Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-22

Africa Wnen n summons
from old Captain Wayne reached him.
With equal horror of putting UP at
hotels or relatives houses. the Captain
upon his arrival in town had gone
,, straight to his club and forthwith be-
come the sensation of the clubs windows
| Old members felt young when they
caught sight of him as though they had
come suddenly on vanished landmark
| restored
How do you do. sir?"
"Huhw grunted the Captain "slt
down" He ordered drink for his guest
and another for himself He glared at
| the walter. He glared at callow youth
| who had come up and was looking with
| speculative eye at neighboring chair.
The waiter retired almost precipitously.
| The youth followed.
I'm my time" remarked the Captain,
"a club was for privacy Now it's a
haven for bell-boys and playground for
| whippersnappers."
They've made me a member. SIR"
| Have, eh!' growled the Captain and
! glared at his nephew. Alan took inspec-
| tion cooly, faint smile on his thin
| face. The Captain turned away his bulg.
ing eyes. crossed and uncrossed his legs
and finally spoke. ''I was Just going to
say when you interrupted" he began.
that engineering is dirty job. Not.
however," he continued, after a pause,
'dirtier than most. It's a profession, but
! not n career"
"oh, 1 don't know" said Alan.
They've got few In the Army and
they seem to be doing pretty WELL"
Huh the Army said the Captain.
| He subsidized, and made new start
whats your appointment"
1t doesn't amount to an appointment
| Just job as assistant TO Walton, tho
engineer the contractors are sending out
We're going to put up bridge some.
| where in Africa.
That's it, 1 knew it," said the Cap.
tain. Going away. Want any money!"
| The question came like solid shot out OF
n four-pounder. Alan started. colored and
smiled all at the same time.
No thanks. sir" he replied. i've go,
| all / need
| The Captain hitched his chair forward,
| placed his hands on his knees leaned
forward and glared out on the avenue.
The Lansings," he began, like boy
| reciting piece, ARE devils for drink,
| the Waynes for women. Don't you ever
| let 'em worry you about drink. Now.
adays' the doctors call US non-alcoholic.
| In my time II was just plain strong heads
for wine. l say, don't worry about drink.
There's safety valve in every Wayne's
| gullet."
But women. AIan!" The captain
slued around his bulging eyes. You look
out for them. As your great grandfather
| used to say: To women, only perishable
goods-sweets, flowers and kisses And
you take II from me, kisses aren't al.
ways the cheapest. They say God made
eveTything-down TO the little apples and
Jersey lightning. But when he made
women the devil helped" The captains
nervousness dropped from him as he de.
hberately drew out his watch and fob.
Good thing he did, too" he added. as
pleasing afterthought He leaned back
In his chair. A complacent look came
over his face. trr4
Alan got up to say good-by. The cap.
tain rose. too. and elasped the hand Alan
held out. "One more thing" he said
Don't forget there's always a Wayne TO
back Wayne for good or bad.e
Back in his rooms Alan found letters
awaiting him. He read them and tore
them up-al but one, II was from Glenn.
Dear Alan" she wrote. Nance says
you are going very far away. am
sorry. 1t has been raining here very
much. In the hollows all the bridges ara
under water. / have invented a new
game. 1t Is called steamboat l play
1t on old Dubbs We go down into the
valley and l make him go through the
water around the bridges. lie puts Just
lk steamboat and when he gets out
he smokes all over. He is too fat hope
you will come back very soon. Glenn
Gerry and Alix were Spending the
summer at The F1rs where Mrs. Lansing,
Gerry's widowed mother, was still noml-
many hno hoSteSS- luty ndu DeeH 1agtieQ
two years, but people still spoke OF AK
as Gerry's bride, and in so doing stamped
her with her own seal. To strangers they
carried the air of a couple about to be
married at the rational close Of a long
engagement No children or thought OF
children had come TO turn the channel
OF life for Alix. On Gerry, marriage sat
as an added habit
Where duller minds would have dubbed
Gerry the OK. Alan had named him the
Rock. and Alan was righl. Gerry had
dignity beyond mere bulk ne had
all the powers OF resistance, none Of ar
ticulation. Where pin-prick would start
an OK IL took an upheaval TO move Gerry.
An upheaYal was on the way, but Gerry
did not know IL. 1t was yet afar on
Red Hin bored 'Aiix and she showed Il.
The nrst summer after the marriage
they had spent abroad. Now Allx's
thoughts and talk turned constantly
toward Europe. She even suggested 4
flying trip for the fall. but Gerry refused
to be dragged so far from golf aud hls
club. He stuck doggedly 10 Rad IA IN
the leaves began to turn and thsa coz
seated 70 move back 10 tpEn.
CONTINUED IN MONDAYS