Show f J I 1926 i By I HEA Service Inc ro FOR Tills HAS S O 5 s late File Introduces Introduce Jerry Jerrir Ray to Aleiter when he ha crashes his airplane Into the camp she he Jn I. with her roommate Myrtle MyrtIe She likes his pilot lIot Dan Harvey Jane but I Is III struck by bybel her bel beauty and shows her hel attention Unable to buy a l gown sn own for tor a a. party h hhas he has invited her to to Jerry Jury yield yields to the temptation a to slip one from the e store where she w work works ork for the e In When they taunt her with being belne a II dry dud at the party Jerr Jerry drinks too much A rowdy ro dancing partner throws her hn into the Pool Tol to revive her Dan appears appear to help belp her but Mister Alester takes her home She is discharged ed from the store atoro when she confesses about the dress Jerry seeks seek another job and is surprised one evening when Dan Ban calls caUs He lie Je proposes and she he tells him she ahe does not believe In love but hopes to marry for tor mone money He Ue leaves her after atter warning her Alester drives drUes Jerry out to the deserted deserted de de- de- de camp where he makes advances which she repulses Dan Ban happens alone along and under cover of or his hi presence Jerry forces Alester to take her home When he lle learns that she has lost her job on his account he uses his influence to get gether gether gether her a place in a 8 chorus Rehearsals are hard for tor her but she line Is J. befriended by Evelyn Starr who is in inlove inlove inlove love with Jael Jul Thane Evelyn Eveln gives a party and when Alester says sas he cannot take her bel Jerry invites Dan Ban Jael lakes takes exception to Jerrys Jerry's presence in Evelyns Evelyn's home yow NOW GO 00 o ox ON win T TIlE THE E STORT CHAPTER Jael did not nat come up to Jerry as she expected Instead he stood of off offa f fa a few feet from the guests to whom EVelyn elyn was presenting Dan Ban and waited quietly until sh she turned to him with Dan beside her Dan put out his hand when Jael's name was given him but Jael did not take it Evelyn looked at Jael startled by his strange attitude Dan appeared bewildered for fora a s. moment mo ment then he dropped ibis his arm to his side bowed to Evelyn and went to join Terr Jerry Jael's voice cut the embarrassing silence in low clear dear tones Just a moment he said and such was Dans Dan's surprise that he In Instantly instantly In in- wheeled back to face tace himI himI him I believe you have made a a. mistake mistake mistake mis mis- take Jael went on without raising raising rais rais- ing his voice Jael Evelyn had a hand on his arm arm her eyes entreating him to silence Dan waited If U you do not understand me we will step Into the hall ball and Ill I'll make myself clear Jael Jacl said to him The few people near near- them were listening now In amazement Jerry stole close to Dan tI trembling with apprehension lie felt her hand touch his own and glanced down into h her r troubled face He guessed then that she was involved in this unexpected situation He faced Jael again If IJ you will he said with ominous calm calmin in his voice Jael bowed Evelyn placed herself between them as they moved away and thrust out her lier hands in a swift ture J Jael el el what is it she cried in distress Get t Miss 1 Rays Ray's hat he said Shortly leaving turned Dans Dan's eyes snapped as as- ashe he upon him I If she wishes he said as asa a to Jael's Jails Jail's remark Jerry Jerry came up to him 1 white whit and nd shaken Please she said S dont go 0 out with 1 him m. m Dan I dont don't wa t to stay i I shouldn't have come I r I. I know he doesn't like m-e me Is he the the host hot D Dan said d 0 to o Eve Eve- lyn Jael answered for forier No he said but tout I will not permit her to tobe tobe tobe be Imposed upon by Dans Dan's hand shot forth and seized him by the th shoulder Perhaps you'd better not say it he said with suppressed fury We Ve dont don't need an enemy of Miss Rays Ray's to characterize her for us Jael tore himself loose from Dans Dan's hold But Dut Miss Starr needs to have her Iter characterized he retorted retort retort- ed hotly If Ie she knew how Miss Ray flay got into the show bow business she wouldn't have asked her here Oh Jael please t Evelyn began tearfully Jael JacI did not reply to her Dan had seized hint by toy the arm and was propelling propelling- him out of or the room into the io foyer er He was almost be beside beside be- be side himself with rage rage rage-a. a rage that was partly inspired by toy the knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge that he couldn't beat the man manto manto manto to a a. pulp The feel of Jael's Taets thin arm under his hH strong fingers sickened him Why the fellow was little more than a a. skeleton And the whiteness white white- ness of his liis face did not reflect fear Dan knew because his eyes blazed with courage He did not try to resist as Dan shoved him through the doorway Out In the foyer Dan released him Now you dirty rat rat say what you have ha to say and say it quick I because in two minutes youre you're goIng going go- go o. o Ing back in there and apologize to Miss liss Ray or Ill I'll thrash you ou within I an Inch o ot of your life Ute Jael did not cringe You may do that he acknowledged acknowledged edged and I might even apologize though I shall not not and and still it wouldn't make Miss Ray nay anything else than what she is Dan sprang at him Jael stood un unflinching before the attack His fearlessness itself defeated Dans Dan's purpose He could not strike a a. aman aman man who was a physical weakling His ills hand dropped helplessly The advantage Is yours ours he said in disgust you OU rotten little bum The words infuriated Jael Come on on fight he invited squaring squaring- himself for a an exchange of oJ blows Dont be a a. fool Dan said shortly Id kill you and I dont don't want the blood of oJ such sueh an animal as you on my hands A pretty cur you are arc You ought to wear near crutches If iJ you ou want to sling