The Mena weekly star., 1913-12-18

 pleton," he said. q acted upon impulse, | but intended no insult. My real name and my address are contained here" and he placed a card in front of her.
 The girl glanced at the bit of paste board, and then started She looked up at Holton with a frightened ex- pression.
 Lieutenant Holton," she said. Why, I thought"
 She paused.
 You thought?" prompted Holton.
 1T thought" She paused again, then her expression changed, and she smiled at him. q thought you said your name was Appleton"
 "As l explained, did tell you that" said Holton. 'It was an impulse, and no harm was intended. Now you have my real name"
 The girl shook her head slowly.
 You must not do that again"
 "What-give the wrong name? never shall" and Holton spoke fervent- ly.
 "No-the right name" She fixed him with her serious eyes. Appleton is a very fine name.' she said; it sounds just as well as your own-Hol- ton. Yes, I think it has more at tractive sound--to Spaniard When you say Appleton-why, then-then it Is better so sometimes. Now, MT. Ap- pleton, again I thank you. I shall re member all you have done and all you have said. And now you must go.'
 The officer bowed. a tri1e stiffiy, for her manner had undergone something of change. He withdrew to his own table, and went through his various courses in a perfunctory manner His mind was wholly upon that beautiful girl and the strange nature of their in- terview
 While Holton was engaged in thought Miss La Tossas waiter, as though to make up for his misconduct, proved a most excellent servitor He seemed, in fact, to take especial pride in attending to the service with all the skill at his command, with the result that the girl, who was in large degret an epicure, rewarded him with a pleas ant smile.
 , Her father joined her at coffee, and it was then, while Waiting for an or U der. that this strange waiter pencilet the following telegram upon a pad which he carried in his pocket;
 = "Holton at Willard. Scorpion. evi' dently not going to Key West Failed with girl. But all working we'll"
 This went to Key West The waiter returned to the dining-room, and spent all his spare time standing within ear shot of the table at which Miss La Tossa and her father were seated The two were guests at the hotel. Just before they arose the father said something which brought che } waiter rigid He listened for the re' ply. and then with a broad smile he hurried to the serving-table for finger bowls, as demanded by fussy gentle man at a table in front of him. l As for Holton, he was smoking a } long cigar and, gazing thoughtfuliy at , the ceiling. trying to determine where he had seen the face of that waiter be- , fore
 , When Holton entered the ballroom l of the Willard the orchestra from be hind It's shelter of palms was sending l forth the stirring notes of Sousa's , Stars and Stripes" whose popularity was then at the apex, and the floor was filled with whirling couples. r few minutes late, all other thoughts flashed from his mind as the girl he had met in the restaurant passed in al the door on the arm of her father. She { was smiling animatedly, and was al once surrounded by group of young , men, mainly foreigners. all clamoring for one or more dances. r By George!" calculated Holton un } der his breath. I'm for that young lady without any doubt at all" Twice he started to move toward her, only to be anticipated by some l equally ardent young gallant. and il 3 was not until the music of a waltz had ceased and her partner had begun to cast his eyes about the room for the woman whose name appeared next or r his card that Holton saw his oppor 3 tunity. Stepping quickly across the
 floor. he confronted her with a bow l seeing which the partner bowed ir 3 turn and disappeared. ! MT. Apple-Mr. Holton!" she ex
 claimed. What a surprise!"
 Not an unpleasant one. I hope
 smiled Holton in reply. Of course not" she answered, plac !. Ing her card in the officer outstretch r ed hand
 ~ Thank you" Holton glanced quick D ly down the list of names 'I see the X twelfth, thirteenth. and fourteenth
 dances are not taken. May l have < them?"
 "All?" She arched her eyebrows '- but smiled. as if pleased
 Certainly, all" said the young mal
 emphatically, and as many more as
 you can spare"
 She regarded him smilingly. ', What a queer person you are," Hclton was about to reply when a
 nan in diplomatic British uniform al
 oroacl eJ, bowed s,1lv. and bore the ). 'iri away. Snn lo,f fea back 1t Holtoi | nsr ! [ sp -o'~,
 8 "Aa4 r".J a The ,- t4 ha m@- a, f length arrived. and Holton sallieC a forth to seek his partner before thu n l opening strains of the waltz measure
 had died away. He found her stand