The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-08-18
PREPAREDNESS
BY EARL REED sIlvERs.


Before going out Jim Chambers 10
cured . sheet Of paper, jotted down .
single sentence, and then placed the
note carefully in his wallet. He be
lieved in preparedness.
In the library he was greeted by his
older brother who. in the manner
which older brothers have, nodded
briefly.
"Where're you going?"
ITO Edythe's."
you're engaged, aren't you?"
"Yes, but it isn't announced"
"Whatll she say about your trip to
Westfeld?"
Nothing. What ear she say?"
"You lived in the same house with
Mildred Merritt, didn't you!"
Eyes,"
The older brother stretched Ian.
guidly. "Well, take this advice from
someone who knows. Edythe doesn't
like the idea Of your having been so
much with the other girl. She's 60
ing to ask you to give an account Of
every minute you spent in her COM
pany, and If you make one break
you're a goner. And whatever you do,
don't forget where you are and call
Edythe Mildred"
"Oh, that's all right. I believe in
preparedness"
Jim patted his wallet and departed.
The girl met him at the door.
"Jim!" she said softly.
As no one vas in sight, he availed
himself Of the usual prerogative Of
engaged couples.
"You look great" he announced en-
Enthusiastically.
She smiled and led him to the big
leather sofa.
Nov, tell me about your trip"
what do you want to know?"
Everything"
"Well, l tried to get old man Smith
to sell those B. and H. bonds for ten
whole days, but he got stubborn, and
wouldn't do a thing"
But what did you do all the rest
of the time?"
ooh, just hung around"
"How?"
"Well, I went skating quite . lot"
did you skate with Mildred Mer-
ritz"
Let me see. I think perhaps I ( did"
"How many times?"
II didn't count. OF course, I had
to skate with her sometimes. We
lived in the same house."
Eyes, and you saw her every night,
didn't you?"
Not every night"
"How many!"
"Edythe, dear, let's not talk about
that. I'd rather hear what you were
doing"
She stamped her foot.
"Tell me-"
Every night but one"
Edythe arose.
ooh! Do you want to go to the
movies?" she asked.
What? And this the first time I've
seen you in two weeks"
"You don't seem to car much. Ever
since you've been here, you've been
talking about another girl"
He crossed the floor to where
Edythe was standing, and took her
hands. you know, dear. that there's
only one girl in all the world"
"Are you sure?"
Positive"
She smiled into his eyes.
"All right, we'll forget about your
trip. Now, let's talk of something
else"
So they talked Of other things for
an hour or 50. Then Edythe started
to talk about her dresses. Jim lis
tened for q time before protesting,
but finally he could bear it no longer.
Listen, Mildred" he said uncon-
sciously. II don't care about the old
dresses. Let's talk"
He paused, wide eyed.
Edythe had sprung from the couch.
| righteous indignation in her coal-black
eyes.
"You called me Mildred"
r. "What?"' ...
"You called me Mildred. Now I
know that you were with her all the
time-that you were thinking Of her
when you spoke to me-"
But l wasn't"
you were. You called me Mil.
dred."
He smiled indulgently.
Il was only fooling."
"'You weren't. I'm going upstairs"
you're not. Edythe. dear"
."Why don't you call me Mildred
again."
81 was only fooling. You know !
was"
"You weren't fooling."
Don't you believe mel"
"No."
"All right. He smiled. and then
slowly and deliberately took his wal.
let from his pocket. From the wallet
! he extracted q sheet Of paper. Read
this"
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