The Washington herald., 1915-08-01
ETEORIC- ADVENTURES OF COME-ON CHARLEY %n"id



i you make up your mind to take
out an accident policy the first thing
in the morning.
Mr. Teeters surveyed the scene in
dismav as he and Mr.. Carter MADE
their way step by step Win the
crowd. down the lobby OF the Alirott
Theatet. where long deferred sue
cess was nightly packing the mouse:
man in a fashy business sun
touched off with an ensanGulneu %"
tie glanced at them and pushed on
~ the street. Just In front of Charley
was wondrously pretty girl who had
half turned her head and had as
quickly turned it away on catching
Charley's eye. a..
when they reached the street the
Girl shrank back from CLASSY pave
ment and roaring gale into the smell
ter of the doorway. again. fer com
panion, an elderly man, SAID some
hing to her and started for n Hmou :
sina which was next iii line 10 the
o,r airectly abreast of the entrance
ue .eetc-ed three steps toward the
crrh. slipped half a dozen more, then
lprched TO leeward and sailed he'P
lessly past his machine to the secohn
one behind It where he brought Up
hat-seated on the running BOARD
nicture of dismantled dignity and croE
despair.
In the meantime Charley and the
rirl were doing a wholly impfornp.u
sketch of their own. The girl had ny
-ered a little scream when she VII
MESSED her elderly companions an'ics
IN me ice. Then with one OF those
amazing feminine impulses-as easily
~ he accounted for as the Spots Oh
the sun-she darted forward 10 save
him from a fall. Charley oarteo at.eI
her As her feet went out from u'uet
her. as he knew they would. ne 'aus l'-
her in his arms and, with the mo
,,en.uu, gained, slid with her Stra!Ght
,--ow tn the door of her own
machine. -
Charley helped her in. A bunch OF
v;olets fell from her corsage crush
ed and mangled to the MOOR. boy,
were a little breathless and the mai"
was rosy red Charley was more tnah
that-his face was connagr atiol'
The older man by this time had man
aged to crawl up to them.
"TSv love, sir" he Fasped, am III
vou- debt. That was well done:
Nothing at ALL" stammered Char
lev pleasure Wish 1 could do it over
again"
He hlurred this out in a manner SO
,bsolutely artless and sincere. ana
with a face so crimsoned with coniu-
SION that the man after a quick sur
yey of him laughed and said
NV name is George Francis Grant
We may meet again some day.
The girl leaned forward eXpectantlE
but Charley's wits were thick as WOO
inst then. The door closed before ne
thought to give his name in return
Tho girl looked back they drove
off and the smile she flashed at MIN
left Charley a ruin where he stood
his head barred TO the pelting storm
and his heart hammerlng in MS ears
When he came to fully, Mr.. carter
found himself mechanically 1eeulhS
on A lobster soufIle, at Chattys' WIN
Mr. Teeters gogCling at him IRON
scross the table. And as it happened
the man in the loud clothes and blood
rod tie who had crowded by them a.
the theater was sitting alone at
neighhoring table. giving them an oc
casional curious glance.
Charley pushed his plate away anc
heckoned to the waiter. The man AZ
the next table who II seemed mac
paid his check in advance. rose ahc
sauntered into the adjoining room.
scol1amiphty. Come-On,' quarrelet
Mr. Teeters we got something more
coming TO us-a baked Alaska, anc
"Toothache." said Charley shortly
"Earache, too. Shut up"
Mr. Teeters. to whom his chief was
revealing himself in a totally uhac
rustomed light. wiggled his mustach'
and stared, but wisely relraihe" 4i0''
further speech.
shallow canopy of agate glass eX
tends along the front of Chatty's, al
fording some slight shelter from I'M
weather. Charley paused under thl'
IN inspect the line of cabs at the curp
and as he did so a woman's voice came
TO him pleadinEly:
ooh, Won't you please protect M
from this man.,
Charley veered sharply to the risht
The fellow with the red necktie wa
standing under the canopy at the othe
door of the restaurant talking rapid!
tn slim. tall girl who was shrinklns
from him with outflunG, wardin;
hands.
Please" she cried again.
Charley sprang forward and Mr.
Teeters, with a yelp. followed. Cha'
~ had seen to it that his walk wa
sprinkled deep with sand. The 1901
ing was secure But it was quite a.
-nod for the man as for Charley. an'
he made his escape around the corne
without a fall.
oh I was 50 frightened" pante'
The Young woman. Il was caught II
the storm and was trying TO get home
II was hard going. l fell twice. stop
ned here to catch my breath and-an'
he spoke TO me
Charley looked at her closely. She
TOO. was pretty. hut of a different typ
from the other-that other. This cir
was dark of hair and eyes. and tn
other-her hair was gold, her eye
were amethyst and her voice va
.oft as the trill of drowsy birds, Sh
vas like fairy princess in her wrap
of fur. while this one-she was Just
girl, But Charley said to her sraveiE
"Oughtn't to try 10 walk. Gong L
get you cab"
The girl dropped her eyes.
Il haven't any money" she con
fesse6.
Charley signaied to q cab.
You're going &C ride" he said t
tsr firmly. Pleasure TO be of serv
ice. All brothers and sisters when Il
trouble"
He pressed a bill into her hand and
taking her by tn. arm. ed her I
the cab.
q will return the money" she toll
him as he placed her in the taxi.
would Iiks your name and address
please"
Charley demu-reG. but she insisted
her.
where to-" he asked.
She heSitatec.
west Thirty-cight street. I wi
rive the man the number" She pu
out her hand, like that other girl an
yet SO unlike, II thank you more tina
,,n s,r" ei,e fal cred prettily. Per