Smyrna times., 1905-03-22
BERT'S
STRATEGY
By RUTH SANTELLE
Copyright, 1904, by K. M. Whitehead

4 stens with a purposerul look IN MS uSu-
ouv dreamy eyes that elected a MUIR
1 n,rr Of surprised comment from the
nearest groups on the hotel piazza. He
made straight for the corner where
norothy Vane was holding merry court.
III Iovhap it was rude to interrupt Up
FIGHTS best story, but the fair lady
lifted questioning eyes, and BERTHE
Dlunged into the hostile masculine cir
Gle.
"If YOU please, Miss Dorothy, 1 should
like TO beg a few moments conversa-
ton-private, if l may make so bold"
Perhaps it was for the reason that
This frank request, made with such ap-
narent confidence in its being granted,
q sounded so unlike diffident, self depre-
= catory BERTHE that her woman's curiosi-
~ was aroused. At any rate, the furi-
& ,l1s swains received a gracious but ag-
gregate smile for their kindness, and
S Miss Dorothy was borne away down
Z the moonlit piazza on the arm of that
yandal, Temple.
W
gan Bertie low and hurriedly. 81 can't
8 tell anybody else, but 1 know you'll
help a fellow out. It's that Miss Simp-
kins-oh, 1 suppose it sounds frightful-
D " caddish-but 1 should think you
must have seen! Encouraged by my
childlike countenance to take advan-
Z tage. like all the others
"Most unhappy infant!' interrupted
Dorothy. with a sympathetic pat on his
white tlanneled sleeve. "You have had
our united commiserations for a week
Il If that amiable spinster harbors no de-
sign upon your innocent head appear
ances are indeed misleading. Only don't,
I beseech you, ask me to abuse a faith
full conscience by hiding her false front
q or anything like that"
e "NO, Dollie, l have my plan-amaz-
Il ingly simple and, 1 think you'll admit,
4 rather clever" Then he added, with a
sharp glance from the corners Of his
eyes, unObserved by the smiling maid
en-, "And if you'll only say yes, Dollie,
y we ought to be able to get some fun out
q Of it thrown in"
4 "Unveil your mystery" came the an
Z mated command.
y Its just this: The old, old bore but
4 tOnhoed me after dinner tonight and
Z whispered laughingly that she'd dis
Y covered the music room window behind
4 the pOrtieres was the most heavenly
3 place to watch the moonlight on the
4 waves and that she was going to feast
+ her soul there this evening and-oh
Z you know the sort of stuff OF course
q it would be the most natural thing il
3 the world for me to forget it If had
4 persuaded my fiancee to sit with me
Il Just outside the window" He stopped
suddenly as they reached the corner oi
the east piazza, caught both the girls
hands and held them for an instant
3 "DOllie, will you be engaged to me fol
an hour, just to save fellow from thu
n clutches?'
Dorothy's head went high, the seen
e Of battle in her delicate nostrils. Dur
ing the barely perceptible hesitation
& her mind held the picture of a recen
= day when she had been cheated out o
n an afternoons sailing with the adora
bic Freddie Burton by Miss Simpkins
e meddling
I'll do it, Freddie" she whispered 4
gay excitement.
e moment later Mr.. Temple was seal
ing his fiancee pro TEN. beneath tn
wide, dark music room window.
"Ah, DOllie nine," he breathed
admirably loverlike tones, while tn
young lady thus possessively address
ed half suppressed hysterical gigglei
at last l have you to myself an
away from all those smirking cads thf
cluster around you as If they had th
right The right is mine now, isn't
sweetheartT
"Ye-es," very family.
Thus encouraged, the happy love
drew nearer and availed himself
two tempting white hands. Miss DO
Otby removed them from his tend'
clasp with vehemence. "NOw, Berti
how many times have to tell you
There was just the tiniest rustlir
e within the window.
"Dolie," he whispered, "you mustn
forget we're engaged!'
The hands resigned themselves limp
to the inevitable.
Il hope you realize, dearest
II yFice became audible again, al
Dorothy was surprised to notice no
pleasantly caressing Bertie's vol
could be-'that you have made me {
happiest man alive I've never wal
ed anything as l have wanted this, al
nOw-oh, grille, it's almost unbelie
able yet! Tell me again that It's
that you truly love met'
Dorothy's eyes opened wide In t
darkness. BERTHE Temple making 10
in this magnificent fashionI 1t was
most thrilling.
why, Of course / do, silly. \
know it without my repeating 1t on
and over as If l had nothing else
say"
do what, sweetheartT mischi'
ously.
Again a suggestion Of movement
the other side Of the window.
BERTHE pressed the captive har