Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-12-28
SHIFTING THE SCENERY
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.

Positively my last appearance this
season NJ stupid, so-called 'at
home" Betty Barnes dropped among
the pillows on the cretonne-covered
couch in her mothers bedroom. and
pulled off her long gloves with languid
jerks.
Surely You don't mean that Mrs
Mason's at home was anything but
success2" Her mothers response
was both protest and an inquiry.
"Too successful" was Bettys bored
reply. That's one reason IL was tire
some. But I'm tired of being q detail
in the stage setting for some woman
ambitious to put ever on her gulible
guests either her money or her brains
or her mariingeable daughters"
You're desperately disappointing.
Betty. Keep up such conduct anoth-
er season and you'll be worse than a
stage fixture; you'll be forced clear
out of the wings"
"Then perhaps III strike up an ne
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 1t 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"
ave will not discuss this matter
now" Mrs Barnes exuded finality in
her tone and manner. "The MarkhamS
are dining with us this evening I
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 eff
frontery, Maneuvering for First
Place'?"
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.
81 read it yesterday on the train
coming from Chicago" he said. "When
| 7 found that Betty had put it in my
travelling bag along with my favorite
COPY of Hazitt, | 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 IL the most
audacious slap at society imaginableT
Mrs. Markham's indignation was deep
and dignlfied.
"Frankly," said Mr.. Barnes, with
smile. 81 thought IT was a pretty GOOD
hit at us for allowing ourselves to put
| too much stress on nonessentials."
"Who wrote it?" demanded Mrs.
| Barnes, ready for hostilities.
TITS anonymous, but supposed to
have been written by a group of peo-
pie who style themselves the Social
Spy Squad
The talk drifted to other subjects,
and Just as the dinner was over
telephone message summoned the
Markhams home on account of an &C
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 at an
ner.
'If everyone else is reading this
suppose III have to read 1t, too sfe
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 win
Betty before dinner. He looked tail
straight and assured, though decided
" pale. Immediately after the hrsI
formal greetings were over, he startled
lutlI hil ny lhS Aiis'' h'''AN
Barnes began the book he and Berry
would like to make confession.
"She has given me the right to can
her that" he said, as he approached
Betty's side. land we want to ask you
and Mr.. Barnes now to consent TO our
marriage"
"And your means Of support asked
John Barnes.
"Why daddy" broke in Betty "our
book Is already in. the fourteenth thou-
sand, and the publishers say il VIII so
to fifty within the month"; Then IN
confusion. she covered her bluShing
face with both her hands. but droppeu
them as her father spoke.
81 never knew before that you were
the son Of the fellow I knew Mt col,
lege as Squire John Wood but IN
confess I did suspect you two OF De-
ing accomplices in that 'Maneuyerihs