The Washington herald., 1914-01-04
Daily Short Story.
BnlNER'S SISTER.
y, JEAN DIckERsoN.

This Is wells-I say. Jack, Binner
wants US to come up to his place for the
weekend"
II passt' said Jack promptly.
''why? thought you liked old Bin
ner." protested Ben Wells.
do. frst-rate, but Binner has sis
ter-met her year or SO ago-excuse
me.
"Oh, very WELL" returned Ben hufily.
.'Of course, know you're not q cad
but you give pretty good imitation OF
Thanks" rejoined Jack good
naturedly.
''Good-by," came back from the Offend
ed Benjamin.
Jack yawned and hung up the re-
ceiver.
I'VE gods, SHAFT ever forget the sister
OF Willy Binner?'' he asked himself.
''Nay-for the bony horror OF her still
confronts me! She must have been on
the shady side Of thirty then and that
was three years ago and now-wow!''
Jack returned to his interrupted labors
which had consisted of studying the
pages OF a motor car catalogue with a
view to persuading his indulgent parent
that a new car was an actual necessity.
All the way up to Lakeville, where
willy Binner had lived since he left col
lege. Ben Wells felt a growing satisfac-
tion with his intimate friend. Jack
Streath.
What had come over Jack that he
should refuse Binner's cordial invitation
merely because Binner had a homely
sister? She must be far from beautiful
II Jack Streath sacrificed several days
shooting over WHY'S excellent preserves
of . ha sfa there
was some feminine attraction in New
York that kept him home.
Sorry Streath couldn't come said
Willy Binner with genuine regret as he
greeted Ben Wells Got your guns
ah, yes. Give 'em to Standish there
hop in
Ben hoped into the long motor car,
which turned into the winding road that
led up the forest-clad mountain
"Quaii-pheasant-wo end OF
sport" puffed Willy. who was short and
fat and red Of face. MY sister bagged
a number of quail yesterday-al within
an hour. Fine shot for a girl-ever met
herr
IT haven't had that pleasure"
There she is now" Binner nodded
toward the house which they were ap-
proaching and Ben saw a slender, girltsh
| form waiting on the front steps.
.Grace, this is Ben Wells.' said Bin
ner informally. Ben. my sister, Miss
Windsor"
Ben found himself looking into a pair
of laughing hazel eyes as slender
hand was extended in cordial clasp.
This sister of Willy Binner's quite took
his breath away, she was so young ana
| beautiful.
| what in thunder did Jack mean?'
| ha dressed dinner.
What more could he expect than-this!
He glanced over his shoulder where.
\ through the window he caught glimpse
of the garden bathed in sunset; down a
path between leafless shrubs. strohed
| Willy Binner with a sweater tossed over
his shoulders and his fat arm ent~lned
the slender waist OF his sister.
| ..She's the prettiest thing I've ever
seen" added Ben, frowning at ms mop
of red hair and his very serviceaole ou'
not very remarkable red-orown eyes,
..T,o ,.ears ago she must have been
pretty-she could never have oeeh any
| thing but a dear
The next evening Ben sent a telegram
| to Jack Streath.
| you're crazy" it tersely read
| When lack read 1t he hunched M
shoulders disconsolately and ProniPus
Forgot all about Ben Wells and his
cryptic messages. What cared JacF
! Strsath for Ben wells-or fat WHY BIN
ner-or Binner's homely old maid sister
| For Jack Streath there existed o''S
one girl in the world worth looA!hs a.
"a sha was Young and fair, and she nae
anu ,,i,a discouraged his eager wooing
hnt while he had given up seNerai u"S ga,
- nerfectIy good shooting at L.ake'iile
A., e,.5ar 10 he near her, he was uis'
"as " % 1earn that she had gone into
| the country for week. ..r,,,a
| .rrst nv luck he muttered. We
| = e nm IN TO I.akeville next Satur
| aay-I wonder t. Binners inNltauon =
80 for a holdover-Tll find out Jach
| 1I,IIad a telephone toward him anu gu
the proper long-distance csnnectloh'
"cnme along-glad to have you
uc;iI,.:s voice over the wire
..Weus is coming up again-mee' you d
| the two-ten. vi. c,raa,r
US 70 go up the next Friday ana NJ
| set,Ied down 10 work with leeLhs U
| satisfaction that when she returned u
| ,o,,,, ba would be enjoying himself else
| where. -. 81,
! You certainly can't let women get th'
idea that they're the whole snow ~
tered grimly; land III take IN I'M ,,
Iakevflle Invitation IL have TO taii
| with Dinners lItdh SaSNSA
of the time-so there!
Willy Binner met Jack at the stauoi
that Friday afternoon. Ben ana m!
sister are taking a walk over in the YVES
Forest" remarked Willy.
| Iaclr did not meet Binner's sister untl
| ,rst before dinner He entered the hvln'
room, where the girl was playing soiu!
at the piano near the cracking nre.
..you?" he gasped as she swung aroun'
and looked at him from grave hazei eyes
"I-I didn't know you were mere! ..
She nodded as their hands met w.,
don't believe you know that L am WI
Rinner's half sister" she pouted prettily
"Binner's sister" gasped JACK heip
lessly. ..u,,. VI,
love each other just as dearly as thoue
the relationship was closer. 1 believe !o'
met Wills own sister, caroline! 8n
mentioned it the other day.
"Ah-er-yes. believe l did, stammere
the unhappy Jack. l-er-hope MS
Binner is quite well" 49,,
Caroline? She is quite wen. thaI
YOU. You know she Is married! Ma'F'e'
Ferd Hammond" vi.
MOL didn't know" murmured JacH.
All through the lively chatter Oh W
10 his conversation over the telephoh'
with Ben Wells that day when bilre II,,
lhad sent the invitations. JACK was p. pii
thappily conscious that he had given De-
Wells a running start in the game tn III,
fact that Ben was spending another wee
lup there was an ominous sign: he'
Twas red-headed and homely ana son