The Washington herald., 1915-12-14

A~oi O0ukhGs 4
Can you como to dinner Friday? I
have an extra siri. and as usual need
a man. Connie. dear. don't think I'm
asking you for the tenth time this season
Just because I am % fond Of you: such
Of course We all ara. But II 10 because
you are such a darling 10 an In. What
would we do without you?
Faithfully yours.
"P. 6. Don't tell the story about the
faninso. / simply can't laugh at It
again. can say. It backward In my
sleep. Hunt up q new supply"
We'll. I like that" laughed Connie
Collins good naturely as he laid aside
the note and resumed his grapefruit.
"one thing about Bene-she's candid. I"
He sighed. so I'm to supply again!
regular married woman's relief corps.
Here am-trying my best to make all
the girls Of the younger set crazy about
me and II all amounts to nothing. I'm
too useful q member of society where
am to be allowed to hover around
debutantes and rosebuds. And even II
i could be dispensed with in married
circles. / fear my reputation as handy
man has ruined me with the other girls.
Just the other day. when had to brean
through a crust Of young fellows three
deep to get at pretty little Phyllis
Brandon, Dick Marshall whispered in
her ear: Here comes old Connie. PhyL Be
good to him. He's got a night OF"
lie finished his coffee and went to the
ONCE where he called UP his prospective
hostess for Friday.
Hello. Belle, 1 got your note. Count
on me. Yes. sure. No. I'll not tell the
famingo story another-what's that?
Oh, she's pretty. Is she? That's en-
couraging. Say. Belle. have some Of
that crab meat again will you? All
right-good for you. I'll be there sure"
We'll. I'm glad she's pretty and I
hope she's young and happy" musea
Connie as he hung up the receiver. Last
time I drew a Widow McGinness Of the
fearful type"
When Friday night came and Connie
was presented to the young person he
was to take in to dinner. his first impulse
was to hunt .up his hostess and weep
tears Of joy and thankfulness upon her
shoulder. Miss Maywell-such was her
q vision Of sweet delight. and
she gave him her hand with such an
adorable smile that his head began
in his life he found himself devoid of
repartee. His tongue seemed to stick
to the roof of his mouth when occasion
demanded that he say something.
At dinner. however. he improved Q bit.
The long table. with its flowers. candles
and silver. seemed like . particular
paradise where one angle reigneo
supreme. His hostess kept nodding and
smiling at him as much as to say. It's
your reward, Connie. for q long period
OF martyrdom."
k.S
no one noticed 1t for awhile-the air.
heavy with the scent of American Beauty
roses. became pungent, a blue haze be-
gan TO fill the room and finally an eddy
of smoke trailed across the low circle Of
light thrown by the candles.
Fire. q woman breathed convulsively
and the guests sprang to their feet
Bellies husband, Max Wells, threw open
the door into the hall. There was a solid
wall OF white smoke.
Dorothy MAXWELL laid a hand on Con-
MES arm. DO you think it's upstairs?'
she whispered. Live got to 60 UP and
get some things il it is
You mustn't think Of that" he insisted
kindly. Lives first, you know" He laid
his hand reassurinsly over the one rest
ing nervously on his arm"
But I've got to. Doesn't any one know
where II is?"
Max. with a wet napkin over his face,
rushed to the library telephone. and some
Of the men were forming a bucket bri-
gade in the kitchen.
"Th-there are fire extinguishers. some
where" faltered Belle. But don't know
where they are,''
No one seemed to be able to locate the
fire. There was smoke enough to start
a private inferno-but no flames were
visible any where.
Il must So to my room" insisted Dor