The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-12-01
ONE OF THREE
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

1
There's not a seat to be had, Sis.
I'm awfully sorry. But I expected 1t.
There hasn't been a show like Back
There on Broadway for some time"
His sister, Peggy, reflected his dis
appointment. However, she smiled. "It
can't be helped, Vance," she said
cheerfully, "but 1 should love to have
seen IL before going back home"
They were leaving the foyer reluc-
tantly when two girls approached
/ them.
1--WE have one seat extra In the fifth
row." the elder Of the two girls said,
addressing herself to Peggy; 'ff you
care to take lit will help us out"
ave wanted two" Walgrove re-
turned quickly, being quite accustomed
to this manner of purchasing seats;
my sister is only In town until to-
morrow, and / wanted especially to
take her tonight" He fingered a mo-
ment while the two girls conferred in
undertOneS.
The elder again spoke, this time ad-
dressing Walgrove:
Miss Gale says she will let you have
her seat since it is the only night your
sister can come. Perhaps she and Miss
Weeks will get seats another time"
"Oh!" Peggy exclaimed swiftly, and,
turning to the girl: "This is too good
Of you. I wouldn't think of using your
seat" She saw with swift cOmprehen-
sion that the girls had no doubt bought
the seats many weeks in advance by
way of a rare treat. They apparently
tOiled for their theater tickets a few
extra nights a week.
Gladys Gale answered, a slight blush
making her even more charming to look
upon. Il am only happy to let a sol
1ier have my seat" she said. NAN
! Weeks and l will come another time"
/ She spoke for a moment with her COM
/ paniOn; then, with swift nod which
! included both Walgrove and his sister,
she went out of the theater.
"It is awfully good of your friend"
Peggy continued speaking when after
WalgrOve had exchanged four dollars
for the two seats, they all went into
the theater. "YOu see, my brother may
be called out any moment, and want
ed to see as much of him as possible"
She gazed rather proudly at the big
man in khaki, and so did Miss Greene.
The latter, much inclined to CONVEX
SatiOn, told Peggy about the small fiat
she had with the two other girls.
II just kind Of keep an eye on Gladys
and Man," she said. I'm a good deal
older and feel motherly toward them.
We all work during the day and now
Nan has taken up Red Cross work.
That's the reason she had to give up
her seat tonight. She's been waiting
for vacancy In the hOme-care class
and didn't expect 1t to come so soon."
The rising Of the curtain prevented
further chatter, but Vance was con-
sciOus that his sister welcomed femi-
nine cOmpanionship as well as his own.
During the intermissiOn Miss Greene
again spoke of the small fiat.
Peggy voiced her thoughts. Her eyes
"AoIAdLs AOu oCC1 L uOu
know many girls in the city, and those
whom l have met only care for restau-
rants and dancing. l quite envy you
your little honey fiat and late suppers.
| suppose you have little studio aprons
and a tiny kitchenette and pink potted
plants in the windows"
Miss Greene laughed quickly. "You
could not have described us better had
you been in our fiat" She paused a
moment in thought while she cast a
swift, searching look at Vance Wal
grove. "He seems human" was her
inward comment. She turned again to
Peggy. ''If you and your brother will
come l will be SO glad to telephone the
girls to prepare enough supper for five
instead of three tonight"
ooh should just love r' Peggy's
real delight shone in her eyes. 81 Will
persuade Vance while you are tele-
phoning"
She had little difficulty with her
brother
Miss Greene telephoned, and when
the play was over taxi whirled them
swiftly down to the little fat.
After intrOductiOns WalgrOve natur-
ally drifted toward Nan Weeks. She
was slim and pale and seemed quite
unable to stand the strain of typing all
day long and studying nursing in the
evening.
"But I would far rather die in a
nurses uniform than in ordinary office
Clothes" she argued softly to Wal
grove. "YOu are doing your part" she
ended, with a glance at his khaki, $50
let me do mine"
The evening was altogether charm
ing and they were all sorry when it
was over.
Walgrove wanted to take Nan and
Gladys to Back There" since they
had missed 1t, but neither was willing
that he should sit through it twice.
''Then I'll get two more chaps and
make a party of SIX" he announced.
''I'm sorry you won't be here, Peg" he