The Parker post., 1916-06-17

only with the life that sparkled In
them and there was nothing at all in
his general makeup to suggest Bohe-
mia or the artistic temperament.
1t was the hour of his rather hearty
bachelor breakfast and his six feet of
decided masculinity was still envel-
oped in a futurist-patterned dressing
gown which he had slipped on after
his cold bath. A cup of excellent cof-
fee steamed on table beside him
and copy of popular magazine lay
open on the broad arm of his chair.
His valet whistled softly in the ad.
joining room.
"Stubbs!" called out Granville sud.
denly. Get Evans on the wire. I
want to talk with him."
While Stubs was getting into com.
munication with the editor of the
magazine in which Anne Morrell's
story was published, Granville sat with
half-closed eyes pondering over the
odd situation. Evans was his ipti-
mate friend, it happened, so Granville
knew he was on the right track.
"Peach!" was the inelegant express
sion Evans used to picture Anne to
his inquiring friend. Glorious red
hair and pair of eyes that make you
blink. I've proposed to her a half
dozen times, but there's nothing doing
in that line. One of those wedded-to-
art, temperamental girls, you know"
After sufficient good-natured delay
on Evans part, Granville was given
Annes address, and that afternoon he
donned his most attractive habili-
ments, ordered Stubs to bring around
his car and motored over to the Nor
rells' home.
Bridget pointed to the summerhouse
at the foot Of the garden when Gran
vile asked for Miss Morrell.
"Sure yell be sorry man if ye dis
turb her in wan of thin frances" she
admonished Granville as he turned
quickly toward the thatch.
Anne looked out of her tiny window
when crunching footsteps warned her
of someone's approach. Then she
popped her head over the rustic rail-
ing and Granville smiled in apprecia-
tion. Evans, he admitted, had not ex-
aggerated. Then memory turned him
back to youthful days when he had sat
in that selfsame summerhouse and
wasted perfectly good paints, canvases
and oil in wanton recklessness.
I'm Granville" he said by way Of
introduction, stepping without invita-
tion into the attractive little den. 81
am the person whose canvases you
found in the thatch." Then he seated
himself precariously on a camp stool
and beamed genially upon the aston
ished girl, who was quite breathless
with interest ar@ amazement.
"But-you-surely you didn't sue
ceed-with that start!" she gasped,
ending covert appraising glance at
his prosperous appearance. She drew
out from beneath her table some of
the fearfully inartistic daubs and
spread them out before Granville.
At which he laughed merrily and
long.
l keep them close beside me for
inspiration" Anne said, with a dry
smile
Lord! What a fool I was!" he
commented.
But how did you ever succeed
with such a start?" she insisted.
"By selling automobiles" he con-
fessed. "But my awful daubs have
served one good purpose" he said. "I'd
like to have them-if you don't mind"
"But 1 do mind" she declared. 81
want them. l paid fifteen dollars for
this summerhouse and wouldn't take
anything-for it now''-she was blush
ing furiously and she knew it. II am
going to make some tea,' she faltered.
Il don't mind being called thing
any old thing-under the circum-
stances" Granville laughed.