Evening star., 1928-11-18


L. especially when one is but %.
And Eileen, whose years num-
bered no more, Tapped it up with all
youths healthy appetite.
She was fashioned to achieve her full
share of it, too, being equipped with a
charming tiptilted nose, lovely, ad-
venturous mouth, and, in the wide and
collected depths of her eyes, challenge
10 all so-called lords of creation-the
unconscious yet definite challenge OF
flame to all moths.
Especially those moths found In that
oart of Chicago known as the Loop.
oop-hounds," was Eileen's generic
Justification of these, and to deal with
hem she was equipped, too.
But Jimmy Sturgis was not that sort
II moth. Eileen knew that He was
; hard Wi king, serious lad who drove
his own cab and dreamed some day Of
2peratirg a feet of taXis.
And he was a perfectly good boy
riend. The only trouble with him was
he common masculine one. At Christ
mas he gave her a wrist watch. After
hat, he began TO act as if he owned her.
And she wanted something more out
# life than a three room fat--even
With him.
The time came-in late January
ghen she told him so.
Not a lot of money, necessarily
.hough l wouldn't pass up a chance at
2 million
"Yeah-I'll bet you wouldn't" cut in
Jimmy. with exceeding bitterness.
But I do want enough to enjoy life
:, bit and not be cramped at every step"
he finished definitely.
That should have settled it. But, of
2ourse, it didn't. They still saw each
other. But she wouldn't even be en-
Gagged to him.
Nothing doing" was her unvarying
answer. You try to run me too much
2s it is"
Whereupon Jimmy, who. a moment
before, might have been making love
as passionately as Romeo could have,
would savagely assure her that she was
heartless.
But Eileen refused to get ruffied "Of
course am" she would confess equably
Il wouldn't have a chance in the world
if wasn't. I've got nobody but my
self to look after me, you know
This was true, for all that Jimmy
wanted the job terribly
"Ch-Chicago?" the aunt who had
reared her in little Michigan town
had echoed when Eileen had announced
her intention of moving thither. What
VIII you do there?"
Get me a job," Eileen had retorted
coolly.
But there are thousands of girls
looking for jobs" her aunt had pro-
tested.
There were. But not most of them,
as pretty as Eileen, or as competent.
In Chicago Eileen, then a collected,
confident 20, had got herself a Job
easily and quickly. Then she met
Jimmy, and, on this particular after
noon, they were having a quarrel,
regular stand-up and knock-down af-
fair. metaphorically, centering around
the fact that Eileen had an engagement
with man Of whom Jimmy did not
approve.
I'm telling you straight he assured
her heetedly that that guys one bad
hombre-and / don't mean maybe. A
regular Mister No-Good. If you go out
with him, I'm through. Absolutely and
forever"
The result was what any man might
have foreseen-but what no man ever
does. They had parted forever-once
more-and Eileen wouldn't have recon-
sidered Mister No-Goods invitation to
dine for anything. 1t had become a
point of honor with her.
An error that For Mister No-Good
was obviously all that Jimmy had sug-
gested and worse. She decided, even
before they reached the salad course,
that she was not going back to Chicago
with him in his car.
III walk first" she promised herself.
The possibility of its coming to that
and the problem this presented Sufficed
TO detach her from the atmosphere of
general excitement that surrounded her
and that normally would have engrossed
her.
When her escort bent toward her and
tried to kiss her. she said:
Cut that out!"
Instead he persisted, and Eileen. los
ing her temper. kicked his shin Wig
Orously.
You'll pay for that" he announced.
x X
THE orchestra, silent for a space.
swung into action, horns and piano
drums and strings blended in a rhyth-
mic barraee. From tables around them
men and girls rose. Eileen's escort
also rose, but not to dance.
Gotta telephone" he informed her
briefly, but with red hate in his ewes
Back in minute"
Ten minutes passed, twenty. before
Eileen realized what a COOP she had
been not to guess what he must have
had in mind-ducking out, leaving her
with the check to pay.
Somewhere between twenty and
thirty dollars, I'll bet," she computed
hazily, and I have dollar and some
small change"
From her handbag she drew compact
and lipstick. Opening the compact and
surveying herself in its tiny mirror, she
powdered her charming nose, coolly re-
etched the adventurous line of her love-
~ mouth. No one, to see her, would
nave guessed that, beneath the smart
little hat she wore so cockily-and dec
cratiyely-her nirnble brain was work.
ing furiously.
Even the two men who sat a few
tables removed did not suspect that.
tor all they had been watching her
this last hour.
Il tell you," announced the older,
that she's the girl we're looking for
she fits the description, and l was
told we'd probably find her in some
place like this"
'Maybe-but, if so, what's she doing
with the guy she came In with?" cut in
his companion. II tell you he's one
OF Big Mixes little bad boys. Take
your time-sit tight"
Auey edL IlSnC. ana SO ala Eileen
catching her breath in the lull before
the storm
Now, from a corner of hei eye,
Eileen saw the waiter drawing in
The gentleman who was with you"
he suggeSted-"is he coming back?"
OF course" said Eileen. He just
stepped to the telephone" Her eyes
met his squarely, coolly; yet in his sus-
picion deepened.
Hes a long time about it," he
commented. II guess I'd better speak
to the head waiter"
The head waiter appeared presently.
THE man you came with drove away
20 minutes ago." he said curtly THAT
little trick has been tried before, and
il doesn't work here. Either you pay