The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-29
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A Timely Tip.
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.
Cta....IsxiA -.I.Etl..
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate,)

Newspaper Syndicate.)
Breezes that blow In from the sea-
shore bring rumors OF many conquests
made there by Miss Amy Masterson,
who i3 summering with her aunt,
Mrs. dLaittre at her handsome cot
tage."
Gerald Mason flung the offending
newspaper containing this unwelcome
announcement oil the way across the
diningroom Of his mothers big house,
Of which he was the only occupant ex.
cept the caretaker and the cook. Al.
ter lonely dinner, with lone ey-
ening facing him, this cosby item
was like slap in his face, for bus
mess held him in the city while Amy
Masterson fitted about at a summer
resort. and business had summoned
him to another city right on the eve
of Amy's departure, thus preventing
even Il satisfactory goodbye to her.
The paper market had fluctuated and
figare az often as had his feelings for
Amy, and his hopes that she might
entertain some tender feeling for him
had beer equally intermittent.
AS he read this gossip Of the society
column, Gerald realized the danger of
remaining away from Amy at this
time and as he reflected upon the com.
pltcated state of the paper market, he
realized the danger Of remaining away
from business long enough to make
more than a flying visit to the distant
place where Amy was summering. He
cursed his luck that his business was
not corn meal or garden seed, or some
other thing which would not be affect
ed by faraway war.
With the queer way one has OF look.
ing back again at something that is a
loathsome sight, he walked over,
picked UP the paper, and once more
read tho part comment about Amy.
A moment later, he stalked across the
room and into the telephone closet,
where he called up railway ticket
office and engaged berth on the mid.
night train for the Atlantic coast. Fiji
teen minutes later he was throwing
things into handbag, and surveying
the contents Of a huge suit case to see
II he had put In all the necessities
of three.day trip.
A weekend visit to Amy's summer
resort seven hundred miles away was
a mere sandwich of two tiresome rail.
way journeys with an evanescent bit
Of pleasure crowded between. Gerald
arrived at his destination Saturday
afternoon and learned from Amy's
aunt that his day letter to Amy had
never reached her, as she was OF on
an automobile trip and the time for
her return was vaguely indicated as
some time Sunday"
"Of all the ninnyhammers outside
the home for the feebleminded I'm the
least likely to remain out. Why
didn't make sure Amy would be here
before coming all that distance on a
three.day limit" These and other
thoughts as cheerless crowded each
other in Gerald's mind, but he man.
aged to be courteously attentive to
Mrs. d'Laittre. vaguely hoping there.
by to gain an advantage with her
niece. =.
Although the aunt was cordial to
him, he could see that she was equally
cordial to several Other. young men,
each Of whom he suspected Of having
the same feeling for Amy that he had.
Her aunt explained her absence as be.
ing motor trip "the Martins" and
Gerald wondered whether "the Mar.
tins included any unmarried male
eligibles. f!
After an evening call at Mrs.
d'Laittre's cottage, Gerald strolled
along tho board walk, listened to the
music and watched the crowds until
he began to feel lonely by reason OF
no one in all that throng having any
personal interest In him or for him.
He went in acafe and ordered some.
thing as an excuse to have some.
wher to sit and something to do. AT
table very near him pretty woman
and two men were seated.
'-"Don't look so cut up, Percy" said
the woman, addressing a bored.look.
ing blond youth with an eyebrow
mustacheN and faultless evening cloth.
es as his heaviest accoutrements for
feminine conquest. Amy Masterson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
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