The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-04-23
KINDLY
VERDICT

Naturally one would expect the
l.akehurst Country club to be at Lake
hurst That was why when the con
ductor Of the suburban train shouted
"I.akehurst!v Dilkins arose and got
on The sight OF the station Of stucco
and the gravel walks was cheering
for somehow it seemed that with all
this up-to-daieness for a start It prom
ised well for q good dinner, and Dil
/ lzns was hungry
When the Spaffords had invited him
to dine with them Sunday az the Lake
4 hurst club Spafford had said you
/ know whore it is, don't you?p Dilkins,
well aware that for one to betray ig-
norance of the Lakehurst club was
TO announce ones self outside the so
cial pale had answered airily that of
course he knew He accepted the
reminder that If he missed the 1890
train he would be late for dinner with
the air of being perfectly familiar with
The train service in that direction
spafford had added slyly that Hiss
Higgins, who was to make the fourth
Of the little party, was mighty pretty
girl
OF course, if Dilkins had inquired
OF the station agent it would have
been different, but spying what evi,
IDENTIFY was a large clubhouse a quar-
Ter Of mile away, he set out briskly
Ia its direction. He was enjoying
himself hugely. He could not have
been doing it any better had he dined
and golfed at the Lakehurst club for
years.
The deferential man in buttons at
the club door fitted into the picture
and the man I'M the checkroom com
pletcd DilSins' peace Of mind He
liked things to be in keeping The
Spaffords were not in sight. but then
their machine might have broken
down.
Dllkins wandered back and forth un-
comfortably lie noticed the clerk
at the desk furtively discussing him
with the man in buttons. Finally, as
Dilkins passed the desk in his pere-
grinations, the clerk coughed.
"Er--were you expecting to meet
some one?' he inquired
Yes said Dillins. THE Spaf-
fords I'm to dine with them
Spafford?" repeated the clerk sad
ly There isn't any Spafford belong
ing to the club"
Whea Dilkins and the clerk came
TO understand each other Dilkins had
learned that he was not in the Lake
hurst club. he was in the Star Ten
mis- and COLI club at I.akehurst-andl
the Lakehmst Country club was at the
next station, Wilmore. Just why it
was at Wilmore when it was named
after Lakehurst the clerk could not
tell the indignant Dilkins. He be
lieved 1t had been built before the
railroad station was established and
somebody who thought the spot looked
as though it ought to be named VIII
more was responsible for the compli
cation
Dilkins got his coat and hat and
was respectfully bowed out, feeling
like a horse thief He walked very
hurriedly to the stucco station to wait
For the next train, hali-hour off lie
felt very bitter Still, maybe dinner
would be late and he would not have
70 reveal his crude mistake Since
Miss Higgins was a very pretty gin (
she was likely TO De intolerant Of mis-
takes. and he bated to be laughed at
Besides, it would show that he not
only was ignorant Of the Lakehurs
club, but that he had been making
cheap bluff
lie was in state Of nervous ten
sion when he finally aighted At win
more He sighed with relief at the
sight OF vehicle labeled clubhouse
bus and climbed in. This would ex
pedite matters. II worst came to
worst, he could tell the Spaffords that
he had missed the 80 train and had
to take the next one. Wen, he had
taken It, hadn't he?
Engaged in these reflections, Dnkins
did not realize at first that the bus
had really stopped
Hotel" cried the driver, opening
the door
lJiiklnS, SpesCUlcSS, luOkcu. IL was I
indeed the small hotel OF Wilmorc |
There was no sign of its being even
the remotest imitation of a clubhouse
land Dilkins was SO hungry by this |
time that he could have eaten Tin cans
with a relish.
il want the Iakehurst clubhouse, "
he explained, grimly
Oh said the driver, that's a mile
down the other road--just three
blocks the other side of the station =, 1
The driver took Diilxins to the club
house for So It was then 2;3O o'clock
Diikins found the Spanords and I
Miss Higgins. They all wore the con
tented. complacent and tolerant look
Of those who have dined well, thus ma
king Dilkins feel younger than ever
Just ais he had finished an elaborate
" vanished tale OF missing the train. I
churlgtts, mutual friend, strolled up
Hello. Dilkins,' be said Didn't \
see you getting off the 1890 at Lake.