The San Francisco call., 1905-02-18
THE COMMITTEE :
j: OF SELECTION
BY HARRISON SMITH.
" CRIVENER rounded the corner
and made his way leisurely

and made his way leisurely
J through the afternoon crowd
that thronged the sidewalk on
the sunny side of the street Some
yards ahead he caught sight Of a blue
hat with a distinctive feather. He
quickened his steps with mind singly
bent on overtaking it. But the blue
hat was in a hurry; it lodged this way
and that with amazing dexterity and
not until the pursuit had progressed
several blocks was he able to lay a
shoulder.
"Oh, 1 say" he protested.
She turned. "Oh. it's you, Mr..
Scrivener,' she said with smile that
was ample recompense for the chase.
II should keep in training for such
emergencies as these" Scrivener
painted.
She laughed. 'I was making pretty
good time" she admitted, but you
see, I'm weighed down with response
b;lity, and 1 want to free myself of
the load as soon as possible
''Yes?" said Scrivener questioningly.
I'm appointed by Donald a COM
mittee of one to select valentine.
He has a terrible affair of the heart.
It's the little girl next door,"
Dear, DEAR" said Scrivener grave
ly. This is a serious matter. Any
restrictions imposed on the selection?"
cit mustn't cost more than Is cents
he made that amount yesterday run
ming errands for the cook-and it must
have a heart on it," she explained.
"Ha. The difficulties multiply"
said Scrivener darkly.
I'D like your help in the matter,
Were you going anywhere in par
ticular?"
Il was going up to the club for
lunch" he said. II wasn't really GER
tain 1 wanted lunch. Now I'm sure
1 DON'T
Wen make it committee of two.
then, if you don't mind" she re-
marked.
Delighted" he said heartily.
They made merry round In quest
of the requisite valentine.
In the first shop they entered Scriv-
ener pointed out the fact that all the
decent valentines cost more than Is
cents; in the second, those that came
within the stipulated price were deck
and in the third, the hearts were much
too large and of the wrong shade OF
red.
Scrivener suggested they try a lit-
tie place we'll uptown, where he felt
certain they could find what they
wanted; so they took car uptown.
only to find the little shop quite sold
out. This-to Scrivener's' unbounded
satisfaction-meant they must take
the long car ride downtown again.
II think you must want that lunch
by this tirne,' she said as they took
the downtown car.
IF 1 thought of lunch at such a
critical moment as this, should con-
slider myself false to Donald's inter-
ests," he replied ingenuously.
Finally they found valentine that
ccst IL cents. and, as Miss Stanton
said with an uneasy glance at her
watch, would pass MUSTER
Scrivener expressed his doubts on
this point, and suggested that thew
look farther, but even he had to admit
that the heart, pasted gorgeously in
one corner, was of the right size and
color.
When they came on to the street
again IT was growing dark. Miss
Stanton held out her hand.
I'm awfully sorry to have DELAYED
your lunch in this fashion, but / think
1t VIII taste all the better because of
the good deeds you have done this
afternoon" she said.
Scrivener looked at her thought
fully.
III 1t wasn't so late" he said. "pd
like to ask a favor of you.''
Its never too late to ask fayors. %
she commented gayly.
I'm intending to send a valentine
myself, he said. I'D be very CRATE
full IL you'd help me choose it-give
me Few tips about II. you know"
II you've made your Is cents and
won't insist on having a heart on II,