Times-promoter., 1908-10-16
A Narrow
Escape.
By MARTHA c. SANFORD.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.
} NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 30 .

SoeSeSO0VeSeo
Continued from last week.
assured her heartily. II think it will
be jolly lark. Now for the college
sundae. What is your fayorite fow-
er?'
Oh, shades of solemn stocks and
bonds! If Margaret could have seen
them now! Eloise described a COM
plete revolution on her rotary stool at
the thought Of it.
And the ride down on the bus. hats
off. with the brisk breeze blowing
through their hair and everywhere the
eXhilaration as of holiday about
them!'
Il never had so much fun in my
life!" Rollins exclaimed, with unaf-
fected enthusiasm.
'Tt's because you're playing truant, "
Eloise assured him. Aren't you hav-
ing fun?" he asked her.
"Of course! l could squeal I'm so
happy"
"But you aren't playing truant.
What
I'm just playing" Interrupted Eloise
quickly. "And that's more fun than
anything else in the world"
Rollins was the first to break the lit
tie conscious silence that followed
Il was awfully rude to you at the
station. Miss Kimball. l hope you'll
forget it. ! don't know what you
thought of me-"
Margaret had prepared me for the
worst" she said.
what had she told you?" he de-
manded. 1T will probably do me good
to hear"
Eloise let him have the merciess
truth.
"And suppose you agree with herr"
he questioned, half in jest, half In ear
nest
Margaret doesn't half know how ir-
reclaimable you are" Eloise answered
without perceptible flicker of mock
cry.
1t was with strangely new sensa.
ton that Curtiss Rollins stood watch
ing ship sail out to sea long after the
fiutter of certain little handkerchief
had become indistinguishable before
he turned his face toward town again,
which, he had decided, had grown sud-
denly dull and lonely. In the days that
followed heswas absorbed and preoccu-
pied to noticeable degree.
"Curtiss has grown freakier than
ever" wrote Margaret to Eloise in des-
peration. 81 did hope the sight of such
refreshing creature as you, my dear,
would wake him up, and I'm sure he
did enjoy the afternoon he spent with
you. In fact, after first got home he
spoke of you several times voluntarily.
called you intelligent and sympathetic
which is the very acme of admiration
from Curtiss.
''On the strength of this before we
left town | told him all about you and
your family dactfully, of course) and
what charming summer place Cliff
vile is, adroitly suggesting that he'd
find it an ideal spot to spend his vaca
ton. But all to no purpose, my dear
EIoise A telegram has just come
from him saying he's been called away
on IN urgent matter and will be gone
indefinitely.
THAT means that when he gets back
he'll plunge into business harder THAI
ever. and nll the romantic influence Of
the Summer season will have spent
itself III vain. so far us Curtiss IS con-
ccrDed."
This letter Elosp hngged ardently to
her until the felicitous moment should
come when she could laugh over its
contents with Curtiss.
,''You see.' she told him when the
moment did come, Il suspected your
motive from the very day of your ar
rival in Cliffville."
Margaret Is most remarkable
GIRL" Curtiss commented. glancing
again at the letter. "She understands
people. have always said So"
Especially 1rreclaimable freaks,'"
Eloise reminded him roguishly.