The Somerset reporter., 1908-12-24

then again she looks utterly common.
place. Funny you can only rave about
her on one of her uninteresting days.
| suppose that from now on you'll be
drawing brunette dwarfs, no matter
what sort of heroines the author likes.
You'll lose your pull with the publish
ers If you keep that sort Of thing up.
Better see a doctor about It,"
you'd better see an oculst yourself
If your eyes are so dull to real lowell
ness" retorted Ned. when you have
finished your breakfast let me know,
and III come and get mine. The lease
here runs out at the end Of this month.
l guess l won't renew my share, Mau-
rer. Better ret some one else
Think I'll move, too assented
Maurer. II don't want to stay here
with a female freak like that living
across the way. I'll stop ut the office
on the way ont and tell them to look
for another tenant"
He went out to a lonely breakfast,
and when he had gone Bellington
came out to play with the cold chops
and the lukewarm coffee. lie did not
go to the drawing board in spite of
the splendid inspiration OF the girl
across the way.
He was tremendously fond of Maui
rer and this abrupt termination of
their friendship, coming as it had. I'M
settled him for work He could only
puff at his pipe and wonder what 1t
would be like to set up housekeeping
alone in smaller apartment lie
would take an apartment in the same
house to be near the girl. but he would
need only one room.
Maurer paid the larger share of the
joint rental. lie was making more
money and insisted that he would pay
as much were he alone. Ned had APP
preclated his kindness. and when he
did not look at the girl he reproached
himself for his new inGratitude.
But when he saw the little brown
head and the delicate profile through
the window opposite he told himself
that an unseeing brute like Maurer did
not deserve sympathy.
L
back untasted, and the afternoon shad
ows grew into dusk, and still Ned sat
and smoked and thought
The girl was gone now, but he could
still fancy that she was there, and he
WAS so absorbed with his thoughts
that he did not hear the key turn in
the lock, and not until Maurer burst
In with IA whoop that ratified the
shades on the electric globes did he
rouse himself.
Were both right. old man. shouted
Maurcr as he dragged Ned from his
chair and forced him to participate in
an impromptu war dance about the
tiny parlor. THE prettiest girl in the
world lives across the way. but your
prettiest girl is not my prettiest girl
thank heaven There are two of 'em.
old man, yours and mine-at least
they're going to be yours and mine, l
hope"
He sank into n chair
I'm taking care of Gordon's clients
while he's in Europe, and n Mrs. Eos
ter sent for me today to consult about
some real estate deal That's where
my prettiest girl went! They're twins
Alice and Phoebe Bayard, and they're
Mrs. Fosters nieces. She's an invalid
and they take turns living with her
She says it's too much of strain to
have them both there at once and to
try to tell which is which. That's why
sometimes it was my prettiest girl,
and sometimes 1t was the one you
liked We made the mistake of think
ing that there was only one. The old
lady's going to Europe with n trained
nurse for keeps. It's good thing that
we gave up this apartment. Well
need two, and they won't be In bache-
lor halls either"
Ned grasped his friends hand in his
own. There's only one prettiest girl"
he declared. but yours isn't common
place" And with that concession Maui
rer was content.