“Jimmie—is it—is it—you?”
“Answer me!”
“I—oh, I can’t believe it! You—you!!” Then panic seized her. “Jimmie—don’t—don’t go again! Wait—let me tell you! I’ve been praying you’d give me the chance to tell you. I—it was true,—I did buy all those things myself. I did—I did! I was afraid you’d be ashamed of me.”
[283]
] He stood glaring silently down at her and when his voice did come, it was thick and tense.
“Didn’t you know it was just those old clothes of yours that convinced me the story you gave me was straight?”
“But the girls always made fun of them—and I wanted to look right for you. And you thought—oh, Jimmie, what you thought has nearly killed me!”
“What could a man who knew his Broadway think when you appeared all of a sudden in a million dollars worth of finery?”
“But it wasn’t true! I took all my money out of the bank to look nice just for you. Jimmie—if you go again—the way you did—I—I’ll die!”
He gave no direct answer. Instead he gripped her shoulders until they ached.
“What are you doing out here this time of night? Answer me that!”