The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-04-07

| WiQlSy became SuIdSeu' AASA ~~
denly the .ure of the game rose in
her veins. In q spirit of challenge,
she leaned out and called audibly to
her brother
Tell him-home!" and, as the
door closed on them, Fenshaw
caught a glimpse of hair as golden
as the slipper that was running the
shape of his pocket and of eyes with
a matching CLEAN Of mockery.
FenshaW was at the bachelor
stage, which is beyond that Of the
merely single young man. This does
not mean, however, that he was
without his moments of impulse. A
vacant taxi stood encouragingly at
hand. He sprang in.
Worth your while to follow and
keep track Of that carl" he directed.
Dizzily they spun along to dis
count the start of the other motor.
Finally it stopped. So did FenshaW,
slightly in the rear. He paid ex-
travagantly for his success, dis
missed the taxi, took accurate note
Of the house the Winleys entered,
verified the number as they passed
inside, ascertained the street and
then turned homeward with a tune
upon his lips. For was it not Mrs.
Hartfelds street?-sympathetic, en-
ergetic matchmaking Mrs. Hart
field! And just three doors below,
too! Surely she knew the glorious
lady of the slipper! If that were SO.
He laughed aloud at the rosiness
of his outlook.
In the morning he called up Mrs.
fairfield No hour was ever too
early for her She agreed with
eagerness to his suggestion She
considered Fenshaw her most OBJ
stinate and at the same. time her
most worth while" case. He had
never confessed to need of her be-
fore. and his hint of distress was
heartening sign. So she broke an
engagement for bridge, and with the
tea table laid and some of her hus-
bands best cigars at hand an hour
too soon, she sat looking out Of her
window, impatiently tapping her foot
in rhythm to the clocks ticking.
Fenshaw was almost prompt. He
arrived exactly on time, and, with
bare greeting, dropped the slipper in
to the lap of his hostess.
"There!" he exclaimed sheepishly,
81 hope you're satisfied"
Mrs. fairfield examined it excited
ly.
Whose is it?" she demanded
T-don't-know," mumbled Fen
shaw.
She beamed upon him. 1t was bet
ter than she had expected.
Tell me-all!" she commanded.
He told her. "I've been wondering
ever since just why did it," he end
ed, except, perhaps-it is handsome
slipper
Mrs. fairfield did not contradict
him. "The number is 81, you say?
That is the Winley's house. Hair
matches the slipper" she broke off
irrelevantly.
Fenshaw nodded. "You know herr"
he cried.
"Of course" lied Mrs. fairfield,
with the mental reservation, "by
sight" to ease her conscience. "And
you merely wish to return this?"
Fenshaw looked up sharply. "Of
course! You see, 1t was really an
objectionable thing to do. felt
that she knew l had it, and l should
have given 1t back then and there,
but-but didn't"
HIM" said Mrs. fairfield. She was
thinking very hard. Suppose you
drop in to dinner Tuesday next?"
There was a yelled promise in her
tone.
Angel" murmured Fenshaw as
he left the house.
At the same moment "the angel"
was in frantic communication over
the telephone.
Tuesday came at last. Fenshaw
arrived most improperly early. 1t
was a good symptom, and Mrs. Hart
fields greeting was none the less
cordial. She met his expectant gaze
with a glib explanation.
"You see, Ethel-Mrs. Trowden-
rang me up just after you left.
She'd quite set her heart on O din
ner and little bridge after; so when
l told her l couldn't come she In
sisted on my bringing you along.
It's all right" She laughed as his
expression fell. "She has asked Miss
Winley."
They left the house. Fenshaw's
eyes were strangely alight and his
jaw sQuarely set as they drove away.
He was going to defeat or conquest
at least to battle. For sentiments
sake, the slipper rested in his
pocket, but his heart was already
leaping far beyond.
AS for Mrs. Hartfield she kept her
face buried in the cool fragrance of
her violets-Fenshaw's tacit confes-
sion of dependence-ferven pray
ing all the way over he might not
find out too soon that if it had not
been for Mrs. Trowden she never
could have introduced him to his
lady of the simmer"