The St. Louis Republic., 1904-11-13

Who the dickens is
~ l.. Ps he muttered he in his mind
the list of girls in town he knew and shaking his head
doubtfully: Cant be a home girl. | should at
least know her by sight | am certain | never
her before-must be visitor y. l.. p. Well, Annie
Lee Walters is about as can get to it and
know it isn't hers -
That reminds me-I am booked there for dinner
tonight" he suddenly reflected, and by Jovel it's
to be given in honor of her guest Miss Porter
wonder-coud it be she. Well, any rate Annie
Lee will know who she is-I'l ask her about it
night
But | won't wait until tonight to find OUT"
he exclaimed with sudden resolution springing to his
feet, the for which he had been waiting came
in sight around the in the road Il shall cali
her up the phone | get back 10 town,
and if she can't help out why shall Just keep this
club as a souvenir of \ L. p the prettiest girl I've
long day.
Curled costly on the sofa in the half twilight, Annie
Lee Porter lay watching the soft blazing fire and the
dancing shadows the wall with a luxurious
of drowsy warmth and comfort She was thoroughly
enioving the nap prescribed by Mrs. Walters and
Annie Lee, who had aughingly insisted that it
necessary after her morning the golf links that
she might look her freshest and best for the dinner
that evening
in the ROOM Annie Lee had warned. IF you do.
l shall send you into dinner with the best-looklng
man in town and the best catch too He has
end of money. If | wasn't already engaged to Jack,
I'd keep him for myself.
Who is he" Miss Porter asked. with lazy curiosity.
Il sure haven't met anyone here answering to
that description "
Never mind who he is " Annie Lee answered
noddng mysterouslv He is just back from Europe
where he has been knocking around for the last
or three years. and all the girls in town are crazy
about him. -
.'Spare me from the speces,' Miss Porter muir
INJURED Give him to some one else beseech you!'
"Oh YOU will thank me before the evening is over.
Annie Lee retorted In the meanwhile do YOU
are told and get all the beauty sleep you can, for
have made up mind make this match to-n night
Annie Porter smiled she lay watching the dancing
shadows and thinking of the testing words of her
vivacious little friend and her wellknown match making
propensities OF this much-lauded stranger
would prove be an intensely COncelted sort of
fellow she reflected who would leave the brunt of
the conversation to her else bore her during dinner
with highv-colOred of his experiences abroad
She had met that kind before-the prospect not
exciting.
The sudden sharp ringing of the telephone in the
next room interrupted her cynical reflections. Annie
Lee and her mother downstairs, experimenting
the table decorations the servants all busy and
as the outer door closed Miss Porter probably
the only one who had heard the ring Smuggling
down closer under the light eder-down quilt, which
the crisp winter day rendered extremely comfortable,
she made to answer 1t
Whats the use of bothering: she murmu-ed,
drowsi1v The wires have been crossed all day -
'.Ting-lng-li-n-g,' the bell again. with
impatience which betokened that some was making
determined efforts to be answered.
oh bother that 'phonel Miss Porter exclaimed.
slowly extricating herself from her warm covering
and walking into the next There, There!
lust hold on a minute, I'm coming. Well, hello.
hello! Who is that.
is that o,,." came a mans quick pleasant voice
the wire
Yes Is who here At the phone Yes.
suppose nv voice does sound rather unnatural |
have iust walked up But to whom am | talking:
why. this is Martin. l thought of course that you