
want to say think you're a
great guy and and :"
She clasped her hands against her
breast and looked UP at Scarlet,
And terrible chiYalrous," she con-
cluded.
Offers Her Keepsake
Gentlemen are, my dear" said
Mr.. Scarlet rather heavily, set
ting down his glass.
There's nothing a girl like me
can do for a man like YOU
noticed that her skin, sharply
%NF3 4. l. l.
scents Of her hair, was flushing
softly, but I have something /
had ever since was a baby, and
it's meant a lot to me-" From
the inside OF her blouse she took
out a flat glass locket on q rib.
bon, a tawdry, cheap thing, con-
tanning a few locks OF faded hair.
I'D like to give you this" she
said, ''for luck. and to show you
I'm thankful"
Scarlett looked at the thing,
and raised his ,ye-brows.
MY dear child, he said, ST
wouldn't take your keepsake for
the world. Your charming COM
pany has been a pleasure. /
know we'll be friends" :.
Sure we'll be friends" Becky,
scarlet with shame that her
thanks had been so negligible, al
lowed him to take her hands in
his. That's a bargain"
well my DEAR" murmured Ir.
Scarlet, shall we seal 1t with a
kiss?''
Very politely, Becky turned one
flushed cheek toward her pro-
nT1A
not being a psychologist for all
that he lived by his wits, leaned
forward, brushed the flushed
cheek with his blonde mustache,
and suddenly slipping his arm
about Becky's waist, pressed his
mouth against hers.
Defends Herself
For q second there was utter
stiffness in the room. Outside
the orchestra blared cheerily, md
down below gay couples, doing
their New Years drinking early,
laughed aloud and sped time
Eaily.
Meanwhile. in the private room
with its ornate mirorr, one Becky
McCloskey-shocked, disappointed,
but fed at last--succeeded in
freeing first one hand, the fingers
of which fastened themselves in
Mr.. Scarlett's blonde sleek hair,
and then the other, the fingers
of which struck resoundingly just
below Mr.. Scarlett's Waxed
blonde mustache.
And Mr.. Scarlet, abruptly a
gentleman no longer. growled:
"You fresh little devil! What
did you think picked you up
for?"
Becky, backing across the
room, whispered: Something de.
cent that / know now wasn't
true"
We'll, I've a mind to knock
some sense into you," said Mr..
Scarlet, thri1sting back the table,
Becky reached out and Eripped
the neck of the half filled whis.
key bottle.
Don't move, please. l don't
want to hurt you" she walled.
And, wailing. she swung the bot
tie like 4 club, showering the
floor. the ornate mirror. and her
own bedragsled clothes, with q
veritable Niagara Of Scotch.
Go Be Continued Tomorrow