The Bismarck tribune., 1929-04-08
DEWEY GROVES
RUTH

"You oughtn't to say that unless
you know something against him" ;"
Harold objected. HE seems o. K. to
me. Takes his drinks and his losses
like q gentleman q they used to
say. Pretty decent sort with the girls.
too. I watched Pamela work. She
tried her darndest to make him start
something. but he kept Is cool as any
man could.
"Oh, well :" Mildred despaired
Of convincing him that Huck was
dangerous. He could have no con-
ception Of man whose emotionalism
was buried so deep that q pretty girl
could not awaken it against his will,
she realized.
Il suppose you'd like to ask me to
co." Harold said as Mildred hesitated
over warning him any further against
Huck.
"oh. no." she answered quickly;
please stay"
Harold scowled darkly. "Want to
play me against Armitage?" he asked
suspiciously.
Don't be SO stupid" Mildred told
him impatiently, hoping he wouldn't
want to make an issue Of the matter.
She feared to have him 60 now, after
the scene they'd been through. feared
that his jealous hopeless mood would
lead him into dissipation. But she
knew II he guessed what was on her
mind he would 80.
II tell you Mr.. Armitage IS nothing
more than q mere acquaintance to
me-" she said earnestly.
"Then you might have told him you
were just starting for China or Bag
dad"
Mildred smiled. Having no serious
designs upon either you or Mr.. Armi-
tage, didn't see why we couldn't
have q party" she said sweetly. "Get
busy and sec II you can't bring in
something on our set while I change,
will you? That's q DEAR"
Dear enemy from now on" Harold
grumbled. II still think I'm q sap to
stay"
"A fine friend you would be to
leave" Mildred called back from the
door. "5te Mr.. ArmitaSe might
meet you on the way out and think
I'd cleared the deck for him."
wouldn't that be too devastating?
Harold jeered, but Mildred was gone.
"A mere acquaintance! A string Of
ha.has."
His sarcasm failed to ease the ache
in his heart, however, and when Mil
dred came back, looking charming IN
the new dress she had bought to wear
to the theater with Stephen, Harold
cursed Stephen Armitage silently and
fluently. Suddenly he knew that he
couldn't stay and watch her being
agreeable to him.
I'm going to clear out" he said
firmly.
Mildred vainly urged him to stay
but In her heart she knew she'e
rather be alone with Stephen.
Still, she worried over Harold unit
Stephen rang the doorbell: then sh,
completely forgot him.
She opened the door herself, fol
her mother was busy with mendinf
In her room. She said good evening
just as she would to anyone ct al
who wasn't unwelcome, but stephel
saw something In her starry eyes ant
flushed cheeks that spoke . warmel
welcome.
Mildred put out q hand and he tool
1t. Then he kissed her. She did no
utter q sound or squirm from hi
grasp, but when he released her sl
caught her breath and stood off from
him In wordless confusion while eh
fought for calm.
Stephen looked 1t her question
ingly. His impetuous act had sur
prised him as we'll o. her. He l1a.
not planned to kiss her. She ha'
looked Irresistible, and he had not re
sisted. He expected anything the
except what actually happened.
| I'm sorry you did that" Mildre
said quietly, and Stephen had sens
enough to know that she meant It.
made him feel awkward, and the awk
wardness was uncomfortable. Dcin
uncomfortable, he said the wron
thing.
Didn't you like it?"
would It surprise you to kno,
that didn't2" Mildred rctorted nc
altogether truthfully.
| The caress would lay sweet upo
her lips as long IS memory lastet
but back Of the sweetness Just no
there was lighted the fire Of outrage
pride. He'd somehow managed
make her feel cheap. It might be h
way to kiss every girl he knew, an
Mildred told herself she wouldn't
kissed by . man like that. She b<
lieyed that kisses were only what yo
made them. cheap ~ dirt or pricelel
as pearls.
Stephen was I,onplussed. He WASH
used to drama with his kisses. Mi
dred saw him glance 1T the door. 81
felt like telling him to 50 Il he wantl
to, but her mother chose that ilistal
to step from her room into the
presence.
ITO De Continued)