Show f T ele I ram SubstItute Sweetheart I Wayne By I BEGIN HERE TODAY RUTH DAYTON who is 18 and very pretty has become innocently Involved in a plot by which her employers employers' hoped t to to murder JIM BRADLEY young millionaire and gain aih control of ot his estate Ruth is is In love with Jim and he with her herp Those involved in lin the plot are are JOE OE and arid CLARA BRADLEY un untie uncle le leand and aunt of bf TIm Jim im and PASCOE PASCO ac accomplished crook Pas Pa Pascoe oe oe posing as 81 a a. nurse nurse has been beel sl slowly poisonIng poison lug Ing ng Jim who has been injured and blinded in an auto accident Ruth has been hired by Joe and nd Clara Bradley to impersonate Jims Jim's stepsister JUNE BRADL BRADLEY Y Ruth resembles June so greatly that Jim apparently has be been n fooled by the substitution Victim and dupe they fall tall in love Jim insists they be married and a fake wedding is arranged arranged ar- ar ranged by the conspirators Ruth lad had had been persuaded to impersonate June Tune to comfort Jim who the who the I Bradleys told her was her was blI blind d and dying June was ill and aid could not go to him she was told Ruth But But Ruth learns that the Bradleys Bradleys Brad- Brad leys eys had sought her out because they hey did not dare return to Jims Jim's home lome without June who had been In n their care bare She learns of ot the plot to kill Jim but is held prisoner on r rand and cannot get help She She- learns that hat the Bradleys and Pascoe have forced a a. a doctor who p Pascoe knew had be been Ii guilty of ot violating g the drug laws vs to agree to sign Jims Jim's death certificate ate When Dr McGuire rebels and fights with Pascoe she helps him revive Jim vive Jim and afterward sees him killed d by J Joe Bradley She locks Jocks herself herselt into the thie only room in fri the house where the telephone Is is no not disconnected ted and calls cans police The Br Bradleys arid and Pascoe escape and Ruths Ruth's brotherS brother JERRY DAYTON just found her In her manalon mansion man man- sion alon pr prison son is Is' by the flee- flee ig kg Bradleys Bradley and forced to aid their escape In jail Ruth wins the confidence confidence confidence con con- of Robert Re Reagan gan Jim's Jims at at- at torney He checks checks' her story and her rele release se and takes akes her to the hospital where Jim Has lias be been en asking for h bO bONOW her NOW GO O ON WITH THE STORY CHAPTER APTER THIRTY The days passed swiftly enough in the hospital Indeed they fell instantly into a a- treadmill routine routine treadmill but delightful to the two main actors Eight was was was' wasn n no no longer mer merely iy 8 It t was the tho hour hou when Jim Jay propped up ever so so slightly in bed and had his breakfast breakfast breakfast break break- fast tray Ruth trembling with happiness sat at his side breaking bits of ot ott t toast ast to feed him and carefully p putting tUng the coffee cup Into his hand grown slow and careful with the need to be accurate in touch toach thirty Nine was Jims Jim's hour to be S1 shaved d and bathed and made ready for the day And it It- meant th the time when Ruth would slip quickly out of the hospital across the street and down the block to a quiet t little restaurant nt where she could have hav her Own breakfast Back Bock In the room at 1030 I From 1030 to 1 o o'clock lock was a paradise of ot just being at the bed bedside bedside side c of the man sh he rl d At time tim nu Ruth i would re would read the newspaper newspaper news news- e paper to Jim Jhn taking care rc b by th the e doctors doctor's orders to omit any of ot the now rapidly lessening news of ot the crime and near crime rime that had taken place at the th Bradley Bradey man man- sion zion Mr TOr Re Reagan an and Ruth had been given v n Instructions tiona I by the tho attending physicians not to dwell in their convers conversations with Jim upon the events leading up to his Illness At this morning visit Ruth chatted with Jim or listening with wistful ecstasy heard him make plans for their future happiness to- to to gether It was a theme he never grew tired of discussing And the plans she never nevek grew tired tred of Tearing nearing Sit very close r Jin would say her hands in IIi his eager ones Lets talk Japan It had had become quite a 3 gay little little tame lam T Talk lk of what 1 You know sweetheart Of Ot what insistently tender Jim growing stronger would pull Ruth very close to him Of my getting jetting out of at here Of Mr and Mrs Jim Bradleys Bradley's going traveling What say we wego go to Japan darling Youve You've never neverseen seen Japan in in the spring No dear but but but- ut H D Dont nt argue Japan it will be And a lazy journey I 1 want to show you many things Joyful things beautiful things things things' 1 I dreamed Id I'd show my sweetheart sweetheart- my wife some wife some day Lovely dear lovely And hand clasped in his Rut Ruth would let herself herself herselt her her- self believe the dream to be a beautiful beau beau- assured reality well we'll home nome And then wellcome come Jims Jim's kisses promised much ch Nover Nc ium Ruth tried to think of the great greath greathOuse h hOuse ouse where s she had met Jim as home She couldn't ever go there again even if It the wistful dream came ame true Alwa Always it would be grim and forbidding to her nero Always Always' she would associate its stairway with the plunge of young Dr McGuire to his death That corridor would always be the corridor corridor corridor cor cor- down which she had crept th the night s she c had attempted to escape Jims Jim's returning meant to Ruth both delight and fear tear delight delight- Inthe in inthe the he recovery of the tho theman man she loved fear tear of the tho arrival of ot the time when he must be t told ld the truth Only th the day before Mr Reagan had mentioned it I wish you tw two w would uld think things through Im I'm having laving the devils devil's own own time with the newspaper boys They