The Washington herald., 1915-08-17
DAILY SHORT STORY.
GETTING EVEN.
BY JANE OSBORN.

Il Well. It's time L moved along Cur
tis Duncan closed his magazine with a
weary Sigh and regarded his cousin
with amusement 'If you won't have
the common politeness to see me Off
you can at least take that expression
off your face and shake hands. I've
apologized at least a dozen times
"Apologized.'' grunted his cousin. 'As
! IL that helped, 1t was by the rarest
luck that 1 wasn't disowned on the spot.
You see the governor never had anything
when he went to cOllege-had to work his
way through, and all that sort of thinG
land he doesn't realize what a fellow
| is expected to do nowadays"
"Well. the only cat l let out of the
! bag was the fact that you spent your
week-ends in New York thought
OF course he knew about that. Any
way, it isn't worth getting huffy
about Curtis consulted his watch.
surely. Say you forgive me. and
then DO anything you want to get
even with me-
"Oh. I'll be even with you all right"
| answered his cousin. gleefully. Don't
let that worry you"
Then you won't come to the pier?"
Curtis asked laziy.
mo thanks. BY the way, you're
| sailing with some friends of mine-the
Livingstones. Dick Livingstone Is a
classmate of mine and his Sis
'Oh, you and your everlasting class
mates" interrupted Curtis Man, alive.
you don't suppose I want to know any
one ON board, do your
In five minutes more Curtis had left
his hotel and was rolling away to the
pier dimly suspicious that his energetic
cousin had been up to some Of his an
noying tricks. At the close of the first
day out Curtis was distinctly relieved.
He had examined his luggage in the hold.
as well as in the stateroom, and had
found that 1t had not been tampered
with. His cousins refusal to accompany
him to the pier had inclined Curtis to
think that there might be some trace
OF promised revenge on board the steam
er. Practical joking-the delight of the
younger mans heart-was exceedingly
distasteful to his older cousin.
The second day. like the first, found
Curtis in the smoking room. But the
third. by some miracle-the miracle of
a very pretty face-found him linger-
ing on the deck with Barba Living
stone.
Shall we take a turn about the
NO, thank you." she said without
hesitation.
Don't you mind the spray on your
face?" he asked. regarding her closely.
Il can move your chair easily"
mo. thank you. Mr.. Duncan"
You surely won't object to my NOV
ing into the spray" he said. as he
drew his chair nearer.
Perhaps not" said Barba. stiff1y.
You know Bob. don't your" he asked
hoping to arouse her interest.
Yes"
Jolly sort OF boy. isn't he?"
Yes" she said. looking straight into
Curtis face for the first time since he
had been talking to her. And. by the
way. he wrote to my brother about
you" She laughed with shade of
sarcasm. so you see your reputation
has gone before you"
Curtis smiled with self-satisfaction.
MY reputation: that's good" he said.
BILLY Mas rather exaggerated it,
fancy" he added. thinking with pride
of his record at college and his sue
cess in business since. You mustn't
believe more than half he says. you
know"
More than half" Barba exclaimed.
That's rather funny. Mr.. Duncan"
Just then Barba's brother came up.
IT say. Barbo." he said. regarding Cur
tis with brotherly Indignation. awful
ly sorry to interrupt you. but we're
up a bridge set and we need
you"
Barba rose obediently and. without
expressing her regret. walked off with |
her brother.
The next day the smoking room was
positively distasteful to Curtis. All |
day he fingered on deck within sight |
Of graceful figure envelOped In n |
plaid steamer rug. In the morning he |
had passed the chair three times. Once
he had paused. Once he ventured to |
speak. but the sound of the sea ap-
parently drowned his voice. That |
evening Curtis Duncan paced the deck |
with apparent indifference. his object. \
Of course. being to catch a glimpse of ,
the girl who interested him. He found
her at the forward deck looking |
ireamily out over the starlit waves.
but when he asked her to walk with
him a cold look came into her eyes
and she declined abruptly.
Il say. Miss Livingstone" said Cur
tis. not used to such indifference. you
are q mighty unresponsive sort of a
girl. aren't your"
AT times-yes" was her answer
Il suppose 1 bore you. don't II" Cur
is continued. But fancy you would
rather like me IL you knew me. Come
,n with me out to the stern. There Ia
l jolly place out there where we can
ut and watch the waves The officers
will let me through all right"
She refused again and Curtis laughed
10 hide his discomfort.
"I'll think you are afraid of me In q
moment. Miss Livingstone he said.
Curtis sat down in the chair beside
her, and before many minutes had
passed Barba found herself eagerly talk
ng to the charming stranger. But be-
lore long Barba remembered and excused
herself
The day before landing, after five long
days which Curtis passed in what
who fascinated him, he found himself
or the first time walking the deck with
Barba. When she saw her brother ap-
,ear on deck she quickly excused her
self. But Curtis held her arm firmly 4
- he walked by her side.
''Mr. Curtis. will you let me go she
lsked angrily.
Certainly. when you ask me az you
,hould" he laughed. There was q note