The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-24
LOVE THUMBS
A RIDE
nv PRISCILLA WAYNE

II. Anyway, Jim isn't the kino
Of man who would marry a rich
girl. II I told my father that !
was in love with Jim and that Jim
wouldn't even look at me, even II
I know perfectly well that he loves
me. do you know what my father
would do"
"No-what7
MY father would 90 right
straight to- Jim. He'd say. Look
here. What's the matter with my
daughter? Why Is it you don't
love her? Isn't she just as pretty
as any other girl you ever met
Janet laughed. And you
wouldn't want your father to do
that ?"
mo. of course I wouldn't. What
girl would? ?"
You're pretty sure your Jim
loves you?"
Eyes. ] am. I'm more than sore.
He told me 70. But he hates my
money. He said that he'd never
marry q rich girl"
80 you're going away to get
your bearings? To make up your
mind?"
That's right. There's a convent
I want to 60 to. It's a little place
nestled up in the heart Of the Adir-
ondacks. I know the sisters there.
I could stay with them while I
made up my mind what I wanted
to do next. I'd be perfectly safe
and no one would be the wiser"
Good Idea
well, why don't you go? 1t
seems to me that's a perfectly
good idea" Janet suggested.
You're of age. Why don't you
just tell your father so and go?"
But you don't know my father.
He's probably having detectives re-
port to him every 10 or Is minutes
and they're just securing the coun-
try for me. No. that isn't the way
to elude my father"
What is the way them"
well, the way to elude my ia
Their Is to establish an alibi. See?
I've written half a dozen letters.
Now you're going west. Your
brothers car has an Indiana Ii
cense.
You can mail these letters as
you go along. My father will re-
ceive them and he'll be satisfied
that I'm perfectly all right. Then
he'll call off the detectives and
that will give me a breathing
spell.
VIII Have Chance
"I1l have a chance to get away
to the convent. The sisters will
take care of me there and I'll have
the opportunity to think things
over and make up my mind for
myself.
I'm the meantime you have
plenty of money in your pockets,
you'll be free to travel around as
you like and you'll know where to
get in touch with me whenever you
want me-"
II think that's a perfectly fine
idea for you," Janet said with a
touch of sarcasm.
"But suppose your father isn't
satisfied, suppose he makes up his
mind to come and see for himself
how his darling little daughter is
getting along? What about it?
What will I do then ?"
HE won't decide that. The let
tiers I've written are very reason
able. They're still open and you
can read them. l wrote them on a
portable typewriter own. You
can take that typewriter along
with you.
Won't Interfere
IF Dad knows that I'm per-
fectly well and that I'm getting
along all right, he won't interfere
Dads reasonable that way. II
I travel around a little, he'll think
I'm having a good time and let
me alone.
But If l went into a convent
he'd think something terrible had
happened to me. Dad likes me to
be gay. Why, you might even go
to Europe"
1T sounds attractive" Janet ad-
mitted. And yet I don't think
I ought to do It."
Now, listen, you're going to
help me out" Gretchen insisted.
"In be gone only two or three
months and I'll pay you well for
doing it. Surely that would mean
something to you"
Janet Agrees
Girl. You don't know how much
1t would mean TO me-" Janet
agreed. do you know that I'm
broke? Stony broke? That l
haven't a cent TO my name and
don't know where l can get any
that is" she remembered her
fictitious brother suddenly, that
is-unless I ask my brother for it
and I'm not sure that he would
lend me any more"
Gretchen pstted Jsnet's arm
encouragingly. You don't have
to ask him for any more" She
reached in the bosom of her
dress and drew out a billfold.
See? Here is a hundred dollar
bill. It's all l have right now,
but you can keep me informed
where you are and what you're
doing, and II father writes TO you
then you can send his letters to
me.
rY4. -. . .-,