Smyrna times., 1917-05-16
TWENTY IN ONE
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

rather uneventful young life. For
three years he had labOred for a 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-
tlOn to two weeks of unallOyed pleas
ure. The boat slipped out into the
stream, and 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 it
Speculatively. 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-
mentOus 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 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 a vacant seat
He mOtiOned Dick into it, and Dicks
heart stood still. Directly opposite him
sat the girl he had thought about for
the past two hours. The cOlOred gem
tlemen whose duty it was to preside
over that corner Of the room evidently
believed that Dick and the girl were
friends, for he served both Of their or
ders together.
Ten minutes or so elapsed before
Dick gained the courage to address a
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
question, and Dick discovered the hint
of a twinkle in her eye. He grew
bOlder.
'Is this your first trip up the river?'
he asked.
"Oh, no." She smiled at him, frank
ly, easily. 81 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.
ly. 81 wonder if it could be possible
that we are going to the same place.
'I hardly think so. The mountains
are pretty large, you know"
"Yes, 1 know" He sank back, dis
cOuraged. The girl evidently did no
want him to know where she was go
ing. 81 don't know very many girls il
New York." he said, "and now tina
I've started on a vacation, I'm goinl
to try to be friends with just as man!
as 1 possibly can. I'm going to tn,
GlenwOOd hotel"
He drew the booklet from his pock
ct, turning to the picture which hat
made such an impression upon hin
earlier in the day. "There are twent,
girls in that picture" he announced
"and [ hope to know everyone o
them"
She reached across the table anG
taking the book, examined the phot
closely. Finally she handed it back t
him.
"Do you see the third girl from tn
cOrner?" she asked.
eyes, why?"
'T know her."
''You do?" He spoke eagerl!
''What's her name?"
J. "Gladys Graydon."
'It's you," he gasped.
eyes," she answered, enjoying hi
surprise. 81 spent last summer 6
GlenwOod."
"And are you going there now?" H
leaned forward in his eagerness, hi
eyes shining.
eyes," she answered. "rm goin
there for two weeks"
ITO think" he said finally, shat L
be with you for two whole weeks J"
She smiled into his eyes.
"Oh, mol You are going to me-
twenty girls. Don't you remember
He shook his head emphatically.
'Not this time," he announce
"Since I've met you, it's a case