Amador ledger., 1903-11-27
srasped his roommate's hand.

,
Perhaps" he said, closing the locker
door and taking up his cap. Going to
Mrs. Butler's?'
The latter question was quite unnec-
essary, for Mrs. Butler was the wife of
Lieutenant Commander Butler of the
Naval academy, and her teas were gen
orally considered the last torments of
the first class man, not that they were
unpleasant, but they were a duty, a
part of their education for the life of a
naval officer.
Personally Rufus considered them
less of duty than pleasure. for he
had spent several pleasant hours with
the gracious hostess.
AS they pulled the old fashioned
knocker of the house in Blake row Ru
fus pulled himself together as if to cast
all sentimental thoughts from his mind.
If Bess had a previous engagement
she might keep it.
''Mr. Sims, how do you do? And Mr..
Reardon" snid Mrs Butler from be
hind the tea table. Perhaps was Just
looking for you.'
'We will give ourselves the benefit
of the doubt, eh, Rufus?" Reardon said.
glancing about the rsom Here and
there were little groups of cadets.
every well. Which of you is at liber-
ty for the farewell hopP Mrs Butler
laughed with the consciousness of hav-
ing asked preposterous question.
Both cadets caught the infectious
laugh, but neither spoke for a minute
Reardon because he must say he was
engaged and Rufus because he could
not quite make up his mind to offer his
services for the evening.
Strange as it may seem, Mrs. But
Ter, am not escorting any one and am
at your service" Rufus said after a
minute. "You have guest"
81 will have. She writes me today
that she is coming She is not aware
of the fact that the hop is that night,
believe, and was at loss for some
one to attend to her dance order. Mr..
Sims, let me give you another cup Of
tea to thank you."
Reardon, looking on, thought he de-
tected a twinkle in his hostess eyes.
She was unusually frivolous, he
thought; but, then, it was the end of
the term.
"You may only thank me by permit
ting me to escort you as chaperon."
Rufus was nothing if not gallant.
But when Rufus was again in his
quarters he felt less pleased over the
responsibility he had assumed for the
evening. What an effort he would have
to make to be even civil to the strange
young person.
The chaperon had not yet made her
appearance after the introduction She
had been summoned to the telephone
or something.
Cadet Lieutenant Sims was doing un-
military things with his arms and say
ing anything but the platitudes he
would be expected to utter on first ac-
quaintance with pretty young wom-
an.
IT'S only little joke of mine. and
Mrs. Butler helped me out" Bess was
saying in strangely smothered tones.
Il knew what fun it would be to see
you when you came here for the strange
girl and found me. Yes, I'll admit it
was the fact of papa's losing a little
money that suggested it all. 1 could
not resist it. You had your little joke;
1 had mine.'
But yours was cruel, wasn't it-just
little, dear? YOU Rufus stopped
suddenly, and 'Bess became interested
in a large painting of the lieutenant
commander.
You seem to be getting acquainted
very quickly" laughed Mrs. Butler in
the doorway. "But our cadets have
reputation in that direction"