Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-09-19
Mr.. VAN TWILLER'S ALIBI.

The snow had been falling for several
minutes in little eddying gusts, and al
ready an appreciable number of fakes
were collecting on the cape of Miss
Dorothy Dempsey's storm-coat, As she
turned into Fifty-Fourth street at .
swinging pace. On her head, framed
by soft halo of brown hair, in which
the drops of moisture glistened here
and there, . dark English wslking-hat
had slipped coquettishly to one side.
Her cheeks were brilliant from the cut
ting wind, and her eyes shone with e1-
hi'aration, as she battled against the
storm.
To Insignificant BERTHE Carey, ad-
vancing from the opposite direction, she
appeared like delightful vision; q de-
light considerably influenced, of course,
by the fact that she belonged to the
right set" of visions, or BERTHE, being
% little man, would not have looked
. second time. Indeed, it is doubtful
whether anything short of Miss
Dorothy's genealogy on the maternal
side would have induced him to give up
his daily game of dominoes at the club
and wheel about to join her promenade
with such urbane oblivion to the cool
ness of bis reception.
And it is not likely that, at any other
time, Miss Dempsey would have re-
sented his intrusion quite 30 hotly; but
unfortunately for him, her memory still
retained with vigor q graphic descrip-
ton, detailed to her only the previous
evening by her Cousin Jack, during
which, excited to unusual emphasis by
Carey's last faux pas, he had gone 80
far as to declare him "a consummate
ass, not fit for descent society"
Dorothy, having agreed with him in
spirit, if not to the letter, felt that she
was justified in taking strong measures
on this occasion.
To walk down the avenue in his COM
psny, at An hour when all her dear
-Four Hundred" friends would be
abroad and glancing curiously from
their brougham windows or over their
shoulders, was reflection upon her
taste and discrimination which she was
not ready to endure. Accordingly, be-
fore the preliminary greetings were
fairly over, she was racking her brain
for some way of dismissing him. In
vain she meditated dozen clever femi-
nine maneuvers that, under any other
circumstances or in any other locality,
would have been practicable. It was
Carey himself finally provided her
with the means of escape.
"Awfully jolly, this unexpected pleas
ure of stroll with you" he murmured,
ignoring the gait that was rapidly re-
ducing him to breathlessness.
"Yes, indeed, returned Dorothy. with
false sincerity, "only it can't be very
long one, as I intend making call in
this block" This with unblushlng ef-
frontery, although we'll aware that she
could walk on to the North River with
out finding Q name on her list.
"A mutual friend?" inquired Carey.
Il think not.
~This must be the house then, since it
is the last one.
Thanks, yes. I suppose you will be
ut the Greys. Good afternoon"
~Oh, the Greys!" cried Carey, fred
to fresh recollections; haven't you
heard? Then, if l may, will wait and
see if your friend is in; if not, we can
continue our chat.
Now Miss Dorothy, being an indie
pendent and somewhat peremptory
young lady, and having gone to all the
trouble and rick of this subterfuge, was
anything but pleased ct turn which
left her unwittingly outwitted. But hav-
ing gone 90 far, it was necessary to play
the farce out, and, ascending the steps
with good deal of suppressed indigna-
ton, she pressed the bell The door
was promptly opened BY neat-capped
maid.
SIS Dr.. Robinson in ?" she inquired,
glibly, improvising the first name that
came to her.
Il believe so, ma'sm; will You walk
IMP.
For an instant Dorothy wavered in
total dismay. This was . contingency
for which she found herself completely
unprepared. Then, a. her glance roved
from the waiting Carey below to the
girl, who had stepped Hospitality back.
her resolution was taken; to 60 In and
explain, on meeting the doctor, that he
was the wrong man, seemed the simplest
and most natural way ont Of the diff
Guilty, and it would rid her Of Carey,
which was the main thing.
The room into which she was ushered
gave her, Is . first impression, sepsa-
ton of cheer and comfort and good
taste. TWAS fitted up Is half office. half
library, and Q fire on the hearth shed
its unstable light on two large chairs.
drawn up in suggestively confidential
manner within the seductive radiance.
Dorothy had made mental comment
Of al this becoming aware that one OF
thess inviting chairs had IN occupant.
who had slowly risen and Was now TAG
ing her with IN open curiosity which ne
did not take the trouble to conceal. dc
WAS . tall, broad-shoulered. athletic
young man, with . 6ne blonde head.
and did not in the least resemble the
family physician of Dorothy's infantils
AilmentA
= have been expecting you.s he TO
1aeksd, calmly; won't you b eeatedr