want vant to break a a great big story about your being Jim Bradleys Bradley's wife They know about my my being being here Of course they do Only the fine tin courtesy of the newspaper folks Inthis Inthis In ih this town has prevented your being Interviewed a dozen times All of ot them know youre you're here hen at Jims Jim's I bedside The hospital attaches attiches say it quite quit nat naturally rally And why they You aren't arent any secret Youre You're a mighty pretty girl and the thC themore more more thore r mysterious ous oud you appear ppe l themore you k keep keepin ep epin in the more Interesting Interesting Inter Inter- esting esting- an t Jet v do dp you be bec be- be c come me Interview I wouldn't know what to say I 1 wouldn't know what to do If It they asked me for tor toran an Interview Of toOt course you y you u t Ive I've spun a number of very Interesting interesting interesting inter Inter- esting yarns Ive I've given them my word of t honor that you'll make a statement You have Ie I e told them th that t you and Jim are wildly in love lov with each ach other other which is quite true isn't it Ruth t felt lt the blood mounting In Ina a warm tide tido to her throat her cheeks even cven even to the very roots root of oC he hen hee hair That I love Jim very much Yes YM And that he Ii l love v you match match- making Mr Reagan said Since you came hes he's getting better bettez by l leaps aps and b bounds u ds- ds Everyone Everyone Everyone Every Every- one notices it So dont don't you see see see- youve you've got to m make ke good on my promises Ive lve told the newspaper boys that in just a day or or two you'll tell them then all about it Well Yell that means a ae avery a avery very e Y definite thing It means this nicely budded romance must lower flower Ive talked it over with the doc doc- tor tar Of course you know that I 1 explained ex ex- the situation to him fr from m the very start starL He thinks th that t Jim Jimis is so much better that we can tell him hint day n now nov w In fact the do doctor tor is ready and anxious to have Jim told Tell Jim All AU Now this is my plan Tomorrow morning if it the the doc doctor or Is still sUll willin willing and If Jim is still improving I mean to walk right into his room there and tell him the truth I dont don't be believe believe believe be- be lieve it will shock him very much because at the very same time that I tell him Ill I'll make mighty sure to know that youre you're in the very next next next- room waiting Ruth clasped and unclasped her hands nervously But if he hates me metor for it He wont won't my dear depend upon It Youre You're a young and pretty girl Im I'm going to be Very very much surprised Jt If we reL cant can't plan a very pretty secret w right in in- Jims Jim's room here tomorrow afternoon I can manage it very nicely and not even the nurses need know Well We'll have the doctor in for one witness and Ill I'll be the tho other witness witness wit wit- ness Goodness knows weve we've both played cupid Miss iss Wheeler came in from Jims Jim's room loom Hes awake Mrs Br Bradley dley How is he feeling Mr Reagan asked Cross with the nurses Miss Wheeler grinned Ordering us around in a hurry so sa that hell he'll be beall beall beall all spick and span to receive his wife wiCe Hes He s' s talking about taking you yeu on an ocean voyage Mrs Bradley adley Ruth Rut smiled knew that that her lips Ups d as she smiled Jim has spoken o of it she she evaded It seems to me that an ocean v voyage y ge would be v very ry Vond wonderful MAnd on your you honeymoon the theother theother theother other girl said wistfully Yes it will be a wonderful adventure Til go arid and talk to Jim now now Ruth said said- turning Robert Re Reagan g n toOk look to k a st step p forward forward forward for for- ward put ah an encouraging hand nand on the girls girl's arm rm yo yourself Ill I'll wait walt here I Ruth RuthT pondered ed wistfully I I cant cant can't she said at last I 1 I I wouldn't dare I dont don't want to tobe be in the r room o n when he be finds out that Ive I've dec deceived iv d hl him l L 1 It dont don't believe that I could dare see s e him Ill tell him then Mr Me Reagan said Try arid and put it out of ot your mind Be happy this afternoon Enjoy being together I think theres there's a surprise to for yo you There was a surprise for Ruth Entering her first glance clance discovered discovered ered cred that the bed Jim had lain in was empty Her heart pounded with dismay at the sight and she took a a quick frightened step forward Relief u un unspeakable unspeakable un- un speak ble at se second ond sight ight Jim sat by the great on ona ona ona a a deep luxurious divan He wore dark pajamas and a robe his long longlegs longlegs longlegs legs were stretched out comfortably on a big footstool and andas as as Ruth opened the door he lifted his head from the nest of pillows that surrounded surrounded surrounded sur sur- rounded him hint Surprise June Surprise In n one one impulsive motion Ruth wasI was I huddled at his side on the divan and Jims Jim's arms weak ak but insistent were were- around her Jim Jim- was was bewildered bewildered bewildered dered that she hid hid her lier head on his shoulder that her slim young young body was Wa sUddenly shaking shaking with sobs Why Vh darling what is it Are you you ill Ill Ill- You frighten me inc I Im I'm Im I'm crying Ruth managed trying to gulp back her sobs So Happy Crying what what's I the matter darling dar dar dar- I ling Im crying because u Im I'm sO sot so happy Jim lauh laughed d a deep gay rollick rollicking ing laugh Oh Jim would be a a happy comfort comfortable ble man to spend a lifetime with Ruth decided I or thought girls ghIs cried o only ly when hen they they're re sad he c a-c accused used Sometimes they cry when they're so SO so-so so happy that they could just just just-just just st die Ruth said and her words worda were smothered in his kisses To Be Continued I Copyright 1936 1936 for The Telegram I |