The Washington herald., 1915-10-23
FOR BUSINESS REASONS.
BY KEITH KENYON.

BY KEITH KENYON.
Evidently Jack Elliott is getting
serious in his attentions to that old
| brewers young widow said Mr..
Morehouse. as she looked out from her
comforta BILE porch rocker across the
golf links where lack and young Mrs.
Ward were approaching the club
house.
TT does look that way" replied
Mrs. Atwater. between sips of tea,
and just as everybody had concluded
that he and Dorothy winters would
make a match of it"
Some say the widows fortune
looks good TO Jack; but 1 wonder
what Dorothy thinks of it?' Know
ing that Mrs. Atwater was on cordial
terms with the rather exclusive Win
tiers family. Mrs. Morehoues hoped to
CLEAN some interesting details.
I'm sure I don't know" said Mrs.
Atwater shortly. Il notice her out
with Chester Hill a 10; lately"
so far as fortunes go, Chester's
will more than equal Mrs Wards. I
suppose. Why. bless my soul"-and
Mrs. Morehouse opened her narrow
eyes to their limit-"if there isn't
Dorothy this minute with Chester in
his new carr
A moment later a slender. auburn
haired girl in n brown corduroy suit
and a soft hat came swinging easily
up the porch step. and beside her
pulled a fat forid man of perhaps
forty. dressed in faultlessly tailored
motoring toys They gave a nod Of
greeting TO the two observant women
and passed around to the other side
IF the porch.
Until a month before that, Jack
and Dorothy had been together so Of
ten and were so obviously happy when
together that an engagement had
been expected as a natural outcome.
but one evening when he was to es-
cort her TO a dinner-dance at an eN-
elusive club she received at the last
minute a brief note from him telling
that an annoying business associate
without giving offense that would
endSnger his hard-won chances of
being taken into the firm. He was
sending Larry Morton to take care OF
Dorothy that evening. and he begged
her to accept his abbreviated eXpla-
nation and his willing substitute until
he could arrive and explain in full
But the evering had passed without
his arrival.
feTCy AnSOn SHOOh plNInps pllh
finger at Dorothy as she passed out
of the dressing room on her way
home. and whispered something
about the necessity of her keeping
watch on Jack Elliott. whom he had
seen at the Dinsmore Hotel at 8
o'clock with a ripping sort of blond
Dorothy blushingly wondered
any one who heard that stage
whisper knew OF Jack sending a sub
salr l., Ill hAr nrF
that evening. but just then good-ns-
tured Larry came and gently pushed
her along to the waiting tsxicsb. She
tried TO be cordial as they drove
home. but bare civility was all she
could accomplish, for her mind was
busy trying TO reconcile Jacks explain
atory note. which had not explained.
with the chance impertinence OF Percy
Arson. which had explained. Larry
had to hurry away to catch a train for
business trip South. which was
agreeable to Dorothy. who longed to
be left alone.
After she went to bed she planned
one minute TO avoid meeting Jack. to
give him an opportunity 10 simplify !
MS false explanation. and the next
minute she reproached herself for let !
ing a foolish remark from a gossipy
,lubman make her doubt that some !
8OOO uN given lot
what professionally did look like bad. |
Then she reflected that Jacks failure i
% come before the end OF the dance. as !
ne had intimated he would. might |
ne; 4 that his full explanation would I
rot be forthcoming. After an almost |
Ileepless night she went down to !
breakfast with a gloomy determine
ion to be perfectly Indifferent to .
my explanation Jack might make.
~ ~ hoN h. r4Er e.
,e unreasonable, no matter what his
At nine o'clock the telephone ranE. |
Though Dorothy sat almost within
each OF II, and although she felt sure
hat Jack was at the other end OF ,
he wire. she sat apparently absorbed
n the morning paper while the maid
answered the call and informed her /
hat il was for her.
Good morning. Merry Sunshine"
allied Jack. not aware of the Clouded
he was trying t penetrate.
Am I going to be forgiven for my
ins of OMISSION
Good morning." answered coldly
aim voice. Have I had the full eA-
'lsnation OF your sins OF ommission?'
Really Dot" pleaded Jack. there
re a lot OF people in earshot, which
makes It awkward to explain in full.
amt I come out this evening and do
hat?"
I'm dining out this evening" she
eplied coldly. but l happened to
ear enough last night to know that
here Is a good deal TO explain; so
much in fact. that II will be quite
to me IL you postpone the
explanation indefinitely"
We'll. that won't be satisfactory to
le," retorted Jack. and it's not fair
D deny me an opportunity to explain.
'ou certainly know. Dorothy. how
luch it means to me-to us. ] had
oped-to have me get into the firm.
nd"
Indeed. I'd have to take a great deal
Or granted to say that I know all
hat, but l must remind you that you
-. &.rk.. thfnUs far rant.A snA 20 ,