Evening star., 1934-03-05

ANAx WIS UCWA4oCICo. LAC SoAAA
| make nothing Of this start.
lngly unexpected display OF
i feeling.
But -"
mo, SIR" repeated Mr.. Slattery
firmly. IF that guy Opal's in a spot,
I'm glad Of it. After what he done to
me. 80.
And in crisp, telling sentences. TO
which an occasional sneeze merely lent
additional impressiveness, he pro-
ceeded to relate the story Of his night
in the open. He told 1t well. You
could see the window sill, hear the cold
breeze whistling about his dangling
ankles. Packy, listening, found nope
lessness creeping over him. After
what had occurred. 1t was plainly not
going to be easy to mollify this in
jured man.
Tough" he agreed.
Tough" said Mr.. Slattery, sneeAng
moodily, "is right"
"But surely you aren't going to get
sore at a little thing like that?"
Ibid you," asked Mr.. Slattery, say
little thing'?"
"1t was just MS Iun-
IT don't like that sort OF run.
Packy felt that he had tried the
wrong line Of reasoning. He struck q
more personal note.
"But think of me. You wouldn't let
me down. would you?"
Mr. Slattery seemed to be puzzled
"say. lust where do you come In on
thisp It's had me guessing rlgn'
along. Why are you so steamed up
aho,It itp If this palooka has been
writing letters he shouldn't nave
written it's his funeral, not yours.
can't see what you're doing IN 'he
act" .. Cha
is naturally very much upset aoou'
this thing. want to help her.
"Are YOU stuck on herP
"Certainly not" said Packy.
II ANNOYED him that the purely
n,otonic friendliness which he felt
toward Jane Opal should be 20 con.
sistently misinterpreted. He himself
knew. of course, that there was
nothing between them except. on MS
eide chiyalrous desire to be OF as
s;stance to q distressed acquaintance
and, on hers. a natural gratitude ioi
such assistance. True, once or twlce
he had had occasion to pat her mana
and indeed. to hold it for a briel
moment or two; but that had beer
the merest civility, such as ne wouic
have shown toward an aunt, hao mt
| had an aunt in trouble.
He endeavored to impress this upor
Mr.. Slattery now. ,
Nothing Of the kind. I'm JUS
sorry for her"
well. you'd best be sorry for ole
Opal"
mo, SIR
Packy regarded him reproachfully.
IT can't believe it is really Soul
Slattery-good. trusty, old Soup STAT
tprv-who Is talking like this
TT is" Mr.. Slattery assured him
| You really refuse?"
| Eyes, sir
Packy turned to the door. He knew
when he was beaten. WELL" he salt
with infinite sadness. "this has oroke:
me all up. I don't suppose l snai
ever have another shock Ike THIS u
my life"
He was wrong. He had one almos
Immediately. 1t occurred when n
stepped out of the elevator into tn
lobby and recognized in the Lowell
girl who advanced toward him, nj
flancee, Lady Beatrice Bracken.
The emotions Of young man wht
separated from the beautiful girl I
whom his troth is plighted, suddenl
finds himself quite Unexpectedly re
united to her ought to be unmixedl
ecstatic. Packy's could scarcely hav
been so described. In q situation
which has furnished . congenis
theme for more than one poet. b
merely felt as If some muscula
acquaintance had just punched hir
soldly on the nose.
Beatrice was the first to speal
Well" she said. You don't seer
very pleased to see me"
The words had the effect OF cauS
ing Packy's stunned faculties in
certain measure to function agair
He was still feeling far from Tranquil
but reason, limping back to he
throne. told him that he ought ID b
exhibiting at least q modicum {
hearty rapture. He endeavored to
SO. His brain was still numbed b
this unbelievable disaster, but h
contrived to smile tenderly.
I'm tickled to DEATH" he salt
"It's simply wonderful, seeing 70,
But didn't expect I mean,
hadn't q notion ;"
mo. I suppose you hadn't"
when did you arrive?"
This afternoon"
Packy began to regain his prope
form. The one thing he must avoit
he recognized, was the display {