Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-08-11
HIS ASSISTED
CALL

grained and deep-seated aversion to
making formal calls. If it were sug-
geSted to him, for instance, that he
drop in and see the Smiths, he would
do so delightedly-but mention the
fact that it is time for him to pay a
dinner or dance call and he gathers
himself together and runs like the ira
ditional rabbit
1t was just the other night that Jill.
lings and Rose, the girl he likes best,
while out for moonlight stroll.
passed a large apartment building
which Jillings recognized. He whis-
tied mournfully.
"Jove!" he said I'D forgotten all
about that! Some friends of mine,
the Bankers, live here and went to
large dinner party they gave fully
three months ago. I've never been
near since"
Archibald Jillings," cried the
young woman in horror. do you
mean to say you've never paid your
dinner call? Go, pay it now-and I'll
cit on the curbstone and wait"
"No," said Jillings, virtuously, chat
wouldn't be polite. refuse to leave
you!"
Then Rose grabbed his sleeve excl
tedly and halted him. "Listen!" she
said. 81 have a perfectly splendid
plan. You ought to be thankful you
have intelligent friends to think for
you. Maybe they're not at home and
you can just leaves your card in their
letter box and do your duty without
any distraction to yourself or inter
ruption of our walk"
THAT sounds pleasant" Jillings adj
mitted. "but will you kindly suggest
how l am to ascertain if the Bankers
are at home? Am / to call up the
speaking tube and ask Barker if he's
In, murmuring my CONSERVATION if he
replies that he is? Or would it be bet
ter to ascend the fire escape and'look
in at the parlor Window"
Don't be silly!" said the young
woman. "Of course, they know your
voice. That's where / come in. I'll
call up the tube and if anyone answers
I'll ask if they can tell me if the Mont
morency Browns live anywhere in the
building. OF course they don't and
III apologize and We'll flee If they
don't answer in goes your calling
card"
Say, you're simply wonderful" Jill
llngs said, admiringly you ought to
be in the diplomatic service. Do you
really think we could manage it?"
For answer she led the way into the
apartment house entrance 81 think, :"
she murmured, this is a perfectly
lovely adventure. Nobody's feelings
will be hurt, no harm will be done,
you escape a call and yet the Bark.
ers will think you are perfect gen..
tleman Here goes!"
She rang the bell and inclined her
ear to the speaking tube and just then
entered.
why, hello. Jillings!" cried the
newcomer
Hello, Barker." said Jillings, cho-
kingly. Good evening. Mrs. Barker!"
How fortunate we should have an
rived just when we did," cried Mrs.
Barker. you hadn't had time to find
we were out. had you?"
She eyed the young woman at the
speaking tube with curiosity 1t was
then that Jillings took the plunge.
mo" he said. firmly. Il had just
come in. This young lady was ahead
of me at your bell" He surveyed
Rose with the polite and admiring
aloofness of stranger viewing 8
pretty girl for the first time
Then Rose grandly fell in line. She
accorded Jillings merely the faintest
flicker of an eyelash. I'm hunting for
the Montmorency Browns" she told
the Bankers. Il must have made a
mistake in the NUMBER was trying
to see if anyone in the building knew
If they lived here"
There's nobody named Brown in
the building" said Barker.
"Really?" murmured Rose. THANK
you so much. Pardon me for troubling
you"
With a slight bow and smile she
hoated out of the door, leaving Jillings
to his friends and his fate.
He had an awful evening and now
the Bankers tell everyone that Jillings
certainly is on the verge of a nervous
breakdown. He called on us recent
ly," they say. "and really his CONVEX
sation was scarcely coherent"
In time Rose may relent toward
him. but at present she is sternly
grlling him for allowing her to go
home alone. She says Jillings should
have managed it better somehow, and
that's why Jillings gets mad and says
| women are illogical.