The Washington herald., 1914-06-02
LOVE AND yENaIAHcE.

But saw you-eaw II AL. protested
Murisl, bIushing becominsiy. 1T was too
funny for anything-you making love to
the fat little widow, and your friend try
ing to cut you out and the policeman
chasing you both into the pond You
don't know how funny you are when you
make love, Mr.. Sterling" She laughed
uprosriously.
Mr.. Sterling looked like cross between
n Don Quixote and a Mr.. Pickwfck.
"You naughty giri!' he chided. "A
young lady shouldn't Spy. Mrs. Wampit
is q very charming widow. very charm
ing indeed. We were engaged In an in
teresting discussion of-of the seal hsh-
ing industry on the coast OF Alaska
when
"when you kissed her. interrupted
Muriel. do people always do that when
they discuss the seal fishing industry
on the coast Of Alaska?
Tut, tut Can't an old bachelor have
a little diversionT' The irrepressible Mr.
Sterling rolled his eyes In a manner in
tended to convey the impression that he
was a gay young dog; he always found
II q very effective maneuver. He ran an
appraising glance over the girl; she was
lithe-limbed and slender; she had a
queer way of conveying divers impress
sions with her smiles and glances. ana
she was an alluringly uncertain as April
weather. Mr.. Sterling. stroking ahec-
tionately his bristly patch OF beard. re-
called that he had made many conquests
in his days, and he yearned fervently
for just one more.
Over the rim of his spectacles he look
ed soulfully at the young creature. 1t
was q nicely adjusted glance. the kind
that had melted many heart and in
cited to scenes whose vehemence had
left many an exotic hair on Mr.. Sterl-
ing's inflated shoulder.
Don't you find 1t rather lonesome
hereg' he ventured
Not a bit." she parried. Automobile
races almost every day, and the grand
est lot Of mem Sometimes they break
their necks, too-you Just ought to see
them! Frank says he expects to win the
prize this afternon. Say, let so my
hand. will your
But Mr.. Sterling had no intention of
letting go her hand. His face. redolent
Of barber's bay rum and glowing with
the memory of past conquests. was close
to hers. He wondered who Frank might
be. but it Is never wise to inquire con-
cerning a possible rival
II have two seats In the grand stand
for this afternoon" he lied glibly.
Perfectly lovely" gushed Muriel.
flashing him an optic message that. as
sweet experience ndO Taught MI StcrunB,
meant the tumbling of the outer wall
surrounding a lady's heart. He tight
ened his fingers over her hand and was
about to whisper carefully assorted
sweet nothings into her pink little ear
wAen the wheezy chug-chug Of motors
was heard in the distance, and the light
CLINT of a car showed between the trees.
That's Frank" enlightened the girl.
Getting ready for the races And
must speak to him-just for a moment
You will excuse me, won't you, Mr..
Sterl!ng?"
"Of course" declared Mr. Sterling,
lightly, but his brows wrinkled.
The girl transformed herself into a
lifting streak of pink and white as she
zigzagged among the trees. young
man leaned from the drivers seat and
the girl bent toward him at a coquettish
angle. Mr.. Sterling imagined he heard
the smack of lips meeting lips. but. of
course he might have been mistaken. At
any rate. . rivalry in the ripe opin
ion of Mr.. Sterling. only added to the
matter of conquest. The young man was
a brazen rascal: he would teach him a
lesson, make a fool of him-making a
monkey of a rival. he unused. is the
easiest method of winning the heart Of a
maiden. He saw the figure '.2'' staring at
him in iaring red from the side Of the
car, and vowed that No. ? should not win
the race. Not il he had to dynamite
Dead Mans Curve on the race course or
pour buttermilk into the tanks of the car
AS the girl Joined him again a dark and
sinister spot assumed form in Mr.. Ster-
ling's mind.
MY dear young lady" he began as she
seated herself behind him: Il Just re-
called I have an important business ap-
M fntr
cannot see the races. I shall be happy
to send you two tickets. I am deeply
grived."
You tickle man." laughed the girl
But you are all alike-all so inconstant
in matters where We women are con-
cerned."
Mr.. Sterling sprinkled a judicious meas
ure of indifference over the remainder Of
their conversation. but before they part
ed it was arranged they should dine to-
gether in the pavilion in the evening
Il am going to make a monkey Of him."
mumbled Mr.. Sterling as he walked
away. And after tonight Muriel-isn't
she a fresh young thing. though?-wilI
wonder what she ever saw in hm."
The grand stand was filling and BAN
ners were f1uttering in the breeze over
the course when Mr.. Sterling occupied
strategic point on the saucer-shaped
field. He was armed with grim fortitude
and rubber hose. the latter attached
to a hydrant. the former inspired by a
pair Of laughing, disquieting eyes. and
both of them having much to do with
his determination to make a monkey of
the athletic young person who was the
driver of No. .. Presently a pistol mark
ed near the grandstand. and Mr.. Sterling
turned vast streams of water upon the
track. A thousand-throated shout and a
mighty swish of wind told him the racers
were coming. If the special police force
were considerate enough to keep away
Mr.. Sterling was sure his plan would
succeed. Frank-brazen young rascal
would be made a laughing-stock, and
one more wisp Of fiery colors would be
added to Mr.. Steriing's Aurora BoreaIis
of triumphs.
A din and a roar and a mighty onrush
of wind swept the hose from his hand,
and suddenly the Irresistible Mr. Sterling
found himself in the vortex of a mass of
skidding racing cars, each snarling and
wriggling like a fury suddenly unleashed.
His glance sought No. 2, but in frantic
efforts to escape violence to his precious
person he saw nothing but a blur of
colors and heard only the grinding of
brakes: the snorting of motors, the angry
shouts of racers. Somehow he wriggied
out of the eddying mass. only to glimpse
a car that looked unmistakably like No
. disentapgle itself from the havoc and
speed like a streak of lightning around
the curve.
Mr.. Sterling. bespattered, drenched.
fuming and crushed, shook his hand at
the disappearing streak. And then, with
the philosophy becoming one who can