Smyrna times., 1917-11-21
ONE OF THREE
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

face.
There's not a seat to be had, Sis.
I'm awfully sorry. But 1 expected it.
There hasn't been a show like Back
There on broadway for some time"
His sister, Peggy. reflected his dis
appointment. However, she smiled. at
can't be helped, Vance," she said
cheerfully, "but 1 should love to have
seen it before going back home"
They were leaving the foyer reIuc-
family when two girls approached
them.
we have one seat extra in the fifth |
row." the elder of the two girls said,
addressing herself to Peggy; "if you
care to take tit will help us cut"
"We 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 1 wanted especially to
take her tonight" He fingered mo-
ment while the two girls conferred in
undertoneS.
The elder again spoke, this time ad-
dressing WalgrOve:
"AIiss 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. 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 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. II am only happy to ret a sol
dier have my seat" she said. "Nan
! Weeks and 1 will come another time"
She spoke for a moment with her COM
| paniOn; then, with a 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 l 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 flat
she had with the two other girls.
81 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 VI
her seat tonight. She's been waiting
for a vacancy in the hOme-care clas:
and didn't expect it 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 OWL
During the intermissiOn Miss Green
again spoke of the small fiat.
Peggy voiced her thoughts. Her eye
remained wistful. "You see, 1 don
know many girls in the city, and thos
whom 1 have met only care for restaJ
rants and dancing. 1 quite envy 70
your little honey fiat and late supper
1 suppose you have little studio apron
and tiny kitchenette and pink pOtte
plants in the windows"
Miss Greene laughed quickly. "YO
could not have described us better ha
in lot
moment in thought while she cast
swift, searching look at Vance Wa
grove. "He seems human" was h,
inward comment. She turned again
Peggy. ''If you and your brother wi
come will be so glad to telephone Il
girls to prepare enough supper for fl
instead of three tonight"
"Oh! should just love itW Peggy
real delight shone in her eyes. II w
persuade Vance while you are tel
phOning."
She had little difficulty with h
brother.
Miss Greene telephoned, and VIII
the play was over taxi whirled the
swiftly down to the little fiat.
After intrOductiOns Walgrove natl
ally drifted toward Nan Weeks. S
was slim and pale and seemed qu
unable to stand the strain of typing
day long and studying nursing in
evening.
"But 1 would far rather die in
z nurses uniform than in ordinary off
Clothes" she argued softly to w
grove. "You are doing your part" {
: ended, with a glance at his khaki,
let me do mine."
3 The evening was altogether char
Ing and they were all sorry when
was over.
Walgrove wanted to take Nan 6
Gladys to "Back There" since Il
Z had missed it, but neither was will
y that he should sit through it twice.
"Then I'll get two more chaps ;
res make a party of SIX" he annOunC
'I'm sorry you won't be here, Peg, "