The Washington times., 1928-12-20
The Story Thus Far:
NOW Continue.
By WINIFRED VAN DUZER

1t was while the two were dane
ing that Mary missed her hand
bag. A small, gold-mesh thing set
with topazes. Daddy Bill had given
it to her for a graduation present
and she priced it above all her pos
sessions. Now she remembered
Junior had warned her to hang
on to it and thought perhaps she
had given it to him to carry in
his pocket. Before she could ask,
the music stopped and Iris was
floating toward them, hand idling
on her partners arm, whole figure
a-sparkle.
There was q little movement
about the table as Nell got up to
sing. Mary saw the red head bent
toward the sleek blacknes9 of
Corso's and heard Mullins say
something in a savage tone. Corso
sneered but did not reply and it
was only an instant later she
found the handbag in her lap.
She understood what had hap
pened. And when they were leav-
ing she managed a word with the
SDook.
1t seems I've won. protection.
Thank you for making him give
it back"
The tense expression she had
watched in the mirror early that
morning crossed his face. "Y'
talk too much. kid he growled.
You don't really think so?'
She couldn't help smiling at him.
Honestly, nov. do you think
/ talk too much?"
Her backward glimpse OF the
Emerald showed him standing
there, handsome as young god,
with something of puzzlement
about him as he caught her look.
But it was Iris, she knew. whom
his thought followed.
Iris quarreled with Cosmo Sned
den all the way home. Mary
felt rather sorry for him some
way, although just could not
like him. He was so awfully
certain she was impressed by
him; that every girl he saw
was. for the matter OF that. Her
cousin had told her he was sin.
fully rich and that his only oc-
cupation was being a young man
about town. Mary hated idle
ness, but Iris did not seem to
mind.
Junior sank back into cor
Tler of the limousine and slept
with his mouth open while Iris
said cutting. disagreeabIe things.
to- her fiance. .Snedden gazed
out into the deserted streets. light.
ing one cigarette at the end OF
the last, and made few answers,
but this only seemed to anger
the girl. After all, Mary thought,
he was the one to find fault
If anyone had a right to; he
had done nothing to give offense
while fris had acted Shockingly,
flirting all evening with that gun.
man.
Mary resolved to tell her cousin
all about him in the morning.
She hadn't the least doubt that
Iris intended to see him again.
1t was her way not to give up
anything which promised excite
ment until she had worn ii out.
And Iris found Mullins exciting.
His blunt. throaty speech. the
keen. sullen face and that amaz-
ing tumble of red hair-all of
these fascinated the blase child
of wealth and culture because
they were new to her.
And Mullins was fascinated,
too. Mary had seen the look in
his eyes. She would have to
tell about him now even though
it broke the tacit promise of
silence she had made him back
there in the Emerald.
Snedden raised his hat and left
them at the door and Iris rushed
up to her room without saying
good night. 1t remained for Mary
to rouse Junior, who had slumped
on the stairs. and half carry
him 70 his door.
"Y' good iii pal, Mimi. B'lieVe
me, ole Junior do someshfng