Show u I I I II II I I CHAPTER 47 Jack dear Betty began the explanation explanation ex ex- pl nation of ot her strange wi with with i Archie Grover Groyer Its going to be I rather hard to tell but Im I'm Sure you'll understand Youve You've been perfectly all all all' e now evening now I must ask you not to question me till Ull youve you've heard the Whole story I promise I assured her then I quickly added but remember dear you dont don't have ve to tell n no o n o It if you dont don't want to That That's s one of the nicest things you have ever said Betty Detty beamed at me And just for that Im I'm going to tell you every single blessed thing I know W let me se see see see- I l suppose you know that Archie Gr Grovers Grover's overs over's been gambling as aswell well as drinking Yes I said Archie started to tell me mo something like that I Well V U. U she continued Its worse than you vou know Archies Archie's not a a. bad badboy bo boy he hes he's s. s just weak that's that s all When he drinks he forgets himself like that night in Jordans Jordan's s Grill When I threatened to thrash him I muttered my face burning at the memory Yes Yes said Betty And I wanted to avoid such a scene for his poor mothers mother's mothers mother's mothers mother's moth moth- ers er's sake J I learned to love Mrs Grover In the old days when when wen well I before you and I became engaged dear And she patted my hand that held her armI armI armI arm I didn't t SE see Archie Aichle after that night In Jordans Jordan's Grill until the night he tapped lapped on our dining room window He Ire had come coma to the house to apologize apologise for that v very ry Incident at the Grill Grm Archie Wi wa was s In a mental state bordering on distraction distraction dis dis- dis- dis traction He lIe was about to run away iwa But he didn't feel fee he could go without i isome some explanation some apology to the thene cne ne person who he claims ever ir understood understood understood under under- stood him himAs himAs As Archie refused to come into I thE he house the moment I realized what he was up to I came out to reason with him Then you interfered Tor For which you can hardly blame mo me me can you you I asked The secret secret said Betty unheeding my remark that Archie couldn't tell teU mother was WI that to pay a gambling debt he hed he'd d forged a draft on his fathers father's bank I whistled In amazement This was the second time hed he'd done I that said Betty The first time Mr I Grover Gro forgave him and settled every every- thing This time time though though the man who held the draft threatened to put Archie In jail jail Mr Grover was obdurate Archie had gone with Mr Bower Dower to the bank that day but Mr 11 Grovel wouldn't wO listen to them He told Archie he hed he'd d have to take his chances with the law like any other forger Think of it Jack Belt Betty Detty exclaimed i Wh Why WhIrs Mrs Irs Grover would have died had Archie disappeared 1 I I 1 felt so badly about It that after aftel proving to Archie the worst thing he could do would be to run away I promised to have Mr Bower Dower see Mr Grover again But Dut though Mr Bower Dower did his best best he he had an appointment I 1 next day to show Mr Grover over the l water company's plant plant plant-It It did no good So that was what had taken talen Grover and Bower out Into the country that I day lay I began to understand things I Well Vell said Betty there isn Isn't t much more that I know to tell There are many things I dont don't understand some some I that puzzle me still But Dut it was my idea that I could Influence Mr Grover for poor dear Mrs 1 Grovers Grover's sake if it I could take Archie with me to his fa father father fa- fa fai i ther some evening Mr Bower also I i thought It a good Idea but Archie I threatened ag again in by that gambler took tool to di Inking drinking harder than ever I Now Mr Bower was to keep Archie under surveillance until he so sobered ered up but Archie slipped away from him to tonight tonight tonight to- to I night and fearing that Archie might I go to his father In that condition and I mako a scene that would ruin him forever forever forever for- for forI I ever and break breatt his hia mothers mother's heart II I I hurried to th the Grovers' Grovers And Jack Jack Jack- Jaek I she looked up at me happily Jack happny