The Press., 1916-09-07

guest told Susie that her brother wish ed to speak few words with her, and on taking the receiver she was in- structed to send to the inn for the gen. tleman's baggage and if possible keep him till he (John) returned.
 'who is hep asked Susie.
 "A college classmate of mine."
 With this there was a click, and Su- sic was shut off from any further tn- formation. Without a word to the vis- itor she sent for his baggage, and 1t arrived in time for him to dress for dinner. Notwithstanding he had reach. ed middle age he seemed very boyish. He talked a great deal about the esca- pades he and John were concerned in while in college, though he said that John was rather old for that sort of thing. Susie wondered how Johns friend could have had time for esca- pades, for a Phi Beta Kappa key hung to his fob, and Susie knew that that meant high stand in his class. How ever, he gave her the impression of be- ing very bright, and 1t might be that he had been one of those students who can maintain good standing with no great amount of study.
 Susie Atwater was desirous of ob- taining the guests name, but hesitated to ask him point blank. Finally she mustered up courage to do so.
 'I have a proposition to make" he replied. "When your brother returns he and I will be John and Bob to each other. You and he will be John and Sue. That leaves you and me out in the cold for Miss and Mister. What dc you say to our being Bob and Susie till John comes homeT
 There was something forceful about the man that prevented her insisting on a more satisfactory reply to her question. She assented to his proposi- ton, though whenever it came to ad' dressing him as Bob she evaded doing so by not calling him by any name at all. She was passing very delightful season and began to wish her brother would not hurry back, because when he came he would doubtless appropriate much of the visitors company, to her loss.
 When John went away the several days she was to spend without him seemed long. His stay really seemed very short. He returned one morning to find his sister and the visitor sitting in the drawing room on the same sofa. With presence of mind, the latter jumped up and advanced to meet him.
 "Hello, Johnr'
 Hello, Bobp'
 "Your sister has been good enough to keep me oyer."
 "So I see"
 John grasped his friends hand; then, turning to his sister, he said:
 "Sue, this is my college friend, Bob Martindale, better known to the public today as James Robert Martindale governor of this state. I'm glad you succeeded in keeping him until my re- turn"
 "A big job, considering how hard I've tried to get away" replied the governor ironically.
 This introduction struck Miss At water dumb. She did not try to speak. HUT 6AC wd0 LOO AAuSA uSIOhAohCo lO utter sound. A dozen considerations rushed upon her in a heap. This young man, full of college pranks, a gov ernorl And he had come knowing her brother was away and after leading her to suppose he would defer his visit.
 Miss Atwater," said the governor, having heard no end of chatter from John about his interesting little sister, I long desired to see her. When you telephoned me of Johns absence it oc- cured to me to make your acquaint- ance incog. You have given me the change and rest much better than he could have done it. Thanks, awfully. My brief recess is ended. I must go back to work this afternoon"
 But Governor Martindale, having bro ken the ice by this first visit to his friend John Atwater, made many oth- CTS. Whenever the cares of state be came too much for him or when he wished to consult his friend about some important political move he would step away from the capital for the purpose. But when he arrived he seemed more inclined to dawdle with Miss Atwater than to talk politics with her brother.
 Then his visits began to be preceded by gift of flowers, and every one knows what that means when a man becomes attentive to one of the op- posite sex.
 When Sue Atwater received a pro- posal of marriage from the governor of the state she could not realize that girl scarcely out of her teens had re- ceived such an honor. She did not toy with it, but accepted it at once.
 Six months from that time Johns little sister became the presiding lady ct the executive mansion at the state capital.