Holbrook argus., 1911-04-11
LIEUTENANT
 SMYTHERS By DOROTHY DOUGLAS



 more or less of mania with the young lieutenant-tbis searching, in different parts of the globe, for those companions with whom he had played "hooky" from school. in the undim- med past. Whether in China, South America or on the Leaning tower of Pisa itself, he seemed ever capable of unearthing some ancient friend ship Not that the lieutenant was guilty of gray hair among the red. or a line under the steel blue of his eye; he had merely seen much of the world in short time. It was in London that he learned of Karl Saunders, who was in New York making a name for himself by handling the bow and fiddle. Lieuten- ant Smythers then and there decided to look up Saunders as soon ss he reached America.
 He had not been in Annapolis for two weeks before he found time to run over to New York.
 Sixty eight West F'ifty-seventh street"
 Lieutenant Smythers glanced at the ] Cdlu III nlS HdHu dlu il1Ch at tltC bhiiN ! ing before which he stopped This seems to be the place" He stepped within the vestibule of the building. It was devoted almost entirely to studios, and he looked over the brass plate which bore the names of it's occu- pants.
 "K. Saunders" Lieutenant Smyth- CTS went up in the elevator to the third floor and dropped the heavy knocker on the door, which bore a small name plate engraved with the name K. Saunders.
 There was no response to his knock He knocked again, but apparently no one was in.
 It was not often that the lieutenant came to New York, and he liked to get what he went after when he did go. He stood for a moment hesitat- ing, then tried the handle of the door. It opened. Lieutenant Smythers went inside and closed the door. Saunders must have stepped out for only mo- ment, and there was no reason why he would object to an old acquaintance waiting in his room.
 When the lieutenant had thrown himself down in the big cozy chair by the grate fire he started apprehen- sively. Saunders evidently was mar ried. A dainty work basket, overflow ing with laces, and something with white embroidery lay on the floor be- side him. Lieutenant Smythers grew cold and damp precipitation beaded his forehead. Thought works rapidly and for a second the lieutenant had himself pictured in the startling colors of the yellow journals-frst as bur glar, then in a Saunders divorce case, and last as dishonorably discharged navy officer.
 As the last overwhelming picture arose before him the door opened and he merely sank a little lower in the chair, so that only the top of his head was visible to the person who had entered.
 "Oh, Karl! I've signed a two years contract with the Symphony! Isn't that perfectly lovely?" Some one had : rushed over and with bubbling enthu- siasm would have flung her arms about his neck had not the lieutenant faced the girl.
 : "Oh! Who in the world are you?" The girl opened startled eyes.
 For the moment Lieutenant Smyth- CTS had no notion of who he was; he was conscious only of wonderfully beautiful girl with a mass of sun- burned hair and a pair of unafraid gray eyes.
 He stood up and the girl could have guessed from the square carriage of his shoulders that he was of mill tary rank.
 T am Lieutenant Smythers and come over from Annapolis to see your husband, Karl Saunders" The girls eyes gave him quick peculiar look.
 q have not seen Saunders for some fifteen years and had not known he was married; otherwise I would not have taken the liberty of entering tc await his arrival
 And you are one of Karl's Cedar Rapids friends?''
 Well am from little getting off place about five miles from there [ Marion"
 From Marion! You are not by any chance one Rufus of whom 1 have heard Karl speak?" She cast a more or less impertinent glance at the hair on Lieutenant Smythers' head q feel quite certain you are,' she said with eyes which betrayed a spiri of mischief, land now that I am req sonably certain that you are not bur glar will you be seated. My-Kar will not be long"
 As far as the lieutenant was con cerned Karl Saunders could stay ava! indefinitely. His wife meantime sho dart after dart near the region of Lieu { tenant Smythers' heart. Had she beer a single woman he would have flow1 for his life; with all his strength tn, lieutenant had fought against the fem II a.-s- Lo1 |,