Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-06-28
TWENTY N ONE
BY EARL REED sILvERs.


When Dick Rowland left for his two
weeks vacation in the Catskills he re-
solved to have the best time in his
rather uneventful young life. For
three years he had labored for 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, 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 1t
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 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 man talking earnestly
10 a 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 We're girls-thin ones, fat ones,
happy ones, sad ones. But suddenly
ne 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 it, 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 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
word to his companion. Even then his
remark was most commonplace.
MAY 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
holder.
us this your first trip up the river?"
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
ly. II wonder If it could be possible
that we are going to the same place"
: II hardly think SO. The mountains
are pretty large, you know"
Eyes, know" He sank back, dis
couraged. The girl evidently did not
want him to know where she was 60
ing. II don't know very many girls In
New York." he said, land now that
I've started on vacation, I'm going
to try to be friends with just as many
as l possibly can. I'm going to the
Glenwood hotel"
He 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
land 1 hope to know everyone Of
them"
She reached across the table and,
taking the book, examined the photo
closely. Finally she handed 1t back t.
him.
do you see the third girl from the
corner?' she asked.
"Yes, why?"
II know her."
"YOu dor" He spoke eagerly.
"What's her manner"
"Gladys Graydon."
"Its you," he gasped.
"Yes," she answered, enjoying his
surprise. II spent last summer at
Glenwood."
sand are you going there now" He
leaned forward in his eagerness, his
eyes shining.
ayes" she answered. "I'm going
there for two weeks"
"To think" he said finally, "that I'll
be with you for two whole weeks"
She smiled into his eyes.
ooh, no! You are going to meet
twenty girls. Don't you remember"
He shook his head emphatically.
"Not this time," he announced.
"Since I've met you, it's a case Of
twenty girls in one"
And the smile she gave him In an
swer meant more than any twenty