Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-23
CHAPTER XII

Then, even as she was given thanks
10 the gods of luck that were keeping
ills thoughts away from her trou-
bies, Professor lie Tarte, either with
malice aforethought or in his at
tempt to be witty, gave utterance TO
the silly remark that WHO'S lucky in
gambling in unlucky In nvel"
you supid!" Kissed Mike, whirl-
ing on him as If she meant to scratch
his eyes out or bite off ar ear at
least, what d'yuh wanta do-start
something? Or is il that you think
you're clever?"
"0h-Le Tarte didn't mean to hurt
me. Nike" i~nterposed Jill, with a
friendliness of tone and a smile that
embraced both of them. lit was just
that he misquoted tn thing, that's
all. C'mon, get back in tn game
and keep it hot. We're gonna break
tn bank! Here, Professor, iii stake
you. Try your luck with these!"
She dropped five Of the yellow
checks in his handi
Nike looked at the woman she had
once derided as a piker, and her eyes
grew dim with a hazy mist.
"I'm beginning TO understand what
Father Pat meant she said 10 no
body in particular, when he told
Dad and ] that the poor people of
Elliston would be a happy lot if Jill
Stuart had a pocketbook half the
size of here heart."
Jack Stuart cast a bored glance
out over the assemblage of daringly
gowned women and girls and their
escorts, some of whom were CARRIED
in dinner garments, but the major
ity, like himself, wearing business
clothes. These scene held no interest
for him that night. He wanted TO
get back home with Jill and the kids.
His gaze came back to his table
companion.
III YOU could tell me, Nita," he
said, speaking in all seriousness,
who It was that gave me that bum
steer about Tony, Id rise up and call
you blessed! I'm sure / never heard
his voice before. And you're sure
that you spoke with Tony himself"
Il spoke directly to him aud he
answered me-" replied Nita Ravelie,
with perfect candor and truth. HE
was in Fanny Tenants apartment,
which, as you know, is just across
the hall from mine In the Hirch
block. Fam and Jessie Barnes were
there and so was Eddie Baker and
Jim Blake. You know both their
voices, so il couldn't have been
either Jim or Eddie. Besides, jim
has told you il wasn't him. But ]
know Tony had no intention Of leav-
ing Fanny's for ut least two hours,
81. h. ~.s1 -. IL = sl..l w.Ao-
Jim and | left TO come out here"
well" said Jack. with sudden de.
cision as he looked at his watch
"it's 1880. I'm going homel"
"But jack" exclaimed Nita pro.
testingly, what am / going Il do
! can't take a chance riding back ia
town with Jim Blake. intoxicated as
he is. And he would let me drive
you know who he is Oh, there he
ome now! I'm going TO tell him
you're taking be homei"
Before he could make any reply
to her announcement the subject OF
their discussion-or here, rather-a
young, ~heavy-set man with dubious
nose indicative of a chummy &C
quaintance with bootleggers. reeled
up to their table, caught its edge
with both hands, and then dropped
into a vacant chair. Almost imme-
diately his head fell over on one side
and he vas snoring. The girl looked
at the sprawling figure, her mouth
curling with disgust.
ANY mar who'yy allow himself 10
get as drunk as that has no right to
take a woman TO a place like this
she asserted, with n righteous in
dignation none could deny. "You
don't mind, do you. Jack, il ! ride
with your" I'd walk before Id ride
with a thing like that"
He laughed. but il was a forced
laugh. He did not, as a matter Of
truth, favor the idea Of Nita Ravelle
riding with him back to Elliston. He