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Show He Overheard the Conversation By JESSIE H. ERNST ' (, loubldjr, Pact O ) CTAM.EX TOWNSEND wondered - whether be really loved Gloria Ganea. He hud many symptoms but he wasn't puMltlve. A great Importance seeuied to cling to anything she admired. ad-mired. There was ulwaya joy In being be-ing wltb her and loneliness In not teeing her. That night he had an engagement to take her to dinner. It waa Sunday. It bad proved a dull day. lie paid a ' few unimportant culls and then went to hla club. It waa almost alz o'clock. He waa just gutting Into hla overcout to go home to dress when he encountered encoun-tered Hurry Clark, a fellow member and a casual friend. Clark waa also about to leave. "I'll walk a way with you, Town-tend, Town-tend, If you wait a few seconds. I've promised to telephone a girl about a party she la arranging. But It won't take me a second" Clark bellowed a telephone number to the switchboard operator. It waa Gloria Ganea' number. num-ber. Townsend gasped, choked and waited. The telephone booth waa right next to him. Clark'a voice from Inside came through the glass door and could be plainly beard. "Anything for pupa's pet!" Clark waa saying. "Oh you beautiful doll I Let me klsa away the blues! I'll be there tomorrow tomor-row night with bella on, and you'd better put a court plaster on that inolel" Clark put down the receiver and with a radiant smile of satisfaction opened the door of tbe booth. Town-send Town-send uttered a few banal words, "Forgotten "For-gotten engagement I've got to burry on." Clark nodded good naturedly and picked up a magazine, "Ever read this article on being poaltlve?" Townsend flung a curt "No," and hurried out. Being positive I It was remarkable bow a simple thing will accomplish what weeks of mental debate will not Marriage versus celibacy. In less than two minutes his admiration for Gloria Ganes had been killed and he waa now quite positive that be did not want to marry her or anyone else. He would take ber to dinner but that would end their friendship forever. for-ever. He bad often heard others talk of the torture of disillusion. Town-send Town-send felt that at last he knew the reality of It He waa cold and distant when Gloria entered the drawing room In her shimmering gown of mountain baze and silver. He helped ber on wltb her evening coat without the usual tremble that made hla hands awkward. awk-ward. He suggested the restaurant they dine at, Instead of waiting for her suggestion. He pointed out to tbe headwalter the table that he wanted, want-ed, Instead of waiting timidly to be shown to the worst table In the room. When he asked Gloria what she wished to eat and she said "You order," he did, and ordered everything he wanted. At Inst they were back In Gloria's drawing room and It was time to say goodnight But Gloria went to the piano and started to play. Something dreamy and soothing. He lighted a cigarette, then put it out and felt for his pipe. "I'm not going to see you any more. I want to say goodbye," be began. Gloria continued to play. "Gloria, did you hear what I said?" "Yea" "Doesn't It mean anything to you?" "That yoa are not going to see me any more; that you want to say goodbye?" good-bye?" "Yes" "You might see nie again, evidently." evident-ly." "I'm not fooling." "Are you leaving the city?" "No. But something happened tonight to-night to completely disillusion me wltb you." "What happenedr "I overheard your conversation with Harry Clark. He called you up from the club and quite accidentally I happened hap-pened to be standing near blra. Will you please atop playing that stupid music I" "It'a beautiful music. I mayn't be playing U aa well as It should be played." "I want your attention." "I am listening. You said you were disillusioned with me, because yoa heard Harry Clark telephone me." "Have you ever kissed Harry Clark r "I don't think so." "Think ao ! Don't yon know?" "We're awfully good friends. I've known him for years." "If you knew me for yeara you'd kiss me?" "Perhaps." And then a strange thing happened. Some Impelling emotion made Town-send Town-send take Gloria very roughly In his arms and kiss her lips wltb cruel ardor ar-dor and desire. Gloria lay quietly, and unresisting. When Townsend finally released her Gloria managed to say, "You weren't disillusioned; you were merely jealous." jeal-ous." The next day when Harry Clark telephoned Gloria she sparkled In transport! of happiness over the wire. "You must have acted the part mar-velously. mar-velously. He was terribly Jealous. We got engaged last night I've promised nevtr to see you again." "Perhaps some day we'll tell him. By the way, do you want that article back being positive? I couldn't get him to read It last night." "It'a aU right Ha doesn't need It ow." |