The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-18
CHAPTER XVII.
The Sea. the Sand. the stars.

uNlll 1 learned lIdl Shc M@h out ~
town. ] hung up the receiver, almost
dizzy with disappointment, and 1t was
fully five minutes before | thought OF
calling up again and asking If she
was within telephone reach. 1t
seemed she was down on the bay stay
ing with the Samuel Forbeses.
Sammy Forbes! 1t was name to
conjure with Just then, In the old
days at college had rather flouted
him. but now | was ready to take him
to my heart. | remembered that he
had always meant we'll, anyhow, and
that he was explosiyely generous. |
called him up.
"By the fumes Of gasoline!" he said,
when ! told him who | was. Blake
ley, the Fount of Wisdom against
Womanl Blakeley, the Great I'm
kissed. Welcome to our city,"
Whereupon he proceeded to urge
me to come down to the Shack, and
to say that | was an agreeable sur
prise. because four times in two
hours youths had called up to ask II
Alison West was stopping with him,
and to suggest that they had a vacant
day or two.
"Oh-Miss West!' l shouted polite
ly. There was buzzing on the line.
rs she there?"
Sam had no suspicious Was not
| in his mind always the Great I'm
kissed?-which sounds like the Great
Unwashed and is even more of a re-
proach. He asked me down promptly
as had hoped, and thrust aside my
objections
Nonsense" he said, Bring your
self The lady that keeps my board
ing.house is calling to me to insist.
You remember Dorothy, don't you,
Dorothy Browne? She says unless
you have lost your figure you can
wear my clothes all right. All you
need here is bathing suit for day
time and a dinner coat for evening"
1T sounds cool | temporized. IL
you are sure | won't put you out
very well, Sam, since you and your
wife are good enough | have a
couple OF days free Give my love to
Dorothy until can do fl myself
Sam met me himself and drove me
out to the Shack, which proved to be
a substantial house overlooking the
water. On the way he conilded to me
+ that lots of married men thought they
were contented when they were mere
/ ly resigned, but that II was the only
/ life, and that Sam. junior, could swim
+ like duck Incidentally. he said that
+ Alison was his wife's cousin, their re.
spectlye grandmothers having, ut
proper intervals, married the same
i man. and that Alison would lose her
good looks if she was not careful.
Il say she's worried, and | stick to
II" he said as he threw the lines to
groom and prepared to get out
/ You know her. and she's the kind of
girl you think you can read like a
book. But you can't; don't fool your
self Take a good look at her at din
ner. Blake; you won't lose your head
like the other fellows-and then tell
me what's wrong with her. We're
mighty fond OF Allie.
He went ponderously up the steps,
for Sam had put on weight since /
knew him AT the door he turned
around. DO you happen to know the
MacLure's at Seal Harbor?" he
asked irreleyantly. but Mrs. Sam
came into the hail just then, both
hands out to greet me, and whatever
Forbes had meant to say. he did not
pick up the subject again.
I'VE are having tea in here" Doro-
thy said gaily indicating the door
behind her. Tea by courtesy, be
cause ! think tea Is the only beyer-
age that isn't represented And then
we must dress, Tor this is hop night
at the club"
which is as great misnomer as
the tea" Sam put in, ponderously
struggling out of his linen driving
coat. It's bridge night and the only
hops are IN the beer.
He was still gurgling over this as
he took me upstairs He showed me
my room himself. and then began the
fruitless search for evening raiment
that kept me home that night from
the club. For | couldn't wear Sans
clothes That was clear after a per
: spring seance Of half hour.
II won't do It, SAM | said, when
had draped his dress-coat on me toga
fashion who am TO have clothing
to spare, like this, when many poor
chap hasn't even cellar door to
cover him. | won't do il; I'm selfish
. but not that selfish"
Lord he said, wiping his face
: how you've kept your figure ] can't
+ wear belt any more; got to have
suspenders4
, he reflected over his grievance fol
some time. sitting on the side OF the
, bed You could go as You are, ht
said finally we do Il all the time
, only tonight happens to be the an
! nual something or other. and" h'
0 trailed on into silence. trying U
e buckle my belt around him. a goo'
{ six inches, he sighed. = never ge
into a hansom cab any more that
!, don't expect TO see the horse fly al
4 IN the air Well. Allie isn't goinl
T either She turned down Granger thi
aftarnoon ~. Annanolia folloW yOl