Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-03
Continued.
CHAPTER X
Face to Face


Face to Face
Who are these gay creatures bear
| ing the breeze of idleness and frivolity
into the sedate offices of William Lane,
Engineering Architect? Why Ger
aldine Benning and Tommy Tinkle!
Geraldine, fresh-cheeked and vivac-
ious, wears an enormous fluff of
white fox. scarlet plume rpp1es
| from her white fur toque, scarlet
sweet peas on her white muff. Tommy
Tinkle is in full afternoon regalia
from spats to gardenia.
The pictures on the walls of the
severe little reception room are all
rigid iron skeletons of skyscrapers.
They look, as Tommy expresses it.,
buildings; Father Building, Grand
father Building and. little Willie
Quite facetious about them is Tommy,
and delivers an entertaining lecture,
while they wait, on the anatomy of
commercial edifices. He even at
tempts to trace their evolution from
the protoplasmal pig-iron germ to
their present high state of organic
development; but he gives that up
when the laughing Geraldine drops
into fleeting moment of seriousness
and declares that the pictures repre-
sent achievement and accomplishment
Thereupon Tommy Tinkle, in a par
ticularly infectious state of grin to-
day, recites soberly, "How doth the
busy little hornet improve each shin
ing minute; he sees a neck, he sits
upon it, he jabs his stinger in it," In
conclusion, Tommy invents q taran-
tella step, and almost bumps into a
grave and elderly gentleman with a
silver Vandyke, who comes briskly in
from the hall.
"Hello, John Doe!" said Tommy.
~,
greeting.
Smiling with pleasure, William
Lanes silent partner accepted the
proffered hand, and smiled again as
he glanced at Geraldine.
How is Tommy Tinkle since last
night?" he inquired with mock solici-
tude. He was very fond of Tommy.
Tommy frequently dropped around
and played cribbage with him, when
Billy was out.
I'm amazing" declared the person
of idleness. I'm going to treat YOU,
Mr.. Doe. I'm going to permit you
to meet Miss Benning. Miss Benning,
Mr.. Doe. Mr.. Doe, Miss Benning."
Geraldine sparkled up at John Doe
with instant liking, and he held her
hand for a moment and patted it,
with the fatherly impulse which had
so recently sprung in his breast.
II recognized you at once from
the beautiful miniature in Billy's
library" he observed with a certain
stiff courtliness, which still bore the
traces of disuse. You probably know
the rest"
THAT the original is so much more
charming" promptly supplemented
Tommy. THE star-eyed goddess of
the morn swathed in her rusty sheen,
spreads roseate bliss DER all the
world. and her name is Geraldine!
Repeat"
Now came that energetic and am
bltious young business man, William
Lane, with long, hard pencil behind
ms ear, and frown of concentra-
ton reluctantly vacating his brow.
Hello, loafers," he greeted them
cordially though a recurrent pucller
came between his eyes. His head was
still full of angular beams and rods.
How had he meant to relieve that
weight, at the intersection of the
tower with the thrust of his arch ?
He knew he'd lose that vague begin
! ming of q solution! MAY I offer Won
some tea?" He was shaking hands
with Geraldine, and laughing down in
to her eyes There was a curious
speculation in her own as she studied
him. Somehow, Billy scarcely seem
ed the same. Business, of course.
You're TO put on your bonnet and
come right along with u.s." Geraldine
confidently informed him.
on, am II" Billy cooked his
head sidewise. He heard the phone
bell in his private office. wedding
or funeral?"
Dance" explained Tommy. "NTrs
Wilton has snapped up the Lohka.
Wanas for this afternoon, and they're
10 teach us the new Moukawa dance,
lts a modified Hoola-hoola. If Won
don't come, you're a has-been."
Better go, Billy" urged John Doe.
with an indulgent smile. There's
no pleasure in being has-been."
! can't make it for an hour" wor-
ried William Lane, glancing at his
watch; and Geraldine began to pout
lie can; can't he Mr.. Doe ?'' she
appealed with all her pretty art.
Billy must have some vital reason
I II he resists YOU" laughed John Doe
and, with this diplomatic evasion
he bowed his adieus.
| make him come, Tommy!"
Tommy Tinkle held both hands
tragically aloft.
nave ceased to belong to the
ancient order of Innocent Bystandersi,
he insisted. when battle brews Tn,
Tor the cellar! I'm going in and see
Does collection of naked buildines
Flgnt IL out" and he followed into
John Does little private office.
II don't think it's at all nice ~
you, Billy" Geraldine reproacbed
him. Every time there is anythins
special, you have some excuse. anG
have to go just with Tommy
promised Mrs. Wilton I'd bring Won )
That's bully of you," and he toucb.
ed forefnger affectionately to her
pink chin. "I'll be out in as much
unuer an hour as L can make it."
That won't do" She laughed he,
gay sllvery ripple. "You are to come
with mel! Charming little way she
had of ordering people about. She
had ordered Billy for years.
Then that's the program" ue
looked at his watch, and frowned iT
calculation. II can get Doe to take
up the Pannard Building with los
Mullen: Does as good as 1 am: bet.
e. ser. II youll wait, 1 think I can be
| aaI,n dn ,oali..- N'I W lSoS