The Parker post., 1916-03-25
HER LADYSHIP DECIDES
BY IZOLA FORESTER.

London. She had worked hard through
the winter and needed a change.
Ostensibly she came as the guest Of
Mrs. Towne, his mother, but it was
Courtney who shouldered the full re-
sponsibiLity.
81 haven't seen Peggy since she was
married. She says they are going to
put in at Pinehurst pier tomorrow at
ten and l am to motor over with you.
She would love to have Mrs. Towne
and you come too, Courtney
"My mother doesn't approve of Peg
'No!" With lifted brows. She
perfectly dear, and now she's married
she's settled down wonderfully.
think l shall go, Courtney"
Courtney said nothing. He agreed
quite pleasantly to drive her over the
next morning. Mrs. Towne was indisl
posed and some way Wanda managed
to coax her into acquiescence
1t was cool, windy morning the
next day, when they started for Pine
hurst. Courtney had chosen his own
car, low, two-seated French machine
He seemed rather silent as they swung
out along the shore road.
1T isn't far, is it?" Wanda asked
lightly.
About eighteen miles. I'm going to
take the short cut
Once outside the little seaside vii
lage, he turned off the main road and
took the one through the pines inland
Wanda stole a glance at him again.
at the clean-cut, almost stern profile
beside her, and then at his hands and
the way they gripped the wheel.
"You don't really mind my going,
do you, Courtney?' she asked tenta-
lively
''Not at all now," Courtney returned
cordially.
"Halbert's very fond of Peggy.
think he might have married her him
Captain Minturn.'
Courtney smiled at the ribbon, of
road unWinding before them. His eyes
were half closed. He knew every inch
of this road And every mile was TAX
ing them from Pinehurst and the boat
landing. Yet he waited to make sure.
1t was at the fourteenth mile that he
slipped lever wrong and the machine
stopped.
With quick apology he sprang out
and started to tinker away at the car.
Her ladyship chatted for few min
utes, waiting expectantly but as the
minutes flew by she glanced around
curiously at the enfolding hills.
Courtney, are you really trying to
fix the car or just"
He satAup in the road, his capon the
back of his head, and smiled at her.
you're not fixing it at all, are you?
That's what you call it over here. isn't
it, fixing instead of repairing? Won't
it go at alp"
He shook his head contentedly. She
stepped from the car with dignity, de-
lightful dignity he thought, consider.
ing.
81 think I shall walk until / find
some sort of a conveyance"
you can't, because we're about
seven miles at least from the last
house I'm going to stay here until"
he glanced at his watch thoughtfully-
until 10:30. They will have sailed by
them don't you think so?"
Wandas dark eyes were bright with
anger.
II don't see how you dare to do this,
Courtney Towne. They are my friends
and if l choose to go with them it is
absolutely my own affair"
Dear, you are not quite nineteen" +"
said Courtney gently. "Halbert put you
in my care and can't conscientiously
let you chase down the coast with Peg
gy and have her marry you off to any
other crowd"
"You mean Kent?" The color rose
in her face quickly.
Courtney nodded.
II know the whole thing, Wanda.
1 heard Kent bet that he would marry
you before you returned to England.
You know as well as / do that old
Halbert is in debt to him badly. 1t
was part Of his game to make him So.
1t gave him a surety Of his consent
to his winning you and l couldn't
stand that sort Of thing"
Wanda stood before him, white now,
her hands clenched at her sides. 1t
had all been a lark, her wanting to
go with Peg. She had not really
cared, but when he had made an is
sue of it, it had amused her to win
the point over him. Even though she
knew Kent Paxton was going, she had
not realized what it might mean.
"You see, DEAR" he went on slow
ly, ''it isn't just for Halbert's sake,
either. It's for your own. You know
that, don't you, Wanda? l haven't
been able to get word out to your
brother yet, but there's been a little
run of luck for him, some money out
of a Mexican deal that has seemed
dead. We are both in on it, and sold
out our interest last week: There's
enough to pay up Kent. You needn't