The Dolores star., 1917-11-16
EAI1lIs FOR PATTY
y =. y EATON.

Taps scuddsr. He vas big. more Than
passahly good looking. had . splencid
Income cutie outside his pay. and Va.
. lieutenant junior grade. in the
navy.
Ordsrs had come dstaching him
from duty at the yard aud instruct
ing hin 70 join, the Comorsnt for ses
d1ty.
He stood on the steps Of the I'D
mirals house admiral was com
nandant Of the navy yard-a scowi
ON his fAce and . heart within him
like several tons OF lead. Evelyn How.
land. the admlralis daughter. had Just
refused him again. and tomorrow he
would be At sea for he knew not hcw
many years- The Comorant was head
ed for the Philippines.
Sd1 scowling. he began to wall
down the path. A syringa bush on
the little lawn was in full bloom.
Behind the syringa bush sounded .
childish voice singing a popular song
1t ceased ~ he moved down the path
and Patty Howland. with all the i'm.
pulsiveness Of q dozen years coupled
with very strong likes and dislikes
sped from behind the bush and threw
herself into Taps Scudder's arms.
"Oh, Taps" she cried. ARE you real
ly going away tomorrow"
Tonight. Patty" said he. smiling
down at her. I'VE sail tomorrow"
And you've Just been up to see
Evelyn"
He nooAoA
And she turned you down again r
That's not . nice way Of putting
IT," he chided mildly.
well. did she 2" she persisted. "You
needn't answer. Taps. ] see II In
that scowl of yours. And you look
hurt and angry, too. Did she say
shed marry you II you'd leave the
service?
He smiled rather wanly.
You're not going tor
I'm sailing tomorrow on the Co
morant," said he.
well. don't you leave the service
Taps-not for Evelyn nor anybody
else" she said.
"Why!" he asked.
"Oh. well, for one thing Just be.
cause, and for another because you
are 20 awfully. awfully handsome in
. uniform"
THAT last 10 the best reason. Pat.
IT," he laughed. "Just for that ]
won't leave the service"
We'll. don't. Promise mo you
won't"
81 promise"
He stopped. She lifted her pretty,
childish face and kissed him resound
tngly. not once. but over and over.
Then he went ON down the path, the
Incident forgotten. He was scowling
again and his heart was sore within
him. Evelyn Howland, had. indeed.
intimated this last afternoon that II
he would leave the service she would
marry him.
The next day he sailed on the Co.
morant. And II was . very depressed
Taps Scudder that cruised about the
Philippines.
He wrote Evelyn often--it seemed
to be his only solace. that and wait.
ing impatiently for the letters from
her. They were all of the same gen.
eral trend. Why did he stay in the
service. especially when he had plenty
Of money? He couldn't really care
very much for her II he wouldn't leave
the service for her sake.
Taps read those letters and bit his
lips and paced the hot deck, and six
years went past In this way.
Then he was ordered home. and the
waters did not foam and hiss half
loudly enough beneath the homeward
pointing prov to suit him.
Evelyn was still heart-free, II he
could believe her letters. and in few
weeks now he would see her
During his absence Rear Admiral
Rowland had reached the age limit
and been retired. He now lived in
an imposing house in an exclusive
suburb near the navy yard.
No sooner was he landed than Taps
scudder headed thither. It was q
splendid place. with spacious grounds
and q long. low rambling house set
among Lombardy poplars.
Taps stood at the wide gates admir-.
ing It. The carriage which had
brought him thfther was rafting back
toward the little suburban station.
A motor car came whirring into the
driveway. A horn honked its strident
warning. He turned about There
was . cry from the car: instantly 1t
stopped.
"Oh. Taps, Taps. dear. I'm 30 glad
to see you-so. 30 glad!"
He looked at her dazedly. He could
not realize the change In her that
six years had wrought. Could this be
the little spindle-shanked girl he had
left behind the syringa bush at the
navy yard? He muttered in bewil.
dered fashion:
Patty! For soodness' sake
Patty!"
You've grown handsome. Taps
she declared. why, you're awfully
distinguished looking-no 20 boyish
20 you were. Aren't you glad you
- g.