Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-07-18
SHIFTING THE SCENERY
BY CATHERINE cRANmER.

JERKS.
Surely you don't mean that Mrs.
Mason's at home was anything but
! a successY Her mothers response
was both protest and an inquiry.
'Too successful" was Betty's bored
reply. That's one reason it was tire
some. But I'm tired of being n detail
In the stage setting for some woman
ambitious TO put over on her gullible
/ guests either her money or her brains
or her manageable daughters"
you're desperately disappointing,
Betty. Keep up such conduct anoth-
err season and you1l be worse than a
stage fixture; you'll be forced clear
| out of the wings"
"Then perhaps I'll strike up an ac-
! quaintance with the stage hands or the
newspaper reporters or somebody else
who can be spontaneous and interest
ing"
"Please don't remind me Of your
scandalous conduct at the Lafayette
club dinner dance. should never get
over 1t If the Markhams and Browns
found out that IL was you who gave
the Information about their feud to
that impertinent young scrub repor-
err"
Cub reporter, mother" corrected
Betty, and that very story promoted
him from the cub class"
1--WE will not discuss this matter
now" Mrs. Barnes exuded finallty In
her tone and manner "The Markhams
are dining with us this evening.
shall expect you to be decently cor
dial"
BY the time the second course was
served, Mrs. Markham produced her
conversation trump-the latest book.
Have you read that piece of ef-
frontery. Maneuvering for First
Place'T
Mrs. Barnes pleaded such a busy
week with club committees that she
had not even heard of the book. Bet
ty offered a meek affirmative and Mr..
Barnes surprised them all with his
reply.
II read 1t yesterday on the train
I found that Betty had put 1t in my
travelling bag along with my favorite
copy of Hazlitt, felt like spanking
her. but I'll have TO confess that the
audacious title page carried me right
into the first chapter and that carried
me on through the book"
swell, don't you think It the most
audacious slap at society imaginabler
Mrs. Markham's indignation was deep
and dignified.
'Frankly," said Mr.. Barnes. with a
smile, 81 thought 1t was pretty good
hit at us for allowing ourselves to put
too much stress on nonessentials."
"Who wrote it?" demanded Mrs.
Barnes, ready for hostlllties.
'Tt's anonymous, but supposed to
have been written by group of peO-
pie who style themselves the Social
Spy Squad"
The talk drifted to other subjects, .
and Just as the dinner was over a F.
telephone message summoned the
Markhams home on account Of an ac-
cident to one Of the children; so the .
bridge game that invariably followed
dinner had to be abandoned.
Mr.. Barnes resumed reading his I'M
finished evening paper, Betty busted
herself with some loose engravings
and Mrs. Barnes picked up the new
book that had been discussed ut din
ner.
''If everyone else is reading this l
suppose I'll have to read 1t, too" she
began, but the next instant stiffened, |
for in the doorway appeared Barnaby
Wood, whom she mentally termed the
upstart young scrub" reporter re-
ferred to In her conversation with
Betty before dinner. He looked tall, /
straight and assured, though decided
ly pale Immediately after the first
formal greetings were over, he startled
them all by saying that before Mrs.
Barnes began the book he and Betty
would like to make a confession.
"She has given me the right to call
her that" he said, as he approached
Betty's side. "and we want to ask you
and Mr. Barnes now to consent to our
HlurrluBe.
"And your means Of support?" asked
John Barnes.
"Why, daddy" broke In Betty, sour
book is already in the fourteenth thou
sand, and the publishers say 1t will go
to fifty within the month" Then, In
confusion, she covered her blushing
face with both her hands, but dropped
them as her father spoke.
81 never knew before that you were
the son Of the fellow ! knew at col
lege as Squire John Wood but I'll
confess did suspect you two Of be-
ing accomplices in that Maneuvering
for First Place Mother shall we let
this squad Of spies escape and cast
their lots together for lifef'
"Only on condition that they keep
their crime u secret, and shift the
- f..t,.., otorfac oxvov from NV