That's the strange part of it."
"Thanks for the flattering implication. But you couldn't take any
serious interest in a mere reporter, could you?" he said wickedly.
This time Betty laughed. "Couldn't I! I could take serious interest in a
tumblebug, at times. Other times I wouldn't care if the whole race of
men were extinct--and that's most times. I feel your charm. And I like
to be with you. You rest me. You're an asset, too, in a way, Ban;
because you're never seen with any woman. You're supposed not to care
for them.... You've never tried to make love to me even the least little
bit, Ban. I wonder why."
"That sounds like an invitation, but--"
"But you know it isn't. That's the delightful part of you; you do know
things like that."
"Also I know better than to risk my peace of mind."
"Don't lie to me, my dear," she said softly. "There's some one else."
He made no reply.
"You see, you don't deny it." Had he denied it, she would have said: "Of
course you'd deny it!" the methods of feminine detective logic being so
devised.
"No; I don't deny it."
"But you don't want to talk about her."
"No."
"It's as bad as that?" she commiserated gently. "Poor Ban! But you're
young. You'll get over it." Her brooding eyes suddenly widened.
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