Putnam patriot., 1913-08-29

was at her house that he was to dine. He took the receiver, resolved to get out of going to the dinner if 1t
 were possible.
 Good evening, Mrs. Bowman" "Oh, is that you. MT. Durham? How relieved I am am in bit of l difficulty about my dinner. and called l up to see if your sister couldn't help | out. Miss Mayo has failed me Her sister has had an accident, and she | cannot leave her. She has just | phoned me, and l don't know what to
 do. Isn't Cornelia at home? Couldn't
 you persuade her to come and help
 out?"
 Well, now. that's too bad. Mrs. Bow
 man." began the young man, thinking
 he saw a way out of both their diff culties. I'm sorry Cornelia isn't here. I'm sure she would do anything
 in her power to help you. But she and mother were to dine In Chestnut Hill tonight, and they must have left the house half an hour ago. I'm afraid she's out of the question. Suppose you leave me out? You won't have any trouble then except to take two l plates of the table"-he laughed pleasantly-"and you would have even couples. You see." he hastened to add. as he heard Mrs. Parker Bowmans | preliminary dissent-"you see, Mrs. Bowman, I'm in somewhat of predic-
 ament myself My train was late, and as I left the station l happened to meet a young woman-a-a friend" | Gle reflected rapidly on the old pro verb, "A friend in need is a friend | indeed" In that sense she was l friend.) "She is temporarily separated | from her friends, and is a stranger in l the city. In fact, I'm the only ac- quaintance or friend she has, and 1 feel rather under obligation to see her to her hotel and look up trains for her. She leaves the city tonight" Now, look here, Tryon Dunham. you're not going to leave me in the lurch for any young woman. l don't care how old an acquaintance she Isl You simply bring her along. She'll make up my number and relieve me wonderfully. No, don't you say word Just tell her that she needn't stand on ceremony. Your mother and l are too old friends for that Any friend of yours Is a friend of mine, and my house Is open to her. She won't mind. These girls who have travelled a great deal learn to step over the little formalities of calls and introductions. Tell her I'll call on her e a -I,- town long enough, or I'll come and take dinner with her when I happen to be in her city. I suppose she's just returned from abroad-they all
 have-or else she's just going-and if
 she hasn't learned to accept things as she finds them, she probably will soon. Tell her what a plight I'm in, and that 1t will be real blessing to me
 if she'll come. Besides- didn't mean to tell you-I meant it for surprise, but I may as well tell you now
 Judge Blackwell is to be here, with his wife, and l especially want you to meet him. I've been trying to get you two together for long time"
 "Ah!" breathed the young man, with
 interest. Judge Blackwell. I have
 wanted to meet him."
 Well. he has heard about you, too, and think he wants to meet you Did you know he was thinking of taking partner into his office? He has al l ways refused-but that's another story, and haven't time to talk. You ought to be on your way here now. Tell your friend I will bless her forever | for helping me out, and l won't take no for an answer. You said she'd just returned from abroad, didn't you? Of | course she's musical. You must make her give us some music. She will. | won't she? I was depending on Miss ! Mayo for that this evening"
 Well, you might be able to per. suade her." murmured the distracted I young man at the phone, as he strug- | gled with one hand to unite his neck l tie and unfasten his collar, and men, l tally calculated how long 1t would take him to get into his dress suit.
 "Yes, of course. You'd better not speak of it-it might make her de- l cline And don't let her stop to make | any changes in her dress. Everybody | will understand when l tell them she's | just arrived-didnt you say?-from the other side. and we caught her on | the wing. There's some one coming now. Do. for pity's sake. hurry, Tryon. l for my cook is terribly cross when | hold up a dinner too long. Goodby. | Oh. by the way, what did you say was l her nameT
 "0h-ah!" He almost succeeded in | releasing his collar. and was about to
 hang up the receiver. when this ueY
 diolculty confronted him.