Jack Ivo Ive succeeded I pleaded with Mr Grover Groyer so o hard he ho promised that It If we i ie found AJ Archie hed he'd give the boy another I IThe chance e i The consciousness of ot having accomplished accomplished pUshed this good deed lighted up Betty's Bettys Bettys Betty's Bet Bet- tys ty's face with a 8 glory fine I exclaimed x Im glad you did it It iV Wed We'd reached Bettys Betty's house and were I mounting the three steps that lead to the veranda wh when n Betty Detty gripped my mr armr arm r she said warningly pointing I to the living room where a a. dim light iwas I Iwas was burning The shade y was as only halt half drawn and peering through the window window window win win- dow we saw Marlon Marion and Bob seated on the sofa sot a their beads heads close together Oh it If she really does care for tor him said Betty softly Id be happy hap hap- py I But gut I blurted out Bobs going to tovar towar war ar v ar j That said Betty as she squeezed I my hand only makes him dearer to tohei her hei I This was my moment to tell Betty what had so ISO long been on my mind I Betty dear I began but began but her merI merry merry mer mer- ry laugh cut me short Betty had tapped tapped tapped tap tap- ped noisily on the window pane and I with a start of ot surprise Bob and I Mai Marion Marlon Ion had Jumped up rhe The next moment they were out on i the veranda to greet us CHAPTER 48 43 The There e was n no further er opportunity for tor me to make my confession to toI Betty that night for tor seeing that the I girls were tired Bob and I left lett for tor home as aJ soon as wed we'd eaten the supper supper sup sup- per Mother Ray had saved for Betty Detty I and me We Ve walked along In silence I thinking thinking think think- ing pf f all that Betty netty had told me piecing together the links of the story as they fitted in with my own experience experience ex ex- Bob busy with his own thoughts I It wasn't until we paused to say sayI good night that either of ot us referred I to the girls Then jokingly I said How about it Bob Pretty nice girl Marion Marlon I Too darned good for tor me me he answered answered answered an an- gripping my hand with so soI I much emphasis that It hurt Good luck I called as we ve parted Next day my determination to tell Betty Detty the truth about my application for enlistment came back to me stronger than ever She had been so soI frank had told me every little detail lof I of her share In straightening out outI I Archie Grovers Grover's difficulties that I 1 I felt I Id I'd d been a coward in not telling I her the truth about my enlistment and rejection Tt had only been because I feared that Betty under under- undera a mistaken sense of duty would feel teel bound by her promise to marry me ar J that I didn't t feel I had the right to marry now now that Id I'd delayed so long Dr Eaton Baton had held out the hope that the condition of ot my heart could be e Improved Id I'd see him again bu but t no matter what the verdict Betty Detty would know v it The doctor hadn't arrived ed when I reached the office so 50 I 1 went into his private examining room to wait Now that my mind was made up T I ta was teas impatient to see the th doctor and ind then r tu r straight to Betty Detty with the i I message e that might change the o course ourse of both our ur lives I I f oP Thinking in of her I couldn't evade I the thought of Dower Bower Bow er and the look of or understanding that he and Betty i had exchanged a as we left his apartment apartment apartment apart apart- ment the night before That was theone the theone theone one thing Betty Bettj hadn't t explained Yes les I was jealous of Bower ver ower But how v did Bower feel l low toward ird me me I Suddenly I say sav a great light light could could I it be th that it I 1 w waa i th the on I thing that stood in the w way y of ot Bow Bow- ow- ow I w cr's declaration tra rs declaration of love lore for tur ne Iee That Bower Dower loved tJ Betty Betty- 1 I IY vu Y vinced I How court couN any man Dett Betty every qa day daj help fall n fatting j with with with- S Suppose he mid mad told her air c ct c t put that idea n t H ide e. e What Wharf else he be might i h. h t t n err w was pt a a- tIeman anti and In 11 hed he'd d 1 hardly e go c cas as III to d declare cHro wf f ing mgr Betty an and i 1 J I p fL ero To Tube b 10 p |