Photoplay (Jan 1921)

Photoplay Magazine 45 his happiness fell from him like a tattered garment, and he stood wrapped in the trappings of deepest gloom. Into the room had come a fat, smug, smirking creature, with a round, shining, loathsome face, wearing a detestable, complacent grin and a real dress suit! Andrew rubbed his eyes feebly, but the nightmare did not vanish. There he stood, drawing off white gloves, handing a silk hat and a cane to old Mose who had basely deserted to this newcomer. A babel of young voices went up in good humored banter. "Hello, Jimmy! Well, look what's here! Which bank did you rob? Xow we know who the masked burglar is! How'd you come? Didn't see you in the car." "I drove my own car up," was Jimmy's reply. It fell into ihe gay chorus like a bomb. There was an unbelieving silence. then "You got a car. honest?" came an awed voice. "Certainly. Why not?" And Jimmy, having handed Mose a greenback, strolled from the room, amid absolute silence. "Suah's Ise a live man, this heah's a pufnckly good dollah bill!" Old Mose broke the stillness. "I guess things is lookin' up in Vixville sassiety from now on. Seems like the ole days befo' the wah, when gemmun dressed like gemmun and tossed theys money about easy like!" "Oh, come on, fellows!" It was Andrew's voice, keyed to an almost hysterical pitch, "are we going to stand here and let a big fat mutt like him put it all over us just because his dad is rich?" It was a good thing that the revolver in Andrew's pocket really held no bullets. For there was murder in the boy's heart as he saw Jimmy standing beside Phyllis, just about to swing her into the opening dance. With one bound, Andrew was between them, shoving Jimmy away with no ceremony. "I think as a general thing it's customary for a girl to give the first dance to the man that brings her," he snapped. "I guess Phyllis is a lady who knows what good manners are. even if some folks don't know the first principles of etiquette!" It was an inspired speech. Phyllis, like all her sex, loved to be fought over, loved to be bossed, loved to be flattered. He could not get the ring until he had paid at least half its value. She placed her little hand on Andrew's arm and they floated away into Paradise. But through Andrew's bliss ran one dominant thread of thought: Women's heads were easily turned. Somehow, he must make sure of Phyllis! "Phyllis," the young voice was husky with emotion, "will you promise to marry me, sometime?" "Why Andrewl I couldn't promise. I'm too young!" Her little-girl face flushed deliciously; her eyes looked up at him like two stars, silver-blue. "You're not too young to be engaged, and wear an engagement ring!" "Oo-oo-oo! A real engagement ring! A diamond solitaire! That one we saw in the window yesterday. Is that what you mean, you dear?" Andrew's brain reeled. He had meant a little pearl that had been his mother's. He had quite forgotten the ring that reposed on a pink velvet bed in the jeweler's window. Above it was a card marked in firm, unswerving, black figures $500. Yesterday he and Phyllis had seen it and laughed. Yes, laughed! Would he ever laugh again? Where would he get five hundred dollars? But with the star-eyes fixed expectantly on his face he laughed and lied, calmly, like a gentleman. "That's the one," he declared. "You'll be engaged to me, won't you?" . "Yes." she breathed, happily. "But let's not tell Grandfather until next week. I'll be eighteen then, and you can bring the ring on my birthday and tell him!" "Splendid!" said Andrew. His spirits were rising. A week is a long respite, at nineteen. His thoughts raced feverishly to playing the curb market, finding an oil well in Uncle's back lot. perfecting and patenting an invention, wheedling Auntie's Liberty Bonds from her. That last idea struck him as fairly feasible. Anyhow, much could happen in a week. Much did happen! That very night the masked burglar actually held up the car full of boys and girls, coolly striking down Andrew's unloaded revolver, making them all hold up their hands, and taking from them the grand total of seven dollars and forty-two cents, to which Andrew's contribution was one dime and one copper! And this resulted in Judge Laurin's offer of one thousand dollars for the capture of the bandit, the money to be paid over to the captor as soon as the victim was delivered to the Judge. (Cotithiued on page 116)