The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-03
DINNER IS WATKINS
BY KEITH KENYON.

Jus anu cutSTeu the iOUUy VI "CSt
marks best hotel. She registered and
a bellboy carried her suitcases up to
her room.
There she unpacked and made her
self comfortable with the deftness of
an old traveller, for Nell had been a
travelling salsswoman for three years
and knew all the lights and shades
Of one-night stops.
Jewelry was her line, and in the
compact sample case, that looked
more like closed book than anything
else, Nell Drew carried line of sam
pies that charmed orders out Of de-
partment store buyers.
She hummed a tune as she dressed.
She had grown into this habit through
a peculiar state Of mind that had ex-
listed ever since she had told Jerry
Mason that she wasn't going to tie
herself down to any mans domestic
plant-she was going to carve out
q career for herself.
Jerry had sighed. ITS bit tough"
he admitted. I've been dreaming for
months past how you'd meet me at
the front door and say, Jerry. dear,
dinners waiting for you!'"
Nonsense" laughed Nell, but the
laugh was a shaky one, and Jerry
was stupid or he would have heard
the quaver in her voice; but he had
accepted it as her ultimatum and had
gone away. And Nell had decided
upon her career and was making a
success Of it.
Tonight she was passing through
the usual ordeal and she hurried
through her toilet so as to 60 down
to the dining room where the light
and the clatter would put to fight any
impertinent longings for domestic
life.
Westmark was large middle west
ern city and the 'Westmark hotel was
an excellent hostelry. 1t was a ia
vorite stopping place for motorists,
and Nell was nc. SURPRISED to I'D tho
dining room well filled.
Nell sat down, noting with little
purr of satisfaction that the table ap-
pointments were above criticism. A
tall vase of pink carnations was in
the middle of the damask cloth and a
pink shaded candle stood at either
end.
| She could discern black coat
sleeve and large masculine hand pick
ing up sour spoon. The rest Of
/ her vis.a-vis was hidden behind the
| flowers. Just as she picked up the
menu and chose her soup, the hand
across the table reached forward and
removed the vase of flowers.
Even flowers should not stand be-
tween old friends" said familiar
voice
jerry" Her hand went across the
table to meet his in warm clasp.
What are you doing in Westmark,
anyway" she asked, with something
like her old air Of camaraderie.
Live here" he replied tersely.
In Westmark? What are you do
ing here-practicing law"
He nodded I'm a full.fedged cor
poration lawyer now. live at this
hotel"
You do? Then you're not" she
paused in slight hesitation.
mo, I'm not married." he said quiet
ly. II suppose you are succeeding
in your chosen career or you would
not look 30 happy"
Last year my sales topped all the
Others" she boosted, and was the
| Ann h. Nuf "
Happy woman" He was crum-
/ bling his bread .aimlessly and eating
nothing. you don't look like a mas
culine sort of woman" he went on
bitterly. Il suppose, though, that you
can talk right up to the men and get
orders out Of EN-, eh?"
Nothing of the Sort" she retOrted
Indignantly. Most of the buyers l
approach are women, and the few men
who select from my samples are more
interested in the fine values offer
them than In my personality"
He appeared slightly relieved at
this and began to attack his salad
with some show Of appetite.
The sound of his voice. the sight
Of him, the certainty that he was un-
changed aroused fond memories in her
heart. She was terrified at the food
of emotion that swept her and left
her white and shaking with fear.
Fear of what? she asked herself,
and her traitor heart confessed fear
he would go away and she should
! not see him again.
How Insignificant seemed her tri-
umphs in the business world! Here
was Jerry deprived Of home, living
at hotel, depending upon his friends
for table companions or perhaps some
chance woman like herself. Suppose
II 1t had been another woman who
had occupied her seat-some charm
ing girl who would attract Jerry and
with whom he would fall madly In
love. And very likely he had got
over his love for her.
The thought was maddening. She
stole a glance at him. Still he was
neglecting his dinner and his big,
capable fingers we're making little
round pellets Of the bread crumbs.
Nell Drew, head saleswoman for
Green & Barkis. jewellers, drew a
long quivering breath, and timidly
touched Jerry's restless fingers.
Jerry" she whispered shakily.
Dinner is waiting for you!"
His hand caught hers fiercely. His
l Ia