Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-07-20
The Ticket
IL Led to Com
pLications
By AGNES C. BROGAN

There was the girl again! Billy
Thornton frowned at hef sudden en-
trance into the car-not that there was
anything about the fresh, Interested
countenance to call forth a masculine.
frown. Jane Wilder was exactly the
opposite kind of girl. But Billy never
had met her and was more anxious to
meet her than for anything else in the
world. and, though she was always ap.
pearing In most unexpected places in
a delightfully."- disturbing manner, still
she. the ideal, remained as far distant
as some beautiful, wonderful star.
"How," unused Billy to himself
how In tho work. could the proper
meeting be brought aboutT Some
times he was pleased TO fancy re-
sponsive interest In the girls glance of
quickly yelled recognition in their sew
eral encounters. "How-oh, howf"
$50 glad to see you, dearie," muir
INJURED an old lady, bending over his
divinity from the seat behind. "You
are on your way to the child welfare
meeting, Of course. How busy you
keep yourself with everything Of an
uplifting naturel don't see how you
do It,"
The girl laughed as she turned around.
Billy's heart thumped In sympathy
with the clear Joyousness of the sound.
Never had he heard her voice or laugh
before, and IN nothing was she dlsap-
pointing. Recklessly he allowed the
windows of his office, where Braydon
was waiting to see him upon an impor-
tant commission, to fade into distance.
He would sit here In this seat until the
girl left the car.
"Oh, l am not voluntarily busy" she
answered the old lady, "just drawn
int the work by my friends. Meetings
are all this week, you know-evening
for the men. We must interest voters.
Lillis is one of the ushers, 80 It was
she who solicited my aid, the dean of
our old college being tonight's speaker"
II would like to CO." the old lady re-
sponded. Eagerly the girl fumbled In
her purse. 80 sorry" she said at
length. 81 have no more tickets, and
admission is all by ticket invitation"
She jumped to. her feet. "My cor
nerp' she cried. "Goodby, Mrs. West"
It was then that Billy heard the GOV.
eted name.
"Goodby, Jane Wilder" said the old
lady.
Jane Wilder" Mentally he echoed
the name. ut was like her somehow"
To him II sounded quaint and sweet.
He was planning as he brushed through
the crowd In the streets to obtain tick.
cts I'm some manner for that evenings
welfare" meeting. IL would be I'm the
auditorium, Of course, and she had
said by invitation only. He remem-
bered reading an account of the affair
In the papers Former pupils Of the
college represented by the speaker
were to act as ushers. Surely one
might speak to an usher, and surely
onEmight select ones particular usher.
Billy began to whistle.
The low but merry tune seemed TO
annoy rather than cheer the tall young
man who swung impatiently about in
Billy's pet Office chair.
Great Scott" Braydon calculated In
greeting, "you come I'm more than thir-
ty minutes late and happy as a May
day! ! went without my own lunch In
order to get over here on time, while
you
Say" remarked Billy absently,
where can fellow get tickets for to-
nights child welfare meetingp
Braydon's feet came 10 the floor with
a bang whats the matter with you,
ThorntOnf" he asked.
Billy waved the question impatlently
aside. "Where can get them?" he In.
sisted.
How the dickens do known tho
man replied. Suddenly he glanced at |
Bllly's eager face. "Why this unusual
interest In n strange causeT' he asked. |
Deliberately Billy scented himself In |
an opposite chair. There IL girl"
he answered seriously, whom am |
very anxious TO meet. She will BIO |
there tonight. Among that old college |
crowd we must have mutual acquaint- |
ances. If you can direct me to any one
who might possibly have a spare ticket |
Of invitation I'd be obliged. That's all"
His friend considered. "Why, there's
Jack Maynard" he said. Ills wife
was student at that college. I'll
speak to him. Before we get down TO
business, what's the name OF this girl, |
Blllyf Might know her myself"
Thornton's eyes took on their previ-
Gus reminiscent g1eam. Wilder" no
softly-"Jane Wilder"
In the desperate hope Of hearing from
Jack Maynard he fingered I'm the Of
fee long past closing time and at last
was rewarded by the appearance OF a
bearing an envelope marked,
with the date, "ricket TO auditorium
Bllly's sinking spirits scared
10 their highest level That very even
ing he should see her again at least
That evening. There was not much
lime for dinner The auditorium would
DO crowded.
For moment AZ he waited I'm the
entrance Bily's eyes roved excitedly
among the white gowned tiers Of ush-
Frs Then ut length he spled her. She
was even more charming with her I'M
'oyered golden head than in the fetch
ng hats OF his remembrance, and
yes, she was coming slowly toward
hin. A rather stout woman usher put
,ut her hand
Ticket. plensc," she demanded. But |