Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-05-30

AQl4N xsYuC
"Don't ask me. Ask the girls"
heartily as II he mad not himself hoped
to occupy the position now held by
the sprightly katherine. He was cud-
Ceiling his brain to solve the problem
represented by the adage, 1.-TWO is
company, three is none" The girls
sat together on the settee and gazed
out over the brilliantly lighted, ami
mated throng. People were still pour
Ing up the gangways, and the decks
were rapidly becoming crowded with
a many colored, ever shifting galaxy
OF humanity. The hum of converse
ton almost drowned the popular selec-
tons being played by the cruisers ex
cellent band. Suddenly one popular
selection was cut in two. The sound
of ne instruments ceased for a mo-
ment, then they struck up "The Stars
and Stripes Forever"
"Hello" cried katherine. "Can your
band play Sousa?"
II should say we could,'' boosted the
lieutenant, "and we can play his music
in a way to give some hints to MI.
Sousa's own musicians"
ITO beat the band, eh-Sousa's
banda" rejoined Katherine. dropping
| into slang.
Exactly" smiled the lieutenant.
"And now, young ladies, will you ex-
cuse me for a few moments? This
musical selection means that your Sec
| Ysofl ny nf S1n n01yyy &c, ON Tho r,o4o,,r
and I must be in my place with the
rest of the officers to receive him and
his staff with all ceremony. Please
promise you will not leave this spot
till I return. 1 implore you!"
"Better put the bluejacket on guard
over u.s." laughed katherine.
by Jove. a very good ideal"
Dorothy saw all levity depart from
his face, giving way to a look of stern
ness and command. Although he was
engaged in a joke, the subordinate
must see no sign of fooling in his
countenance. He said a sharp word
to a b~luejacket, who nimbly sprang to
the end of the %settee, raised his hand
in salute and stiffened himself to an
automaton. Then the girls saw the
tall figure of the lieutenant vending
its way to the spot where the COM
mander stood.
Il say, Dorothy, We're prisoners. l
wonder what this Johnny would do If
we attempted to fly. Isn't the lieuten-
ant sumptuous?'
"He seems a very agreeable person."
murmured Dorothy.
"Agreeable! Why, he's splendid! I
tell you, Dorothy, I'm going to have
the first dance with him. I'm the eld-
est. He's big enough to divide be-
tween two small girls like us, you
know
81 don't intend to Dance" said Doro-
thy.
Nonsense! You're not going to sit
here all night with nobody to speak to.
I'll ask the lieutenant to bring you a
Elan. He'll ta!,. or three blue
jackets and g.. anybody you
want"
Katherine" saiu dorothy, almost
as severely as if it We're the elder SIS
ter who spoke, 'if you say anything
like that I'll go back to the house,"
You can't get back. I'll appeal to
the guard. I'll have you locked up
If you don't behave YOURSELF"
you should behave yourself. Real
~, Katherine, you must be careful
what You say or you'll make me feel
very unhappy"
Katherine caught her by the elbow
and gave it an affectionate little
squeeze.
Don't be frightened, Miss Propriety,
I wouldn't make you unhappy for the
world. But surely you're going to
dancer"
Dorothy shook her head.
Some other time. Not tonight.
There are too many people here. 1
shouldn't enjoy it, and-there are other
reasons. This is all so new and strange
to me-these brilliant men and beauti-
full women. the lights, the music, ev-
erything-it is as if / had stepped into
another world, something I had read
about or perhaps dreamed about and
never expected to see"
"Why, you dear girl. I'm not going to
dance either, then"
"Oh, yes. you will, Katherine; you
must"
II couldn't be so selfish as to leave
you here all alone"
1T isn't selfish at all, Katherine. /
shall enjoy myself completely here. 1