Page:Frank Owen - The Actress.djvu/117

Rh taken me in the beginning we wouldn't have had all this fuss."

"But how did you get here?" she gasped.

And then he told her the whole crazy story.

"And now," he finished, "Roger Patterson's jumped out of your life. Why not let him stay out?"

"I'm going to," she whispered demurely.

And then he climbed over the seat and kissed her.

"All my life," said Barney, as he held her in his arms, "I've been a doormat for everybody. But at last somebody poured oil upon the doormat and set it afire. In the future, to others, I am going to be a Persian rug; but to you I'll always be a doormat that you can walk all over."

"I think," said she wickedly, "I'd rather sit on your lap."