Show t t tI I PLAYING WITH FIRE 1 i 1 BY NELLYE GAINES HOLT IJ I 1 t r te IlEnE IERE Is no use in a mother telling tell tell- telling THERE T ing a headstrong girl what is best I Ifor for her for the GIRL always KNOWS KNOW BEST Experience is s the only teacher though a woman often orten 10 loses es esI the mo most t precious thing on earth In I gaining It her It-her her reputation Conventionality Conventional What Is 18 conventionality conventionality conven conven- for but narrow-minded narrow people peo- peo plo May Iny scornfully argued nr with her nor mother I cannot see an any harm In im inviting a stranger tranger hero to call I 1 would not know any more about him if I knew know him a year car May was a n public steno stenographer In a big hotel where she sho met all sorts of strangers who often orton made love to tohei hei hel and took her out to dinner which she considered quite the proper thing Sho She was Inordinately fond of admiration admiration admiration admira admira- the new faces facos sho she could tion and more mor u d s h ho draw around ncr her UI des k K the uie u. u prou er D une e was of her power When she was not bus busy she was looking In the mirror primping and powdering her nose which most of or the time looked e as I If It had been be on whitewashed and she had an Idea Iden that tr-at she Rhe was as asery very ery beautiful be beautiful be because cause causo evens even's olle stared so hard at her Today sho she was t RS dining at Johanns Johann's s 's 11 that restaurant that was where heio the society folks tollus went and she was having having- havinga a aswell aswell swell time champagne time champagne nc an and lobster My Iy but wont won't tho the other girls bo be Jealous when the see seo my new man lie He is surely some baby bob Across the tho way sat a n. dainty looking I girl irl and a man She or ordered ered a cup of or 1 coffee and a R club sandwich 1 No I dont don't drink wine she heard her say she a fool and May Mav po turned scornfully to her hei new friend She must be very cr weak an and narrow- narrow minded ed But Dut ho he evidently c did cUd not think so as ho turned his admiring glances from tho the girl irl to her hor at the question YOL RC a good sport arent aren't you ou Ill I'll BET youre you're popular with the boys bos Oh yes yel Im I'm some kid I 1 love lovo a good time you tenon know Thc They They're re re always setting me up The man rested his his elbows on the table looking hard card at her with a R dying calf calt oppression expression You could make a man leave hl his hlaj happy home couldn't couldn t you OU girlie 1 Oh that wouldn't nt be hard to do do- do every man loves etl a new face Sa Say girlie do o you ou know you ou are a picture now now YOU you are positively stunning stunning stunning stun stun- ning with tho the sparkle of that champagne champagne cham cham- in your eyes I could love lo you to death I love to he be lo loVed loed ed How Hon about getting married next week But Ive But Ive I've only known you since this morning What difference does docs that make Be De Bea Dea a sport chicken Oh well ell I suppose it will wUl be all nIl allright right I am very unconventional anyway anyway any any- way a May was hardly hal l capable of thinking Just then However Jr sho she managed to walk out straight and the f fr mh sh Ir Ir sobered rt her hr un up somewhat as they th sauntered s r ii along o g gazing g g- g into n evey Jewelry shop they the came to She was passionately fond of trinkets How about a diamond for tor our en engagement engagement engagement en- en ring ling tho the man suggested Oh glorious Then Ther e examining a tray of or rings when n a voice strikingly familiar startled him Hello Jones Jones' An unexpected pleasure pleas pleas- ure by Jove Jovel I thought ht you ou were in Ohio Buying your wife a ring I The Tho mans man's face turned purple The girl realizing tho the situation came into senses sho she never ne had before She rubbed the powder from her nose and anddrew anddrew drew rew herself up until she towered above I him No o he was buying his that that that- was to an engagement ring she re replied re- re plied T Then turning to the c cring cringing clinging g creature beside her herI I know Jones alias Robertson that It was all m my fault fault Us unnecessary to lo look It I am to blame You have ha taught me mo a lesson that I would not take from fromm m m my mother Here keep this ring as a token of remembrance that when you ou meet a sill silly girl to try and uplift her hernot hernot hernot her her- not drag her down For many times you rou ou will find that ough appearances appearance a cos cosare are arl against her at heart henrt she Is g good I and would bo ho a lad lady It if given halt half a chance I 1 I |