The Cairo bulletin., 1910-05-23
HIS ASSISTED
CALL

Jillsgs has constitutional, In
grained and deep-seated aversion to
making formal calls. If 1t 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 II 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 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 a
large dinner party they gave fully
three months ago. I've never been
near since"
Archibald Jillngs." cried the
young woman In horror do you
mean to say you've never paia your
dinner call? Go, pay II now and III
sit on the curbstone and wait"
NO" said Filings, virtuously, "tha,
wouldn't be polite refuse to leave
you!"
Then Rose grabbed his sleeve excl
teddy and halted him 'Listen!" she
said. II have 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 leave your card In their
letter box and do your duty without
any distraction to yourself or inter,
ruption of our walk"
THAT sounds pleasant" Filings aid
mitted, "but will you kindly suggest
how ! am to ascertain If the Bankers
are at home? Am | to call up sthe
speaking tube and ask Barker II he's
in, murmuring my CONSERVATION II 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 II anyone answers
Ill ask III they cf-1 tell me II the Mont
morency Browns live anywhere in We
building or course they don't and
I'll apologize and Wen flee If they
don't answer In goes your calling
card" Il. re
Say, you're simply wonderful" jill.
lings saida admiringlyve"Y 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. II think, .
she murmured, this is a perfectly
lovely adventure. Nobody's feelings
will be hurt, no harm will be done,
you escape call and yet the Bark
ers will think you are a perfect gen.
tleman. Here goes!"
She rang the bell and inclined her
ear to the speaking tube and Just then
INC oulSl uoSi OPSiSA anu S0uptu
entered.
why, hello. JiIlings!" cried the
newcomer.
Hello, Barker!" said Jillings. cho.
kingly. Good evening. Mrs. Barker!"
How fortunate we should have. ar
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 Jilings took the plunge
NO" he said. firmly. II 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 q
pretty girl for the first time.
Then Rose grandly fell In line. She
accorded Filings merely the faintest
flicker Of an eyelash. I'm hunting for
the Montmorency Browns" she told
the Bankers y must have made q
mistake in the NUMBER was trying
to see II anyone in the building knew
II 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 slight bow and smile she
foated out Of the door. leaving Filings
to his friends and his fate.
He had an awful evening and nov
the Bankers tell everyone that Jillings
certainly is on the verge of 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
grilling him for allowing her to &C
home alone. She says Filings should
have managed 1t better somehow, anc
that's why Jillings gets mad and says
women are Illogical
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