Evening star., 1932-11-25
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DAWSON

ut is not" Oak adjusted his tie. by
the rules of the game we ought to hate
each other. We don't"
He waited to be confirmed.
II like you, Give; you've given me
reason to like you. When you allowed
your wife to check me up this Sum-
mer, I can imagine how much your
magnanimity cost. It's my turn to be
magnanimous-tit for tat
He crossed the room to the chair in
which Santa was sitting, with Give
still perched on the arm beside her.
Don't be self-righteous I failed
Santa. If help her in her effort to
help you, 1 repay little Of my debt"
"Clive sees thing differently now"
Santa seized a hand of either. I'm
sure don't know how deserved"
Go on" Oak urged.
"Clive might not like it."
IT shan't mind" Give encouraged.
She laughed emotionally.
How I deserved two such good men"
The door had closed behind Oak. In
I'm so glad that's settled"
$50 am I, Santa
"You said that queerly, dearest"
He raised her face and kissed her
solemnly
Little woman"
But what do you mean, Clive?"
"That after this evening, more than
ever, I can't accept"
She stared at him without anger.
"Why?"
A thousand reasons rushed across his
mind, which concentrated in one rea-
son.
"The way he looked at you. He
knows as much about you as I do"
She retreated. When some minutes
later he went to join her, the door was
locked. He tapped. No answer. That
night with coats and cushions he con-
trived for himself a maKe-shift bed on
the couch
Unrefreshed, he rose early and left
the apartment without seeing her.
There was only one way now In which
he could win her respect.
A few minutes after Mr.. CleaSby had
entered his Office Give was shown in.
Mr. Cleasby glanced UP, frowning over
his spectacles.
Whats the matter, my boy? You
ON park bench.
ITS that job, sir. I can't take 1t.
You said something about letting you
know If didn't"
What I said was If you didn't we
might come to an arrangement. How
much do you consider you're worth?"
They sat and chatted till the mail
was brought in. Mr.. Cleasby cut short
the interview.
when do you want to startp"
To-day, sir, II 1t suits YOU"
Back at his old desk, in the atmos-
phere of routine, fears by which he
had been menaced retreated. His hand
itched to telephone Santa; he fought
of the temptation.
AS he was approaching the apart
ment house, whom should he see but
OAK going in the same direction. Now
that he was quit Of his predecessors
philanthropies. he, bore him no ami
mostly He could see even the comic
side of the encounter.
Hello, good Samaritan" He clapped
him on the shoulder.
Oak started.
Look here, old man. think you're
making a great mistake
We'll, save your breath. You can
say it all before Santa"
This time she was in the hall waiting.
Seeing her husband and ex-husbar1d
enter together she jumped to conclu-
sions.
you've accepted"
Taking her two hands, Give raised
them to his lips.
st have"
Darling" she clung to him, Eve
been horrid to you; but 1t was for your
own good"
But you've not heard what I've ac-
cepted; a salary Of twelve thousand
dollars from old Cleasby-two thousand
more than your friend here promised" !"
well, I'll be darnedl" Tears flowed
with laughter. She turned to Dicky.
"You old slave-driver! What do you
mean by trying to buy my husband
for less than market?"
"This calls for celebration" he an
r1ounced. What form shall 1t take?
A dinner and theatera"
New York was treated to the spec