Page:Tales of the Jazz Age.djvu/41

 fact I&mdash;I love him. Ladies and gentlemen, Nancy Lamar, famous dark-haired beauty often featured in the Herald as one the most popular members of younger set as other girls are often featured in this particular case; Wish to announce&mdash;wish to announce, anyway, Gentlemen&mdash;" She tipped suddenly. Clark caught her and restored her balance.

"My error," she laughed, "she&mdash;stoops to&mdash;stoops to&mdash;anyways&mdash;We'll drink to Jelly-bean ... Mr. Jim Powell, King of the Jelly-beans."

And a few minutes later as Jim waited hat in hand for Clark in the darkness of that same corner of the porch where she had come searching for gasolene, she appeared suddenly beside him.

"Jelly-bean," she said, "are you here, Jelly-bean? I think&mdash;" and her slight unsteadiness seemed part of an enchanted dream&mdash;"I think you deserve one of my sweetest kisses for that, Jelly-bean."

For an instant her arms were around his neck&mdash;her lips were pressed to his.

"I'm a wild part of the world, Jelly-bean, but you did me a good turn."

Then she was gone, down the porch, over the cricket-loud lawn. Jim saw Merritt come out the front door and say something to her angrily&mdash;saw her laugh and, turning away, walk with averted eyes to his car. Marylyn and Joe followed, singing a drowsy song about a Jazz baby.

Clark came out and joined Jim on the steps. "All pretty lit, I guess," he yawned. "Merritt's in a mean mood. He's certainly off Nancy."

Over east along the golf course a faint rug of gray spread itself across the feet of the night. The party in the car began to chant a chorus as the engine warmed up.

"Good-night everybody," called Clark.

"