The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-01-07
THIRD TINES CHARM
BY cATHARINE cRANMER.

widowers 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-ir
other words, just Dorothy"
Jack frowned at the awful POSSIBLE
tiles of the case. He was in love with
Dorothy, but would not be in 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 frenzy of love and hope and a
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
lived, Henry Ardmore's shining black
automobile rolled noiselessly toward
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 he 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 Rejecting that
though Fate had snatched one oppor-
tunity from him she had flung another
at his feet. Jack decided to wash I'D
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
rs he stepped from the door.
"Ardmores chauffeur telephoned
hat there had been an accident so |
started out to see if | could find you
llong the way. It's lucky we met here
n the light concluded John Leigh.
Jack accepted their cordial invita-
ion to tea, cOnsoling himself with a
'ague recollection of the alleged
harm of all third attempts against
allure, and he determined that he
would make third attempt to pro.
,ose before he left Dorothy.
Dorothy was charmingly flushed and
xuberant. In the little family group
ack began to feel quite at home
hough he was longing for an oppor-
unity to be alone with Dorothy, when
frightened servant girl burst into
he living room screaming that the
ouse was on fire.
Dashing up the back stairway
here the frightened maid pointed,
ack smelled burning cotton, and in
he maids room on the third floor he
,und the Swiss window curtains had
ropped in burning fragments upon
lie mating floor covering. Grabbing
small rug from the hallway floor,
e extinguished the flames starting J
ON the mating Just as Dorothy, her
arents and the excited maid entered
lie room. While Mr.. and Mrs. Leigh
liked to the girl, Dorothy searched
lck's hands for burns, two of which
le found, and she marched him down
airs to administer first aid. -,
"Oh, Jack! It's too bad" she muir.
ured in fearful voice, as she gave
le bandage a final pat. Does it hurt ;
, very much?"
Hurt? Why, It's heavenly, Dor. +
hy!" Jack exclaimed. Dorothy won :
ered what he meant, but when he :
card her fathers voice on the stair.
ay, he lost no time in making his ..
Gaming quite clear.
"The third time charms, Jack"
Dorothy, "and I'm glad you 9
dn't succeed in telling me the other 4
mes you tried, for didn't know un. :,
five minutes ago that l loved you" q
opyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)
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Dradnin0 GoId IL, Asnk;a IL