The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-20
ATlMELY TRIP
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.

shore bring rumors OF many conquests
made there by Miss Amy Masterson,
who Is summering with her aunt. Mrs.
de Laittre. at her handsome cottage"
Gerald Mason flung the offending
newspaper containing this unwelcome
announcement all the way across the
dining room OF his mothers big house.
Of which he was the only occupant ex-
cept the caretaker and the cook.
AS he read this gossip Of the 90
ciety column. Gerald realized the dan
ger Of remaining away from Amy at
this time. and as he reflected upon the
complicated state Of the paper market,
he realized the danger of remaining
away from business long enough to
make more than a flying visit to the
distant place where Amy was sum
mering.
A moment later he stalked across
the room and into the telephone closet.
where he called up q railway ticket
once and engaged berth on the mid
night train for the Atlantic coast. Fiji
teen minutes later he was surveying
the contents OF huge suitcase to see
II he had put In all the necessities Of
three-day trip.
Gerald arrived at his destination Sat
urday afternoon and learned from
Amy's aunt that his day letter TO Amy
had never reached her. as she was on
ON an automobile trip. and the time
for her return was vaguely indicated
as sometime Saturday"
Her aunt explained Amy's absence
as being motor trip with "the Mar
tins" and Gerald wondered whether
the Martins" included any unmarried
male eligibles.
After an evening call at Mrs. de
Laittre's cottage. Gerald strolled along
the board walk He went in a cafe
and ordered something as an excuse
to have somewhere to sit and some
thing to do. At table very near him
a pretty woman and two men were
seated.
Don't look so cut up, Percy" said
the woman, addressing bored-looking
blond youth. Amy Masterson will be
back tomorrow, and If she hasn't be-
come engaged by that time to that ire
mendously rich old uncle Of the Mar
tins you may probably be able to have
her all to yourself for-perhaps half
an hour. Eth, Mr.. Maxwell?"-this to
the older man by her side.
Better not count on more than
twenty minutes. Percy" the older man
| laughed. Mrs. de Laittre tells me
young Lochinvar has come from way
out of the West. and that he'll be paw
ing up the sand with impatience until
she arrives, or words to that effect"
The party then rose and passed from
the room, and Gerald glared gloomily
after them. He was angry ct hearing
Amy's name tossed about from one
man to another. and he had sicken-
ing fear OF that ridiculous rich, uncle
OF the Martins becoming engaged to
her before he, the young Lochinvar.
had q chance to do anything more Of
fective than paw the sand.
But roomy bed and q sea breeze
through the window brought their log
iN result of sound and restful sleep,
so that the next morning Gerald awoke
refreshed and with renewed courage
to compete with his rivals for Amy's
favor
Eleven, twelve. and even one o'clock
came on Sunday, but neither Amy nor
any message from her came. Gerald,
who had been invited to dine at her
aunt's, appeared punctually. As the
diners left the table and went into the
long living room. there was the sound
of motor horn at the curb, and all
rushed to the open French windows in
time to see middle-aged fat man in
a dusty ulster and unsightly goggles
take Amy's hand and assist her from
big roadster.
Congratulate usI" he called out, as
Mrs. dc Laittre and her guests stepped
upon the veranda. Gerald felt as II
bomb had hit him in the region of
the heart; and he wished he might be
miles away when the next words came
from that offending mouth. But with
the next words his hopes came back
with q bound, for they were these:
I'VE are the only two of the six in
our party who got back in time for
Sunday dinner, thanks to my new car"
A general laugh followed the an
nouncement that dinner was Just over.
but Mrs. de Laittre treasured the hun
cry motorists with promises Of gener-
GUS left-overs. Gerald suddenly found
himself holding Amy's hand tightly
and murmuring some words OF greet.
ing which he couldn't have identified
upon oath moment later. There was
welcome in her eyes, though. that
brought back his courage and his
senses. as she presented her middle
aged friend, at whom Gerald cast q
doubtful glance.
Don't glance at me like a savage
young man" whispered the uncle OF
Mrs. Martin a moment later, as he
drew Gerald aside into the darkened
hall. do your glaring at these simps
and sissies with dollar marks for back
bones. threatened to marry Amy to
save her from such as they, and some
Ounce took me seriously and started
the report. Take my tip, and don't
go back west without a promise from
her She told me today she knew one
man worth a dozen of these, and she
said his last name was the same az
my first, which is Mason. So guess
we're brother Masons, all right. Ell
The middle-aged man laughed heart
fly at his joke, and on the moonlit We
randa that evening Amy confirmed
what he had said in a manner which
fully compensated Gerald for all th'