Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-03-04
BERTS
STRATEGY
By RUTH SANTELLE
Copyright, 1904, by X. NJ. Whitehead
By RUTH SANTELLE


steps with purposeful look in his usu-
ally dreamy eyes that elected a muir
muir of surprised comment from the
nearest groups on the hotel piazza. He
made straight for the corner where
Dorothy Vane was holding merry court.
Mayhap it was rude to interrupt Up
rights best story, but the fair lady
lifted questioning eyes, and BERTHE
plunged into the hostile masculine cir
Gle.
IF you please. Miss Dorothy, should
like to beg q few moments converse
tion-private, if may make so bold"
Perhaps it was for the reason that
this frank request, made with such APP
parent confidence in its being granted.
sounded so unlike diffident, self depre-
catory BERTHE that her woman's curiosi-
ty was aroused. At any rate, the furi-
Gus SWANS received a gracious but ag-
gregate smile for their kindness, and
Miss Dorothy was borne away down
the moonlit piazza on the arm of that
vandal, Temple.
I'm in deuce of hole. Dollie." be
gan BERTHE, low and hurriedly. 81 can't
tell anybody else, but l know you'll
help fellow out. It's that Miss Simp-
kins-oh, l suppose 1t sounds frightful-
ly caddish-but 1 should think you
must have seen, Encouraged by my
childlike Countenance to take advan-
tage, like all the others
Most unhappy infantr' interrupted
Dorothy, with a sympathetic pat on his
white flanneled sleeve "You have had
our united commiserations for a week.
III that amiable spinster harbors no de-
sign upon your innocent head appear
ances are indeed misleading Only don't.
1 beseech you, ask me to abuse n faith
ful conscience by hiding her false front
or anything like that"
NO, Dollie, 1 have my plan-amaz-
ingly simple and. think you'll admit,
rather clever" Then he added. with n
sharp glance from the corners of his
eyes, unohserved by the smiling maid
en-, And II you'll only SAY yes. DoIlie.
we ought 10 be able 60 get some fun out
OF It thrown i'm
"Unveil your mystery" came the an
imated command.
Its just this: The old, old bore but
tonholed me after dinner tonight and
whispered laughingly that she'd dis
covered the music room window behind
the portieres was the most heavenly
place to watch the moonlight on the
waves and that she was going to feast
her soul there this evening and-oh,
you know the sort OF stuff or course
It would be the most natural thing in
the world for me TO forget It II had
persuaded my fRncee To SIT with me
sust outside the window" He stopped
suddenly MS they reached the corner OF
the east pinzza, caught both the girls
hands and held them for an irssaat.
''Dollie, will yeu be engaged to me for
an hour, just to save a fellow from the
clutchesT'
Dorothy's head went high, the scent
or battle in her delicate nostrils. Dur
ing the barely perceptible hesitation
her mind held the picture of a recent
day when she had been cheated out of
an afternoons sailing with the adora-
bic Freddie Burton by Miss Simpkips'
meddling.
''Fl do it. Freddie" she whispered In
gay excitement.
A moment later Mr.. Temple was seat
ing his fiancee pro TEN. beneath the
wide, dark music room window.
"Ah, Dollie NINE" he breathed in
admirably loverlike tones, while the
young lady thus possessively address
ed half suppressed hysterical giggles,
lat last l have you to myself and
away from all those Sinking cads that
cluster around you as if they had the
right The right is mine now, isn't it,
sweetheart"
"Ye-eS," very family.
Thus encouraged. the happy lover
drew nearer and awaited himself of
two tempting white hands. Miss Dor
othy removed them from his tender
clasp with vehemence. Now, BERTHE,
how many times have TO tell you
There was just the tiniest rustling
within the window.
"Dollie," he whispered, you mustn't
forget were engaGed!'
The hands resigned themselves Imply
to the inevitable.
II hope you realize, dearest'-the
voice became audible again, and
Dorothy was surprised to notice how
pleasantly caressing Berries voice
could be-"that you have made me the
happieSt man alive. I've never want
ed anything as have wanted this. and
now-oh, grille, it's almost unbeliev-
able yet! Tell me again that it's so;
that you truly love me-
Dorothy's eyes opened wide in the
darkness. BERTHE Temple making love
In this magnificent fashion! 1t was al
most thrilling.
why, OF course 1 do, silly. You
know it without my repeating it over
and over as if | had nothing else TO
say"
'Do what, sweetheart" mischiev-
ously.
Again a suggestion of movement on
the other side of the window.
BERTHE pressed the captive hands
warningly. Please" he whispered.
shes there, listening. You prom
ised. Wen both be in for it If you
fail now"
We'll, then behavew she retorted