The Pulaskian., 1915-12-17
THIRD TIMES CHARM
By cATHARlNE cRANMER.

They say it's hard to get babies or Wldowers through their second sum mers, mumbled Jack Ellis to himself, but it'll be a miracle if Dorothy Leigh gets through her second season without becoming engaged. She's pretty, popular, wealthy, adorable-in other words, just Dorothy"
 Jack frowned at the awful possibil- ities of the case. He was in love with Dorothy, but would not be in a secure enough financial position to propose to her before January, when he would be taken into the firm as a director. He determined to go to her that very day and offer her his heart, ask ing her to let him add his modest for tunes, which would be greater within the year.
 In a frenzy of love and hope and rather foolish certainty of success, Jack made careful afternoon toilet and went swinging along the few blocks to Dorothy's home. But alas for mushroom hopes! As he passed through the iron gateway leading into | the residence street where Dorothy 1 lived, Henry Ardmore's shining black automobile rolled noiselessly toward l him, with Dorothy and Ardmore in it's roomy rear seat. Ardmore leaned for ward and faced Dorothy just in time partially to obscure the glory of her charming smile of greeting to Jack.
 It was only four o'clock and Jack went home, took out his car, and went for an aimless run into the country. He avoided the Country club lest he should seem to be trailing Dorothy and Ardmore, who would probably stop there for tea. The short after noon faded and was followed by dark ness and fast-moving clouds.
 Rounding corner at a pretty good pace, Jack had to bring his car to an abrupt stop to avoid danger of col liding with two disabled cars which were standing facing each other, with dead engines and anxious passengers. Jack recognized the one headed for the city as Ardmore's. He promptly offered any possible aid, and his heart beats broke all speed records when the task assigned him was to take Dorothy cityward lest the approach ing storm break before the damaged car could be repaired sufficiently to make the trip.
 With wicked thankfulness that his little gray roadster could accommo date but one passenger, Jack handed Dorothy in and drove off feeling luckier than Aladdin when his lamp was at it's best. Refecting that though Fate had snatched one oppor- tunity from him she had flung another at his feet. Jack decided to wash up to him to make the most of his oppor- tunity.
 Dorothy" he began, just as they entered the park, but he never got any further with his speech, for big limousine coming toward them halted and Dorothy's father called her name as he stepped from the door.
 "Ardmore's chauffeur telephoned that there had been an accident so started out to see if could find you along the way. It's lucky we met here in the light" concluded John Leigh.
 Jack accepted their cordial invita- tion to tea, consoling himself with a vague recollection of the alleged charm of all third attempts against failure, and he determined that he would make third attempt to pro pose before he left Dorothy.
 Dorothy was charmingly flushed and exuberant In the little family group Jack began to feel quite at home though he was longing for an oppor- tunity to be alone with Dorothy when frightened servant girl burst into the living room screaming that the house was on fire.
 Dashing up the back stairway where the frightened maid pointed, Jack smelled burning cotton, and in the maids room on the third floor he found the Swiss window curtains had l dropped in burning fragments upon the mating floor covering. Grabbing small rug from the hallway floor, l he extinguished the flames starting from the mating just as Dorothy, her parents and the excited maid entered 
 talked to the girl, Dorothy searched Jacks hands for burns, two of which she found, and she marched him down stairs to administer first aid
 "Oh, Jack! It's too bad" she mur- mured in fearful voice, as she gave the bandage a final pat. Docs it hurt so very much?"
 Hurt? Why, it's heavenly, Dor othy!" Jack exclaimed. Dorothy won dered what he meant, but when he heard her fathers voice on the stair way, he lost no time in making his meaning quite clear.
 s.The third time charms, Jack, " whispered Dorothy, "and I'm glad you didn't succeed in telling me the other times you tried for l didn't know un- til five minutes ago that 1 loved you. ' (Copyrght 1915 by the Mcclure NeWspa-