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Show 3 Jim ; jfli BY if ZIZJZ I "r"HAT was one Xew Year's reso-lution reso-lution he would keep! Frank IjD Harris sat on the edge of his btxl mul stared gloomily out over the frosty housetops. He'd never see Myrtle again. Desperately Des-perately he shrugged off the quick memory of her blue eyes and soft voice, her tilted nose. Xever! He pulled on his sox viciously. To be treated the way she had treated him! And there couldn't he any mistake. mis-take. Night before- last he had gone there. She hadn't expected him, but from things she had said before and had allowed him to say yes, allowed him to say ! He thrust his jaw forward for-ward angrily he had supposed she loved him. Fool ! That night he had intended to ask her to marry him. Had taken along D n ! He had taken along flowers the way they do Fool ! How carefully he had tied his new four-in-hand and brushed his shoes. All the way he had smiled and whistled in the anticipation of holding her, slim and surrendering, and kissing her. The corners of his mouth curled downward as he thought of it. Lord, it was hard ! He had noticed a car out in front, so he had slipped up the steps a little more carefully thank heaven wondering if company would intrude. One look through the window of the sitting room had sent him away in horror, disillusioned. He closed his eyes miserably, now, as he pulled his coat on to shut out, even yet, what he had seen. Myrtle in the surrender he had pictured for himself, but to some one else ! Oh, there wasn't any question. In stories it might turn out to be a brother, broth-er, but Myrtle hadn't a brother, and this was a lover's kiss, anyway. No relative's. Next day, she had called "I Want You to Meet My Friend, Mr. Lee, Mr. Harris." and invited him for New Year's dinner! din-ner! Beastly! He jammed his hat on and started down the three flights and out for breakfast somewhere. He'd been so darned credulous ! He glowered. Suddenly his heart jerked. . There she was, and with that man ! In panic, he tried to dodge into a doorway, door-way, but she had seen him. She smiied. Oh, well, he'd go through with it. "Hello, Frank '" she called. He tipped his hat and tried to brush past. She touched his arm. He shuddered. "I want you to meet my friend, Mr. Lee, Mr. Harris." Lee bowed suavely. suave-ly. Frank nodded. One of those parlor par-lor sheiks ! "You met Mr. Lee's wife at our house one evening when you were there." Frank remembered. He started to go. "I'm sorry you can't come to dinner." Myrtle looked troubled. She ought to ! "Don't you think you could, yet?" "Sorry. No." Frank went on. It was worse than he had expected ! A married man ! Frank groaned. She had seemed so Innocent and sweet ! There wasn't any question about its being anyone else that fellow fel-low was kissing. He'd seen both of their faces cleurly. He passed his usual usu-al restaurant and walked on. The Wholesome Food people had changed their high electric sign on the hill. It read "Start the New Year right !" Frank smiled ironically. He had. He Suddenly, he stopped, frightened. Maybe he had walked too far. He was delirious! He passed his hand across his eyes and clutched tlie railing near him. It was still there a photograph of what he had seen that night. A picture of Myrtle. Yes, it was Myrtle! In the arms of that fellow. Hi raised his eyes. . "The Community Playhouse . . . Friday night." He found a telephone. "When was that picture taken?" he demanded of Myrtle's voice. "Then you know?" Myrtle laughed. "I hoped I could surprise you Friday Fri-day night when you'd go and discover discov-er me as leading lady." "But when was it taken?" "Night before last. We had rehearsal re-hearsal at our house. Why?" "Say ! Is it too late to come over fur dinner?" Frank whistled on his way to Myr tic's. I'p on the hill, the Wholesome Food sien blinked "Start the New Year Bight!" Frank laughed. Hi-felt Hi-felt his carefully-lied new tie ami ran his fingers over the box oC dowers dow-ers and winked back. 10-3. We3tcrn Newspaper Union.) |