mud because someone's going to biff bUt you ou some day before finding out wha what a poor Imitation of a man Uan you OU are And I suppose you think your the right to rin I In Ina size gives cs you ou a a. little rounder on a decent girl SirI Jael fired ired back Instantly Dan forgot everything tho the inequality of their strength that he was a guest guestin in someone's else home forgot for for- got everything except th that t this man had dragged Jerrys Jerry's name in the Ule mud He might have hurt him badly badly badly bad bad- ly had not Evelyn and some of her guests who had been crowding inthe Inthe In Inthe the doorway rushed out and separated separated sepa sepa- rated them Jerry was among them She caught I Dan an toy bY the arm when Jael was pulled free of oC him and tugged at It he looked at her T Tears ars were streaming down her cheeks and sho she was as white as a sheet Dan Jerked one arm ann loose from his captors and put It around her der She swayed against him and rested there Ask Miss liss Starr for our things Dan said to a man at his elbow C C C CIn In a few seconds Evelyn who had been seeing to it that Jael was led Into the tho kitchen came came cam to Jerry and Dan and tried to apologize for tor Jael's behavior Please let ne me take Jerry into my room and quiet her she said to Dan He shook his head No he said I must take h her r home Evelyn Eveln appealed to Jerry I cant can't let you go SO until Jael JacI has made an apology she said Jerry clung closer to Dan Mother l Is overcome Evelyn went on pleadingly She will never forgive me for letting you go be before before be be- fore we get this horrible affair straightened out Jael Is laboring under some mad delusion You know Jerr Jerry he isn't like other people Ho He will tell me why he acted as he did I want you here when he ha does docs Jerry lifted her tear-stained tear face I 1 know what ho he means she said miserably He lie said something to tome tome tome me the first day I went to re re re- Evelyn Eveln looked beseechingly at DanI DanI DanI Dan I cant can't imagine what it is she said but I know Jael will explain He wouldn't speak ill of ot anyone unless unless un un- un less he felt he was was right Its It's only fair to Jerry to to hear what he has hasto hasto hasto to say S Dan looked down at Jerr Jerry Miss Starr Is right he said You ought to tel get this cleared up Jerry There will be toe a a. lot of ot talk I if it isn't Jerry choked a sob Td Id rather tell you myself she said drawing away from Dan He let her go and Evelyn Eveln put an arm ann around her Jerry could not bring herself to look at him l Everyone knows that Alester Alester- got ot Mr to give me a a. place in the chorus she said miserably Evelyn patted her shoulder en encouragingly en en- Dan was very quiet A few of oJ the guests stood by frankly listening And he thinks thinks- he called me the Carstairs girl Jerry said beginning reluctantly and ending with her head up and her e yes eyes es wide with defiance There was a moment of silence as the meaning of ot her bel words ed the understanding of her hearers Oh Evelyn gasped Dans Dan's lips tightened Oh Evelyn repeated I think I understand Poor Jael He lIe Im I'm sorry to betray his intimate ate story tout iut you see it explains why he why he why he thought what he did about Jerry There was a a. girl girl girl-a a girl he loved dearly Jerry alone heard the soft catch in her voice She bought her herway herway wa way Evelyn stumbled on on to the top with Jael's heart S S S SIt It was now Jerry who consoled She put her arms around Evelyn and they stood there silent until Dan turned away with one of oC the tIme guests who suggested that they retire re re- re tire into the living room Jerry w went with Evelyn to her mothers mother's room Mrs Starr was tryIng trying try try- in Ing to regain her composure under the ministrations of of the maid Jerry had met Evelyns Evelyn's mother once before when she came to din din- nero ncr She had been delighted to be with people among amonS' whom sh she sho did I Inot not need to bo be on guard against a I careless word a too inviting glance I Dining with Alester as she h had had I d' d told herself frequently was wag like trying to eat with a tamed tiger YOU you had to watch him all aU tho time Mrs 1 Starr put out a a. feeble welcoming welcoming wel wel- coming hand She hadn't had a chance to greet Jerry before Jael started the trouble Jerry rushed over and knelt beside her Im Tm so sorry Mrs Starr she said Im sure you are are my dear the older woman kindly but It Is we who must apologize Jael Jaci is a a. queer bo boy but I dont don't know what possessed him to commit such sucha a frightful act W Wo 0 know Evelyn said sooth sooth- Its that obsession of his You see see she smiled Jerry has hasa a rich young man whose influence put her where she is and anC Jael jumped to his usual bitter sion The smile vanished and Evelyn bit her to still its trembling trem- trem bling I You must make him apologize her mother said weakly and turned her eyes eyes away away from Evelyns Evelyn's face She was unable a as always to look upon the revealed proof of oJ her daughters daughter's hopeless love for Jael Thane I Sta Stay here Jerr Jerry Jerr Evelyn said until l r. r talk to Jael l. Im I'm sure everything will be all right when hen henI I tell him that I know all about you and Alester Evelyn left the room and Jerry was alone with her mother Poor Evelyn the mother murmured murmured murmured mur mur- softly I wish she had never met Jael Jacl Hes He's a great burden burden bur bur- den to her and she loves him so much she feels impelled to humanize human human- Iz ize him Jerry was was embarrassed toy by this confidence She felt certain that Mrs Starr offered it only in re reSponse response re- re to an uncontrolled nervous emotion She scarcely know what to say s but she was as spared the ne necessity ne ne- of answering Evelyn burst Into the room to an an- tn- tn flounce in obvious excitement that Alester had come To be toe continued |