Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05

about them the next day and their fame
spread
That was why. on the thirteenth night:
Oswald Parke, fresh from the successful
elimination of a big engineering feat IN
South America, was entertained at Mr..
Thalheimeis table d'hOte dinner by three
of his old college chumS. Thalheimer said
afterward that he might have known some
! thing would go wrong on the thirteenth
night
The something" was a breeze that caught
up sheet of music and carried it over the
fern-Screened railing straight toward the
table where Parke and his hosts We're
seated.
The startled Eleanor, forgetfu of the
strict injunction to keep the soft pedal on
her manners, uttered a most plebeian eX-
preston sprang to her feet, leaned over
the railing and clutched at the empty air,
through which the sheet of music had pass
ed. And Oswald Parke. looking up at that
same moment, met her glance fair and
square.
She flushed and dropped behind the screen
of palms. Parkes face turned white and
his lips set in narrow, firm line. Under
his breath he said; In Gods name! She's
come to this, and no one let me know.
His mind seemed to be working out dual
problem. Had he done right in yielding to
her determination to carve her own career?
Or had his great mistake consisted in al
lowing the work in South America to alb
sorb his every moment, in his determination
to carve a career that would far outshine
hers?
his IrlenuS were WdlcnlnS MIN CuTlOuSly,
but something in his bearing forbade light
inquiries. Suddenly he pulled himself to-
gether and took up the conversation as If
the sheet of music had never been waited
over his head and his glance had never met
and clashed defiantly with the glance of a
woman Neither did he look again in the
direction of the hanging balcony. But when
the coffee was served he drew a card from
his pocket scrawled something across the
back and sent the waiter to the desk for an
envelope.
Take this to the young lady with the
copper-colored hair up there in the balco-
n.y." he said.
Against the rules, sir" said the waiter
tersely.
Parke slipped crisp bill under the en-
velope The man looked longingly at the
green edge which showed beyond the en-
velope, but repeated his refusal.
1T would be more than my jobs worth
to deliver that note" he said.
Bring me the head waiter"
Parke talked to the head waiter and then
| he talked to Thalheimer himself. Not for
| the price of dozen dinners would the lat
ter allow note to be sent to one of those
girls, and the more Parke argued the more
Thalheimer realized the wisdom of his
course.
What time do you close?" Parke asked
abruptly.
1--WE never close" was the suave reply.
II mean what time does the orchestra
stop playing?"
THE young lady's mother comes for her
every night. nave carriage LOT her,
Thalheimer finished triumphantly.
"All right" said Parke, Il will be here
with her mother"
Thalheimer shrugged his shoulder and
walked away. If this was a family affair,
he had nothing more to say. If 1t was not,
ah, well, there would be forty, yes, hum
bred more customers there tomorrow night
who had heard of the girl with the copper
colored hair.
In the meantime, Parke and his friends,
followed by the annoying comment ana
knowing smiles of other diners, left the
restaurant and took refuge In nearby
cafe. where they ordered much, drank little
and tipped high. Many college lark had
these four had together in the old days,
and the spirit of camaraderie was strong
within them tonight. Parke, successful,
famous-and in love! Here was a combina-
ton worth while. They offered him every
thing at their command from directories
to private detectives. But Oswald Parhe
waved aside their raillery
THAT is no trifing matter, boys he said
gravely Were not out stealing signs to-
night nor looking for unwary freshies. I've
learned a thing or two since I've been down
south. One thing is to seize an opportunity.
l have reason to believe that, just at this
moment. I'm facing an opportunity DO