The Holbrook news., 1910-04-22
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 The trouble began, innocently enough on my part, at the senior prom in New Haven, where I, Don Blocker no, it isn't pet-dog name for Donald: parents just named me that way-was about concluding the regulation four years at Shelf
 Rafe Scringeor and I were chums and bunkies: hence, he knew that 1 was engaged to Jessica Callandar, while to me it was no secret that he | hoped to adorn a similar romantic re- lation to Estelle Folsom.
 My inamorata lived with her widow ed mother near the Washington Arch on lower Fifth avenue, New York, while Estelle Folsom was the only daughter of rich manufacturer, re- siding on Whitney avenue, New Haven, which facts will explain how T knew Estelle quite well, while Miss Callan- dar did not, except possibly through hearsay. I may mention also the phy- sical and psychological facts that the two girls belonged to opposite types Jessica being tall, dark and stately; Estelle petite, blonde. and of a Ores den-china-shepherdes style of pretti- ness. It should be needless to state that personally I do not much care for blondes, confession offset by Scrim- geor's avowal that somehow, since he I)had met Estelle Folsom, he felt that way about all brunettes.
 Now it fell out that on the night Of the prom, owing to his mother and sis ters being in town, Rafe didn't have time to drive way out on Whitney ave nue and back, so he begged me to start little early and escort Miss Folsom tI the Hyperion before I called for Jessie Callandar at her hotel, he promising to be on hand and meet us in the foy- ei, thus releasing me quickly. What else could a man do but consent?
 My car was a speedy one, and I made three three miles out and back in record time. But there was no Rafe on hand to meet us Miss Fol- som and I stood chatting just inside the swinging doors of the foyer where we could be seen by every one bidden to the greatest social event of the Ya.e year.
 Nine-thirty came and went, then 10 o'clock, and still no Rafe Again, what could l do, save continue to squire my chum's pretty dame, although I was aching to fetch my own lady-love To her, of course. thought I could easily explain matters. But good-fellowship peters out at a certain point; the mu- sic had begun long ago; arrivals were perceptibly fewer, and I was consider ing how I might decently escape, when the doors swung apart to admit-Jes- sica Callandar with her mother, attend ed by tall, rather distinguished-look- ing fellow. He was a complete stran- ger to me-wearing a monocle attach ed to narrow black ribbon, by which token l sized him up for an English man before he opened his mouth-and I hated him instinctively
 Imagine my surprise and chagrin No wonder, as I have since been as- sured, I looked like a farmers boy caught stealing apples, To have seem- ed to break an appointment with .ny f1ancee and to be apparently caught with the goods laughing and chatting with another grill It was horrible. and, I admit. didn't look very well. However, Miss Callandar carried off matters superbly.
 How do you do, MT. BIeecker?" (That mister sent cold chills down my spine.) Let me introduce the Hon- orable MT. Gordon-Powell, of the Brit ish legation in Washington
 We men shook hands perfunctorily while the attache murmured his En- glish "Chawmed, I'm shaw" Then it was my cue to introduce Miss Folsom to the trio. Jessie overtopped Estelle by four or five inches, and seemed to completely overlook the diminutive .it- tie thing. Yet she said, quite compos- edly and smilingly:
 I'm delighted to meet any-er- friend of MT. Bleecker's" The sting was covert, but all the more apparent to my sensitive and guilty ears.
 Miss Callandar, her mother, and her escort moved on toward the dancing floor, Jessie merely flinging over her shoulder, with that adorable tilt of the eyebrows knew and loved so well: Aren't you coming-you and Miss Folsom?"
 Certainly. in a few minutes. Tn only waiting for"
 They were gone. and I turned to my companion with something very Ike a scowl on my otherwise usually nrn' n'~hla feafu-aS