The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-24

laughed Jimmy Barton as ne read the
title OF the article had just finished
writing. II suppose you are telling the
young hopefuIs how to be married and
live happily ever after on fifteen a
week. 80"
at can be done" interrupted Gag
eriy.
Perhaps" agreed Jimmy. slowly.
''But II takes a lot Of courage for the
eiB week chap to start wooing the
sixteen-fifty girl-cspecially " she has
more prosperous suitors than he. -
Say. Miss Beatrice. Is there anything in
tire rumor that the new cartoonist
see hanging around your desk occasion
ally actually gets $4,000 a year for q
few measly drawings, while a certain
star reporter only draws down go q
weck?"
And now the plot Of Jimmy's con-
versation began to march, That young
gentleman was jealous. My knowledge
Of masculine psychology swept over
me In a sudden wave OF consciousness.
Propinquity, interests shared, the SYM
pathy that comes from work done In
unison were giving Jimmy's friendship
for me n sentimental twist-and its first
manifestation was jealousy.
My emotions were mingled OF an
noyance that anything should threaten
the impersonal attitude needed for our
work.
The earnest worker conquered the
northumberland sense Of humor
trfumphed over all.
Shame on you for showing such I'M
worthy professional jealousy. / don't
know what that cartoonist's salary Is.
But whatever II Is, he earns II by maxi
Ing people laugh and besides. he has
wife and three children to support"
Jimmy grinned and made a sudden
my hand. I'D like" he began, and
then Arnold, the office boy. swung into
the room.
A Big Mail.
pretty big mail this morning, Miss
Fairfax" he announced. II opened
all the envelopes to save you trouble
that's why I'm late"
JIMMY attempted a resumption OF
histlities. In self-defense l glanced
through one OF the letters Arnold had
brought me and fairly thrust 1t upon
Jimmy in lieu OF my hand. Then a
complete change came over James Bar
ton. ESQ.
young men of our day to consider -
said he. The foreig, inyasion-of suit
ors. Give me the letter-you see. /
know Bob" said he. I'll tell him what
OF do. His troubles find me-respon-
sive."
And ho was so insistent that 1 finally
yielded. Later events proved that 1t
was as well for all concerned that Mr..
Robert Wells had evoked the personal
interest Of James Barton.
This is the letter;
Dear Miss Fairfax-Is there any way
an honest man can prevent his sweet
heart from falling in love with 1asci-
mating foreigner. pP Plssss a wells"
II sounds almost as IL Mr.. Wells
we're "spoofiing' the writer Of Adyice
10 the Lovelorn-does 1t not? Wen
there was nothing particularly humor-
Gus about the chain OF CIRCUMSTANCES
with which we found ourselves bound
an a result OF following up Mr.. Weiis'
o,f rhe ig next morning l got Chapter I OF
INV sidelights on the double-barreied
romance Of Martha .Ainsley. she ana
Tsohert Wells had been brought up to-
gether. Theirs had been one OF nose
foreRone conclusion. essentially sui'-
able boy-and girl romanees. ,, h,,,
And then, enter-not the villain. put
So much Jimmy got from his old
college friend. Robert Wells. IT,. 9
~ blew into his apartment ABOUT
r.,iocis =" said Jimmy. "Some stunning
Mace. Bobbie hes-he's prospered. al
right. But he told me SAD taie OF
rather tragic interruption 10 MS iuyihS
love affair.
Bob Ready to Propose.
"Bob and Miss Ainsley were riding
ys.terday afternoon-they came in from
= ine little canter in the park and Bob
felt that his moment had come. He ac-
tually thought Miss Martha was about
ready to end his suspense. And then In
comes the rival A chap named Louis
Versale, a Frenchman who has lot OF
excuses for not being on the firing line.
Bob had to confess that he didn't
know anything definite against Versale.
but that he just didn't like him. How
ever, Martha didn't share Bob's preju-
dices and that was where his troubles
came in.
He says It isn't altogether losing
Martha that worries him, for he be-
lieves himself to be a good enough sport
to let the best man win-but he feels
that there IS something all wrong about
Yersale-something queer-underhand"
Jimmy Barton, this seems like very
ordinary, average. everyday love affair,
in which one angle of the triangle has
very little leaning toward its opposite
angle" said !. 81 don't see how We can
waste time on It,"
Beatrice. you and 1 are going to the
Ainsley masquerade ball tomorrow night
to queer Mr.. Louis Versailles game" said
Jimmy, with quiet assurance.
"How absurd" began.
And then Jimmy leaned over and
whispered something In my ear-and al
once ] knew that we must indeed go tc
the Ainsley ball.
Martha Ainsley seemed to be In ever
greater need Of my help than was Rob
ert Wellsl
Louis Versale came to New York
shortly after the outbreak of the great
European war. He brought with him
letters OF Introduction from several
Frenchmen of note,
- the fact that all these men were
at the front and that there was nc
way of verifying their letters. Versalt
danced WELL talked well, had very
charming manners and plenty Of
money.
Versale laid siege to numberless New
York girls-and when finally his atten.
tions focused themselves on NJ arths
Ainsley she was first fiattered anC
then almost responsive. He was new