Evening star., 1932-08-19


lad tainted.
| ness man could not justify by any
amount of sentimentality. And after all,
Jean was better and perfectly cared for.
| She would be there in his home when
! he returned, and well on her way to
convalescence They would have plenty
of time to get acquainted then and he
would hear her explanation of her
! strange conduct.
Send me a daily report of her con-
dition to this address, he told the nurse.
| giving her a card. land remember
am leaving her in your charge, not Mrs.
Robbins. You will remember that?"
Yes, indeed, I'll remember" She
was not fond of Mrs. Robbins herself.
A day or so later Jean began to take
little interest in her surroundings.
One morning she watched the nurse as
she moved about the room, putting
things to rights with quick, quiet mo-
tions.
Where am ~" she asked in a voice
quite unlike the vigorous young person
she was accustomed to be-
Hello there! Feeling better, aren't
you?"
I've been known to be better than
this. Have been Ill for long time?
1 can't remember what happened
please help NE Was it an automobile
and am CRIPPLE feel like it,
mo, no, nothing of the sort. Flu and
nerves and few little things like that.
You'll be as clipper as a lark in a
short time. and then know some one
who will be glad"
'Who?" she asked, listlessly.
why, you Mr.. Webster, OF
course"
Mr.. Webster?" puzzled Jean. "I
never heard of him" She closed her
eyes in a futile effort to remember.
What had happened? Jim! Her breath
came in little gasps. The nurse thought
his name was Webster!
There! ! ought to have more sense
than to let you talk" scolded the nurse
DIR. Jennings will discharge me. Here,
drink this" she ordered, as she poured
stimulant into a glass and held it to
jeans colorless lips.
Then Jean turned her white face to
the wall of the lovely room in which
she lay and wished that she had died
hoped that she would yet do so.
For she was certain that in some mex
plicable way Jim had found her, be-
cause who else would be glad of her
recovery?
She continued to grow better, how
ever, in spite OF her dependency The
following day, when the cobwebs were
further cleared from her sick mind,
she asked the nurse, Where is Mr..
Webster"
How stupid of me! I forgot to tell
you. He was called to Chicago on
business. And that reminds me, 1
haven't wired him yet today to let
him know how you are-he made me
promise not to forget a single day."
why does he want to know"
Why, Miss Innocence?" teased the
nurse. Shall I bring you a mirror"
rs this his home?" Jean asked
suddenly, now certain that Jim was
not the mysterious Mr.. Webster. For
Jim would never be called to Chicago,
nor anywhere else, on business. Ger
tainly, Jim would not be able to afford
two trained nurses. staff Of doctors,
and establish her in place that had
every evidence Of luxury.
You are a funny little kid" said
the nurse, in replying to her question,
laying a hand on jeans brow for
evidence of a returning fever. "Of
course, it is his home
Il wonder If there is a picture of
him around? I'd like to see it to
have one, l mean" She turned pink
under the nurses glance Of raillery
I'll find out" she said, touching a
bell, and instructed the maid who
answered to go downstairs and ask
Mrs. Robbins for a picture Of Mr.
Webster
A few minutes later, Mrs. Robbins,
prlm and austere, came in with a
framed picture in her hand. She
looked at Jean with eyes that snapped.
Z 10 &s.l- l. IL
This belongs to Mr.. Webster's mo-
her the year before she died and she
always kept it on her dressing table
Mr.. Webster ordered us never to dis
turb a thing in that room so l can't
let you have this. But If it'll do you
any good, you can take a look at 1t
and I'll return it where 1t belongs "
She thrust the picture under Jeans
nose, none to gently, then went and
stood in the window. looking down
with critical eyes upon the gardener
moving the lawn.
/ Slowly. Jean lifted the heavy frame
from where it lay on her breast One
/ glance at the mop of crinkly hair
which she knew was red, and the pene-
trating, yet kindly numerous eyes
which she knew were brown, brought
back - memory the disgraceful epi-
sode that preceded her illness The
picture slid from her nerveless grasp
and clattered to the floor. Jean had
tainted
God help my SOUL" Exasperated
Mrs. Robbins wheeled about. Now
like as not you've ruined 1t beyond
hope" she predicted as she picked ul
the picture from the floor You
might of been a little more care
ful -" she began to scold Jean, but
something in the stiffness of the fig
ure on the bed impelled her curiosity
Coming closer, she realized what had
happened. Jean looked so helpless
so fragile and pathetic. that even the
over -virtuous soul of Mrs Robbins wa.
plumbed. Mems not worth it." she
murmured, and Fastening out sum.
moned the nurse.
(To Be Contiued)