Mexico Missouri message., 1915-08-19
THE QUARRY
BY ELLIS COATES.

Jack Follinbee laughed contemp-
tuously.. "A woman who pursues a
man could never really attract me-"
he announced. Man should be the
pursuer-woman the elusive quarry"
Two bachelors looked pityingly at
Jack and the three married men
chuckled wisely.
shall we join the ladies?" asked
the host suddenly.
They filed into the broad veranda
overlooking the Sound. Here was a
glimmer of white gowns and soft
feminine laughter. A Japanese serv-
ant was serving coffee.
Jack sank into chair beside Mrs.
Linscott. He had met her only two
hours ago, but he was strangely at
tracted by her pretty fragility-her
charming air of dependence upon the
other sex. He was quite bored by the
strong, independent type Of girl.
He thought it delightfully."- odd that
she had never tasted coffee. They
talked about it, and he asked her if
she knew Bob Linscott. Bob proved
to be her dead husbands brother; he
had been Jacks chum at college. They
grew more friendly and told amusing
stories of school days. She said her
name was Lenora, but they had al
ways called her Leo. And Jack con.
sidered that the crowning touch to her
many charms.
"The wildly sure has Jack on the
rum" slangily remarked Finley Moore.
Jack overheard the observation and
flushed hotly.
Jack spent another evening in the
society Of Leo Linscott, and by that
time he was seriously in love, and des-
perately Jealous, as well. For Mrs.
Linscott was impartial with her
smiles, and Jack found her always just
slipping out of his reach.
At the end Of month, he proposed
to her. Before she could reply, the
telephone bell rang and she was spirit.
ed away to minister at the sick bed
of cousin who had inconveniently
met with a motor accident.
So Jacks hopes, like Mohammed's
coffin, were suspended between heaven
and earth, and he did not see her
again for weeks. The cousin died and
left fortune to Mrs. Linscott, and the
lovely widow appeared more fascinat
ing than ever in trailing black gar.
ments.
Jack proposed again, and Leo re.
fused him gently, oh, so sorrowfully,
with real tears in her melting brown
eyes.
Jack finally followed a much-talked.
about plan and went up to the White
mountains for a month. He was as
founded to find Leo Linscott dining
on the broad veranda Of the hotel
when he reached his destination.
The next morning she had gone for
an early walk along a mountain trail.
Jack followed her, and found her look.
ing dreamily off over the billowing
clouds below.
| 'Leo," he said softly, coming up be.
hind her.
A rich color famed her cheek and
her eyes shone, while her voice was
not entirely in her control.
"Jack!" she faltered.
Have waited long enough%
TOO long," she confessed in his
arms. II have been yours since the
first moment set eyes on you"
1t was during their honeymoon,
passed in a southern resort, that Jack
once more heard the whisper of spite.
full gossip. His hammock was swung
under some palms near the beach and
Leo was sitting on the sand near by
picking up shells.
Two women in a wheeled chair
stopped just out of sight of Jacks
hammock, but their voices carried
clearly.
did you see Mrs. Follinsbee's linen
frock?" asked one.
"Yes; sweet, wasn't it?"
They say she has heaps of money
in her own right, and now she has
caught Jack Follinsbee. He is rich,
too"
Greedy thing!" laughed the other
I've heard that he was a confirmed
bachelor, but she laid her plans well!'
The chair moved on, and Jack, in
a white rage, lay staring at his wifes
back.
Leo must have heard too. He
slipped from the hammock and ap.
preached her. He glimpsed her
cheek; it was scarlet. Even her little
ears were red with embarrassment.
He dropped down on the sand be-
side her and took her cold hands in
his. Her face was study in emo
tions; tears and laughter were strug
Cling for supremacy.
Jack" she said, her burning cheek
close TO his. they were right"
right" he gasped.
Il did plan to marry you at first
and afterward grew to care SO much
/ was frightened because / cared toe
much-and so ran away--and while
/ appeared to be elusive / was cnly
| 1aodtnne 30, nn Va, ,,.laf ao.At.- - :.