Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-05-20
NO36.
The Mark
By RALPH ANDRE
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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aialtd tWNU service) ft 81
JIMMY BEDFORD clenched his
= teeth to keep them from chatter
ing For weeks he had tried to sum.
mon courage to propose to Janet
Ames Il was his last chance, for to-
morrow he would sail for South Amer
lea He forced himself to look at her.
Her lips were parted, her head
cooked In that pert little way she had.
Besitehingly lovely, vibrant with
health and love of life, Infinitely
sweet and desirable she seemed.
Her bright glance caught his and
held. Something In the misty depths
or the soft brown eyes-gape ihinA--a.
breathless courage. He had wild
impulse to shout but the tightness in
his throat made his voice low and
husky. Janet . THAT Isl love
you. Will you marry mel"
She retreated a step that brought
her face into shadow. Seconds licked
into eternity, became minutes, hours,
years, before she answered. mo, jim
my, l cannot we would always
be poor can't you see, Jlmmy9
It's-it's-because you're so easy go
ing. You're just mark, dear low
able mark 3. be like Bernard Wag-
ner. No one imposes on him. He is
man Of the world and he uses mod
ern methods d. bound to sue
coed >"
A smart fellow, Wagner. He had
gone into the building contracting
business In their home town. Every
one knew that Bunny" Wagner was
conner; hard-headed business
man; a competitor who was hard to
beat. Ruthless In his methods but
popular, nevertheless Men hailed him
on the street, in clubs, everywhere.
They liked his brisk style and easy
cordially. He succeeded at every
thing he tackled.
Dumb and miserable, Jimmy
watched her; wondered If that firm
little chin would relent; knew that 1t
would not Then DULY, slowly, the
rest of her soft accusation burned In
His chin came up and the glance from
his mild blue eyes was level. His
voice was steady as he held out his
hand and said gOOd-by.
Jimmy pitched his camp on the
bleak mountalnsde where the Icy
blasts from the eternal SHOWS on the
rugged peaks Of the Bolivian Cordll-
leras hurtled down and tore savage
~ at his frall tent. He threw him
self into his work with grim purpose.
He saved his money as never before.
II became byword that anyone
could make a touch from "easygoIng
Jimmy Bedford" To his Aymara In
dams he was "Don Santiago" Est.
James). No one knew that the smll-
ing, optimistic Jimmy carried con-
| stant dull ache In his heart. He could
not forget Janet Ames, but he stub
bornly resisted an overwhelming de-
sire to write to her. The silence be-
tween them held for three heart-tear-
Ing years. At the latter end Of his
| contract he tore open letter from
Bernard Wagner with cold mlsglyings
as her last words came to him again.
"Dear Old Friend Jimmy" II be-
gan. A puzzled frown spread over
JImmy's face as his eyes strayed to
the signature at the bottom He read,
bewildered.
| IL. and II you could just let me
have a small loan-say twenty-five
"Otherwise, things have been go
Ing well for your old pal. You, OF
course, remember Janet Ames. Well,
old boy, I'm the lucky fellow {.
thought once you had the inside track
be married in June. :"
The letter dropped from Jlmmy's
cold fingers and he sat staring Z.
Home. Jimmy swung from the train
and looked about the station for his
father and mother. They would be
along He was glad to be back. He
said II several times as II II were
ritual to which he must cling. II was
nice TO see old faces, familiar sights.
Everything looked the same. Not
quite.
IFS rowing glance took In the Of
Ace and yard dlagonally across the
| street The windows we're dirty and
vacant. the yard deserted. A swing
inp right angle sign creaked noisily
in the wind. BERNARD Wagner, Con-
tractor" II said. Jimmy rubbed his
chin. "Bunny" would have moved into
tho new ten-story bank building he
had built Jlmmy's eyes strnyed to
n A block up the street II was not
vet finished It, somehow, looked
dead.
Jimmy" said tlmld voice at his
elbow
"Janetw
His heart contracted as he looked at
her with wondering eyes. She was
making brave effort although the
nIstenlng eyes belled the smile on her
sensitive mouth. Her dress was neat
but trlne shabby. Why, It was the
same one she had worn that last
night! He remembered those pink
flowers and the lacy what-you-call-it
around the top OF IT, Her shoes.
lie realized by her heightened color
that he was staring; that she was
pltlfully aware of her clothes, ana ne
looked again across the street.
"Whers's Bunny now" His voice
was wracked with pain. II sounded
thIn and metallic as It came from the
TOD Of his throat. :, d.
"He's gone. l." Her voice trailed
m aud he wheeled In amazement.
she was fumbllng In her purse. He
could only see the point OF her chin.
n was quverlng. Presently she
found what she sought and held II
opt-an envelope. Dnmbly, mechan-
icnlly he opened II and drew out q
check. II bore his signature; and on
the paper II said,
"Pay TO the order OF Bernard Wag-