The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-06
BERT'S
STRATEGY
By RUTH sAsTELLE
Copyright, 1901, by K. N. Whitehead

BERTHE Temple came hurriedly up the
steps with purposeful look in his usu-
ally dreamy eyes that ELECTED 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 a few moments conversa-
tion-private, if may make so bold"
Perhaps it was for the reason that
this frank request, made with such ap-
parent confidence in its being granted,
sounded so unlike dif11dent, self depre-
catory BERTHE that her woman's euriosi-
ty was aroused At any rate, the furi-
Gus SWANS received gracious but ag-
gregate smile for their kindness, and
Miss Dorothy was borne away down
the mooniit piazza ON the arm of that
vandal, Temple.
I'm in a deuce of hole, Dollie," be
gan BERTHE, low and hurriedly, Il can't
tell anybody else, but / know you'll
help a fellow out. It's that Miss Slmp-
kins-oh. suppose it sounds frightful-
| ly caddish-but l should think you
must have seen! Encouraged by my
childlike countenance to take advan-
tage, like all the others
Most unhappy infantw interrupted
/ Dorothy, with n sympathetic pat on his
! white fianneled sleeve. you have had
/ our united commiserations for a week
If that amiable spinster harbors no de-
sign upon your Innocent head appear
ances are indeed misleading. Only don't
j beseeeh you, ask me to abuse faith
fui conscience by hiding her false front
or anything Ike that"
i ''Ne, Delhe. 1 have mys plan-amag-
ingiy simple and. l think you'll admit,
I rather clever" Then he added, with a
/ eyes, unohserved by the smiling maid
en-, And If you'll only say yes, Dollie.
\ we ought TO be able to get some fun out
/. of it thrown in"
"Unveil your mystery came the an
mated command.
! Its just this: The old, old bore but
/ tonholed me after dinner tonight and
whispered langhingly that she'd dis
covered the music room window behind
I 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 OF course
/ it would be the most natural thing in
the world for me to forget it II had
persuaded my fancee to sit with me
! Just outside the window" He stopped
suddenly as they reached the corner OF
i the east piazza. caught both the girls
I hands and held them for an instant
i "DolIie, will you be engaged to me for
an hour, Just 70 save fellow from the
clutches?'
/ Dorothy's head went high, the scent
4 OF 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
BILE Freddie Burton by Miss Sinpkins
meddling.
"rn do it, Freddie" she whispered il
gay excitement
A moment later Mr.. Temple was seat
ing his fiancee pro tenn beneath the
, wide. dark music room window
! "Ah, Dollie nine" he breathed IL
admirably loverlike tones, while the
i young lady thus possessively address
ed half suppressed hystericsl gigsies
"at last l have you to myself and
| away from all those smirking cads thai
cluster around you as if they had the
right. The right is mine now, isn't 1t
sweetheart
"Ye-es," very family.
Thus encourag ed, the happy love
drew nearer and awaited himself o.
! two tempting white hands. Miss Dor
ethy removed them from his tendel
clasp with vehemence. Now, BERTHE
how many times have to tell you
There was Just the tiHiest rustlin;
within the window.
"DoiIie," he whispered. you musn'
forget we're engaged
: The hands resigned themselves hmpi'
/ to the inevitable.
II hope you realize, dearest -th'
voice became audible again, ant
Dorothy was surprised to notice how
pleasantly caressing Berries yoie
J could be-'.that you have made me IN
} happiest man alive. I've never want
! ed anything as / have wanted this, ant
: now-oh. grille. it's almost unbeiIey
.. able yet! Tell me again that IT'S 50
that you truly love me-
Dorothy's eyes opened wide IN tn
J darkness. BERTHE Temple making low
; in this magnificent fashion! 1t was al
. most thrilling.
"Why, of course l do, silly. 70
know it without my repeating 1t owe