The Parker post., 1916-07-22
A timely TRIP
By CATHERINE CRANMER.

shore bring rumors of many cOnquests
who is summering with her aunt, Mrs.
de Laittre, at her handsome cottage"
Gerald Mason flung the offending
containing this unwelcome
all the way across the
dining room of his mothers big house,
of which he was the only occupant eX-
cept the caretaker and the cook.
AS he read this gossip of the So
ciety column, Gerald realized the dan
ger of remaining away from Amy at
this time, and as he reflected upon the
complicated state of the paper market,
he realized the danger Of remaining
away from business long enough to
make more than a flying visit to the
distant place where Amy was sum
mering.
A moment later he stalked across
the room and into the telephone closet,
where he called up a railway ticket
office and engaged berth on the mid
night train for the Atlantic coast FIT
.CG
the contents of a huge suitcase to see
if he had put in all the necessities Of
i three-day trip.
Gerald arrived at his destination Sat
.lrday afternoon and learned from
Amy's aunt that his day letter to Amy
lad never reached her, as she was off
On an automobile TRIP, and the time
ior her return was vaguely indicated
IS sometime Saturday."
Her aunt explained Amy's absence
Is being motor trip with "the Mar
rins," and Gerald wondered whether
the Martins" included any unmarried
male e1igibles.
After an evening call at Mrs. de
Laittre's cottage, Gerald strolled along
the board walk He went in a cafe
md ordered something as an excuse
10 have somewhere to sit and some
hing to do. At a table very near him
! pretty woman and two men were
jeated.
Don't look so cut up, Percy said
The WOnan addressing bored-lOOking
blond youth Amy Masterson Will be
Jack tomorrow, and if she hasn't be-
come engaged by that time to that tre-
mendously rich old uncle Of the Mar
ins you may probably be able to have
ner all to yourself. for-perhaps half
IN hour. Eh, Mr.. Maxwell ?"-this to
he older man by her side.
Better not count on more than
twenty minutes, Percy" the older man
laughed. Mrs. de Laittre tells me
young Lochinvar has come from way
out of the West, and that he'll be paw
ing up the sand with impatience until
she arrives, or words to that effect"
The party then rose and passed from
the room, and Gerald glared gloomily
after them He was angry at hearing
Amy'S name tossed about from one
man to another, and he had a sicken-
ing fear of that ridiculous rich uncle
Of the Martins becoming engaged to
her before he, the young Lochinvar,
had a chance to do anything more eff
tective than paw the sand.
But a roomy bed and a sea breeze
through the window brought their log
ical result of sound and restful sleep,
so that the next morning Gerald awOke
refreshed and with renewed courage
o compete with his rivals for Amy's
avor.
Eleven, twelve, and even one o'clock
came on Sunday, but neither Amy nor
any message from her came. Gerald,
who had been invited to dine at her
lunt's, appeared punctually AS the
liners left the table and went into the
long living room, there was the sound
Of a motor horn at the curb, and all
rushed to the open French windows in
line to see a middle-aged fat man in
I dusty ulster and unsightly goggles
AXE Amy's hand and assist her from
/ big roadster.
Congratulate u.s." he called out, as
Mrs de Laittre and her guests stepped
Upon the veranda Gerald felt as if
/ bomb had hit him in the region of
he heart, and he wished he might be
niles away when the next words came
rom that offending mouth. But with
the next words his hopes came back
with bound, for they were these
We are the only two of the six in
our party who got back in time for
Sunday dinner, thanks to my new car"
A general laugh followed the an
nOuncement that dinner was just over,
but Mrs. de Laittre reassured the hun
cry motorists with promises of gener-
Gus left-overs. Gerald suddenly found
himself holding Amys hand tightly
and murmuring some words of greet
ing which he couldn't have identified
upon oath moment later. There was
a welcome in her eyes, though, that
brought back his courage and his
senses, as she presented her middle
aged friend, at whom Gerald cast a
doubtful glance.
Don't glance at me like a savage,
young man" whispered the uncle OF
Mrs. Martin moment later, as he
drew Gerald aside into the darkened
hall. DO your glaring at these simps
will h0l1 no