Baxter Springs news., 1917-10-04
TWENTY IN ONE
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

three years he had lab0red for q big
brokerage firm In one Of New York's
largest Office buildings, and he was
tired Of working.
Sitting comfortably on the upper
deck of The river steamer, he looked
forward with the pleasantest anticipa-
ton to two weeks Of unalloyed pleas
ure. The boat slipped out into the
stream md Dick, signing contentedly,
lighted his briar pipe and settled him.
self comfortably for the long ride, for
the steamer was not due In Kingston
until the early afternoon. He drew
the prospectus OF the Glenwood hotel
from his pocket and glanced over II
speculatlvely. He liked the picture of
the hotel, with Its glimpse OF wooded
lake and laughing girls, who looked
down upon him from the steps Of the
spacious porch. And as he gazed. Dick
Rowland made a resolution. During
the next two weeks he promised him.
self that he would become acquainted
with at least twenty girls In the Glen
wood hotel.
Having decided this rather mo-
mentors question, he knocked the
ashes from his pipe and strolled along
the shaded deck of the boat. 1t was
late in August, and the steamer was
crowded with vacatiOnists. In one cor
ner he spied a man talking earnestly
TO q girl with black hair and crimson
lips. Dick smiled happily; he would
be doing the same thing himself be-
fore another day had passed. Idly he
wandered from place to place. Every
where were girls-thin ones, fat ones,
happy ones, sad ones. But suddenly
he stopped In his tracks, eyes staring.
In a remote part Of the steamer, shell
tered by one Of the overhead decks,
he discovered the prettiest girl he had
ever seen. She looked up suddenly
and caught Dicks enraptured gaze. He
blushed, mumbled something to him.
self and passed on.
Shortly after noon he wandered idly
TO the dining room. The tables were
nearly all filled, but In one corner the
head waiter discovered vacant seat.
He motiOned Dick into II, and Dicks
heart stood still. Directly opposite him
sat the girl he had thought about for
the past two hours. The colOred gen.
tlemen whose duty 1t was to preside
over that corner Of the room evidently
believed that Dick and the girl were
for he served both Of their or
ders together.
Ten minutes or so elapsed before
Dick gained the courage to address q
word to his companion. Even then his
remark was most commonplace.
MAY 1 trouble you to pass the
salt" he said.
She handed him the commodity In
and Dick discovered the hint
of a twinkle in her eye. He grew
bolder.
'Is this your first trip up the riverT
he asked.
"Oh, no." She smiled at him, frank
ly, easily. II have been spending my
vacation in the Catskills for the past
three years."
"Are you on your vacation now?"
"Yes, just starting"
$50 am l." Dick looked up hopeful.
Iy. II wonder If 1t could be possible
that we are going to the same place."
II hardly think so. The mountains
are pretty large, You know"
"Yes, know" He sank back, dis
The girl evidently did not
want him to know where she was go
ing. II don't know very many girls In
New York." he said, "and now that
rve started on a vacation, I'm going
10 try to be friends with just as many
rs possibly can. I'm going to the
GlenwoOd hotel"
BE drew the booklet from his pock-
ct, turning to the picture which had
made such an impression upon him
earlier In the day. "There are twenty
girls in that picture" he announced,
and / hOpe to know everyone Of
HEM"
She reached across the table and,
-aking the book, examined the photo
loosely. Finally she handed 1t back to
him.
'cDo you see the third girl from the
she asked.
"Yes, why?"
II know her."
''YOu do?" He spoke eagerly.
whats her name?"
"Gladys GraydOn."
ats you" he gasped.
'FYes," she answered, enjoying his
urprise. II spent last summer at
"And are you going there nowT he
eaned forward in his e9gerness, his
yes shining.
'Yes," she answered. ~Tm going
here for two weeks"
''To think" he said finally, "that I'll
,e with you for two whole weeks"
She smiled into his eyes.
"Oh, mol You are going to meet
wenty girls. Don't you rememberT
he shook his head emphatically.
'Not this time" he announced.
Since I've met you, it's q case Of
wenty girls In one"
a a. .,,tia sha rrava hin, In an.