The Lamar register., 1917-09-19
TO BE CALLED FOR
BY SYLVIA TURNER.

Christmas time. Ever since their mar
riage, two years before, they had both
rellglOusly observed all anniversaries
and special holidays. She had had n
special photograph taken for the back
Of the hunting case. As she sat for
It she had tried to imagine Halls face
before her and hers smiling at him.
The result was all she had hoped for.
Hal said it was the dearest, sweetest
picture Of her he had ever seen.
"And there isn't another one like It
in existence" she said. 81 made the
man destroy the plate, so that you
would have the only one"
The watch had kept perfect time,
and in the spring Hal mentioned one
night at dinner that he had left 1t at
the jewelers. to be regulated, until
called for.
Then he went away on two weeks
trip up the state, establishing new
agencies. Berenice promised him to
get the watch before his return. The
night before he came home she gave
the little apartment a final survey, ar
ranging everything just as he liked to
see II. The train arrived a little past
eight the next morning and she was
going down to meet him. Everything
seemed - be exactly right. when all
nt once she remembered the watch.
He would think that she had forgotten
his little request and 1t meant so much
to him, she knew.
II had been left at little jewelry
90 a.. Gha h0I nffnn
seen a curlous-looking little old gen
tleman in a skull cap seated before
rack repairing watches.
He examined the slip she handed
him carefully.
"That was Mr.. Demorest's watch,
yes?" he asked pleasantly. "Is he
away7"
Hes coming home In the morning."
she answered with Just a little touch
Of brides dignity. that still clung to
her even after two years Of married
life. "He said that the watch was left
to be called for. am Mrs. Demorest.
l think 1t is the second one on that
line"
mo, no. have Mr.. Demorest's in
the drawer" He drew out n tray from
drawer filled with envelopes contain
ing Jewelry, and bent over them care
fully.
"Ah." he said. "Here we have 1t.
Mr.. Demorest. To be called for"
She glanced at It as he drew 1t from
the case. The familiar monogram was
on the case, and she hurried home
with It.
Later in the evening she took II out
Of the envelope and handled 1t tender
ly, sitting in Halls own big morris
chair beside his desk that had been so
horribly lonely without him. Half un-
consciously she pressed the spring and
opened the back case. In utter horror
and surprise she stared at the face
that looked back at her-nOt her own,
but the face OF a strange girl. II
slipped out from under her thumb nail
easily, and on the back she saw writ
ten, in a firm modish hand: "For dear
est, from Estelle."
It was after four in the morning be-
fore she got any sleep. One impulse
followed another. She had intended
meeting Hal at the station the follow
ing morning, hut she changed her mind.
After looking for her in vain, Hal took
a taxi uptown without even waiting to
telephone her. and burst into the
apartment Just as Berenice hurried
away from the front window, where
she had been watching for him surrep-
titiously.
''Why, darling" he exclaimed, drop
ping his suitcase, "are you illT"
Don't come near me. Don't dare
touch me-" Her voice sounded a little
faint and hollow, and one hand pressed
her throat. She looked adorable.
'Berenice ~ he cried. ''What do you
mean? What has happened since I've
been gomez"
She answered graphically.
ITO be left until called for oh,
you brute" The tears forced them
selves between her Iashes. She pointed
to the watch on the desk. would you
mind returning my picture, since you
have hers in there now"
Hers! !" he repeated. "whom do you
meant"
'EsteIleI" She hurled the name at
him expecting him to wilt, but instead
his expression changed to one of So
licitude.
Hadn't you better lie down, dear7
don't think you're quite we'll"
II won't lie down." she retorted in
dignuntly, crossing to the desk. you