Evening star., 1933-09-24


falling hard for that big COOP"
said it as if she meant nothing to him. III
heaped Belle with attentions He seemed t
enjoy himself for the first time in many weeks
Charles. on his part, was first amused b
Dorothy and then interested She was,
saw, an unusually nice girl-far too nice gir
to be wasted on whipper-snapper like Ron
nie-and he suggested that he had his cano
and would be glad to take her home when tn
dance was over She let him see her to he
home cottage
Before the end of the next week every on
on the lake knew that Charles Denton wa
giving Dorothy all his spare time and mos
of the hours he should have been giving +
his novel. His canoe had not rppled the waite
on Bellies side of the lake even once, an
Dorothy, for her part seemed quite conten
with matters they turned out.
She canoed with Charles and played tenni
with Charles and Charles swan with Dorothj
and went picnicking with Dorothy and he
crowd He sat in the hammock with her
That Saturday evening he took Dorothy t
the casino dance and it was easy to see tina
he not giving an imitation of being i
love; it was the real thing and beside it Ron
MES was but pale and spirtless imitation
an attempt at being in love.
She don't seem to be very jealous, doe
She Miss Barton?" Ronnie said as he paddle
Belle homeward after the dance. II mean
looks as If she was falling hard for that bi
COOP Of a Denton, doesn't it?"
Mr.. Denton is not a COOP. whatever tina
means" said Belle sharply. Il won't have yot
call him that, And as for this nonsense
trying to make your precious Dorothy Jealous
I'm through with it.
Your Dorothy hasn't sense enough to b
is drive away one of the best friends I eve
had"
Ronnie let the canoe float awhile Obviously
he was quite upset
Miss Barton" he said presently, do yo}
think-I mean, if we stopped trying to max |
Dorothy jealous, couldn't you get Mr.. Dentol
back? I mean. he was your friend-he was
well I guess he thought lot Of you, and
you showed him you thought a lot Of him
WELL perhaps he could understand it all,
you-"
Now. that said Belle ''is almost insulting
Do you mean you want me to run afte |
Charles Denton and drag him away from you
Dorothy? I never heard Of such thing
Ronne Roberts. why"
And suddenly to Ronnie's and her ow
amazement. she began to cry. She did no
mean to and she did not want to but she could
not help it.
Now, please, Miss Barton" Ronni
made enough trouble for me-" and she hid he }
face in her hands and Ronnie padded silentl}
to the dock. He said, I'm sorry" but Belle die
not trust herself to speak and hurried to th{
cottage.
He rested at the dock in half-daze, as HI
watched Belle disappear quickly
WELL" Ronnie said "Well!'' and then hi
cried Darn her, I'll show her!" and he di
not mean Belle Barton. This time he was id
real earnest.
IE dipped his paddle deep and sent hi
canoe violently across the lake. Ther}
was no moon but he knew Dorothy's cottag(
by the reddish light in the window and by thu
same light he knew she was not yet in bed
As he neared the Lane dock he saw Dorothy
standing at its end and the black shade wa
Charles Denton's green canoe gliding away
into the darkness. He saw Dorothy movind
toward the cottage.
Hey, Dot!" he called and she turned ane
waited, and he ran his canoe to the dock
close to where she was standing.
He had never before landed canoe so hard
There was madness and determination in hi
movement
why, is that you, Ronnie?" Dorothy asked
What do you want Ronnie?" Dorothyd
voice was smooth and quiet. She seemed sd
innocent, 50 much like the Indifferent girl sh@ I
had been, to Ronnie But Ronnie's eyes wer}
blazing
He scrambled out of the canoe and graspet|
her arm roughly. Then he seemed to notice
a gleam Of guilt in her face.
Look here" he cried; II guess this has gond
far enough; I guess I've stood about all o}
this I'm going to: I guess you can tell md
here and now whether you want to get rid o.
me once and for ALL because If you want tina I
old bald-headed Denton"
"Whv Eonnie Roberts what do you mean 2
exclaimed Dorothy. why, believe you'r9
jealous"
She drew away from him. She was amused
by his madness.
What If I amp" Ronnie demanded "TW
-H.t Continued on Fifteenth Page. -s