The Glenwood post., 1916-02-26
earshot, the sooner this conversation
ends the better"

earshot, the sooner this conversation
ends the better"
The conversation ended abruptly
after that, and Jack dug into his desk
with such ferocity that two stenog-
raShers were kept going at break
nept speed all day. Dorothy went out
insSle back yard and personally su-
pechsed the resetting of tulip bulbs
until noon, and after noon she slept
to make up for the sleeplessness OF
the night before. That evening, as
she went into the big dining room Of
the Leicester hotel with the Dun
stans and Chester Hill, she saw Jack
among dinner party of six, which
included strange blonde woman, who
was identified by Mrs. Dunstan as the
young widow of Hiram Ward, the
brewer.
The interest of Dorothy and Chester
Hill in each other had seemed to grow
steadily since that evening, and
Jacks apparent interest in the young
widow had kept pretty good pace
with theirs, so that on the day they
all appeared on the country clubhouse
porch, Dorothy and Jack had drifted
we'll apart, without a full explana-
tion having been given her. She knew
that she had Intentionally made it i'm
possible for Jack to explain fully, yet
she felt hurt at his failure to do so;
he knew that so long as his explana-
ton was withheld she was justified
in thinking him a detestable cad, yet
he was SO angered at her arrogant
manner toward him and her accept
ance of Chester Hills attentions that
he delayed his explanation.
It remained for fatuous Percy An
son, who had unwittingly caused the
trouble, to set things right. Just as
Chester Hill was called to the tele-
phone, Percy came along the porch
arm in arm with grouchy Henry
Ardmore, head of the firm of brokers
to which Jack had long sought ad-
mission as a member of the partner
ship. At the same time Jack and
Mrs. Ward came up the front steps,
and, without knowing of Dorothy's
presence, went around to that side Of
the porch.
"Heigho, Mrs. Ward" called Percy,
and Hello, Jack! Congratulations,
old boy! Ardmore has Just been tell
ing me about your adoption into the
firm. well-merited compliment, l
have no doubt" And Percy laughed
heartily at his little joke.
"By the way. Elliott" said Ard
more bluntly, my sister writes me
that you are all sorts of brick; says
her husband is trying to get well fast
lest she begin scheming to get you
for her second husband" Then.
turning to Mrs. Ward, he added in
explanation: MY sister was COM
PEELED to be here several hours be-
tween trains month or SO ago on her
way to some jumpingoff place where
her husband had been injured in
railroad wreck, and as l was laid up
with the grip Elliott was good enough
to help me out by taking care of her
until her train left"
"And he didn't tell me thing
about it at ALL" pouted Mrs. Ward
smilingly.
"He didn't have to tell me, for I
can prove by Dorothy that I told her
about seeing him at the Dinsmore
with stunning blonde. Eth, Doro-
thy?" The smiling Percy blandly
drew Dorothy into the conversation.
Now, Percy, don't expect me to re-
member all the things you ever told
me confdentially." Although Doro-
thy laughed lightly and looked straight
at Percy as she replied, she gave to
Jack the fieeting end Of glance into
which she put an expression OF such
penitent understanding that he knew
The laundering Percy had brought
about the explanation so long delayed
and so naturally supplied by Dorothy's
Imagination. Somehow, in going into
the clubhouse moment later to see
newly decorated room which Chester
Hill called to them to come and ad-
mire, Ardmore led the way, followed
by Percy and the widow, leaving Doro-
Thy and Jack together in the rear.
Dorothy, I know I don't deserve
10 be forgiven for delaying an ex.
planation you were entitled to month
ago. but"
But because l listened to Percy's
gossip and wouldn't listen to your at.
tempted explanation, ! didn't deserve
to know the truth" Dorothy looked
away before she blushingly added:
Then, of course, when / saw you so
often with Mrs. Ward, I thought she
was the blonde he had seen you with
And | suppose you thought her
millions had lured me, just as / was
beginning to think Chester Hills had
lured you. Dearest. we don't want to
see those old decorations; let's stay
out here and see the sunset" But If
they saw much of the sunset they
must have seen it reflected in each