The Washington herald., 1916-10-30

you're dining with me. Hurry-before he
leaves his Office"
But I-we're having guests for din
ner," lied Helen in desperation.
'I say, that's tough" complained Mr..
Allen. 81 was counting on that dinner
party. Well, let's fix it up for Saturday.
That suit everybody"
Sorry, but got a date" regretted Mr..
Duncan. Cant we make II Friday?'
Then to the waiter, who was suggestively
wiping of the table, Another round
the same
Friday suits me all right" agreed
Mr.. Allen. "Wherern we meetT'
"oh. please don't include me-" founder
ed Helen, gathering UP her muff and
gloves. 'We're-we're going out of town
Friday for the week end. Now don't let
me break up your party, but 1 must
hurry home, It's almost six, and with
guests and a new maid-Fm sure you'll
understand"
In spite Of her protests, Mr.. Allen in
sisted on taking her out and putting
her into a taxi.
Now We'll have that dinner next week
when you get back" holding the cab
door open with a pudgy hand on which
glittered an assertive diamond.
You and Mrs. Ellsworth fix IL up-al-
most any night'n suit me. And well
have a blowout at my place soon. We
must get together a lot this winter"
When the cab finally moved of, Helen's
forced smile and stiffened muscles re-
laxed. That obnoxious. sporty. dapper
little man! She hated everything about
him. from his presumptuous stare to
his over-manicured nails!
With a thrill of relief, she thought OF
Warren. His big. gruff, careless sell
had never seemed so wholesome. She
loved even his closely-clipped, unpublished
nails.
Imagine him dawdling his afternoons
at Nector's. ogllng every pretty face
and with a note book filled with chorus
girls addresses! Then she pictured hin
taking the dapper Mr.. Allen by the neck
and shaking him as a big shaggy New.
| foundland might shake a spindling, sleek
ratterrier.
For once Helens sense of economy wa
surmounted by stronger emotions. anC
she paid her taxicab ungrudgingly. L
was quite dark. Was she very late? Sh'
flew up the steps and into the elevator.
Warren was already home, ensconcet
in the library, his feet on the desk, hi
tavorite angle OF elevation.
"Oh, you dear!" pushing away hi
paper and smuggling into his unwilling
lap. "Oh. I'm so glad you don't wear
diamond ring or a fancy waistcoat an(
that you're not sleek and dapper-anC
don't smell of bay rumR' sniffing.
Here, what the Sam hill
And you're never going to be bald!'
dumpling his thick, rebellious hair. Blu
II you ever should-don't Try to cover 1
with a few long locks. Ugh" with
shudder, burying her face in his rougl
coat. Looked like it was plnstered dow
with pomade."
well, let's have the story" as he drew
out menacing hatpin and lung it on tn,
table. Spiel it ofT!'
I've been out with Mrs. Ellsworth,
sitting up and taking of her hat. wv,
\ me Mr.. Duncan and a Mr.. Allen. Oh,
loathe him! And he thought I wouldn'
dance because I wanted to talk will
| him"
Wouldn't dance! Where the blazes-'
we went to Nector's for taa No, 1
wasn't even tea-we had drinks Oh,
know you told me not to so with her
know you're going to roar 1T me! Blu
after that impudent little coxcomb-I love
everything about you" with { vehemen
J hug. Even your roaringr'
| Copyright ls16)