The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-08-07
The Ticket
1t Led to Com.
piications
By AGNES C. BROCAN

* By AGNES C. BROCAN
%<~<>>>><<<<<%~<<~~~<~>>~x
There was the girl again Billy
Thornton frowned at her sudden en-
trance into the car-not that there was
anything about the 'resh, interested
countenance to call forth a masculine
frown. Jane Wilder was exactly the
opposite kind of girl. But Billy never
had met her and was more anxious to
meet her than for anything else In the
world. and, though she was always ap-
pearing In most unexpected places in
a delightfully."- disturbing manner, still
she, the ideal, remained as far distant
as some beautiful, wonderful star.
"How," unused Billy to himself
chow in the world could the proper
meeting be brought about2" Some
times he was pleased to fancy a re-
sponsive interest In the girls glance of
quickly yelled recognition In their sew
eral encounters. "How-oh, how2"
$50 glad to see you, dearie," muir
INJURED an old lady, bending over his
divinity from the seat behind. You
are on your way to the child welfare
meeting, of course. How busy you
keep yourself with everything Of an
uplifting naturel don't see how you
| do it."
The girl laughed as she turned around.
Billy's heart thumped In sympathy
with the clear Joyousness of the sound
Never had he heard her voice or laugh
before, and in nothing was she disap-
pointing. Recklessly he allowed the
windows Of his Office, where Braydon
was waiting to see him upon an impor-
tant commission, to fade into distance
He would sit here In this seat until the
| girl left the car.
''Oh, am not voluntarily busy" she
answered the old lady, "tust drawn
int the work by my friends. Meetings
are all this week, you know-evenings
for the men. We must interest voters
Lillis is one Of the ushers, so it was
she who solicited my aid, the dean Of
our old college being tonight's speaker"
Il would like to 60" the old lady re-
spOnded. Eagerly the girl fumbled In
her purse $50 sorry" she said at
length. II have no more tickets, and
admission is all by ticket invitation"
She jumped to her feet. my cor
nerr' she cried. 'Goodby, Mrs. West"
1t was then that Billy heard the COW
eted name.
"Goodby, Jane Wilder" said the old
lady.
"'Jane Wilder" Mentally he echoed
the name. 1T was like her somehow"
To him it sounded quaint and sweet
He was planning as he brushed through
the crowd in the streets to obtain tick
cts In some manner for that evenings
welfare" meeting 1t would be In the
auditorium of course, and she had
said by invitation only. He remem-
bered reading an account of the affair
in the papers. Former pupils of the
college represented by the speaker
were to act as ushers Surely one
might speak to an usher, and surely
one might select ones particular usher
Billy began to whistle.
The low but merry tune seemed to
annoy rather than cheer the tall young
man who swung impatiently about In
Bnly's pet Office chair
"Great Scott" Braydon calculated In
greeting, you come In more than thir-
ty minutes late and happy as a May
dayl went without my own lunch In
order to get over here on time, while
you
Say" remarked Billy absently,
where can a fellow get tickets for to-
nights child welfare meeting?"
Braydon's feet came to the floor with
bang. whats the matter with you,
Thornton? p he asked
Billy waved the question impatiently
aside. Where can get them2" he In
sisted.
"How the dickens do known the
man replied. Suddenly he glanced at
Billy's eager face. ''Why this unusual
interest In a strange causeT he asked.
Deliberately Billy seated himself In
an opposite chair. There Is a girl"
he answered seriously, whom am
very anxious to meet. She viii be
there tonight. Among that old college
crowd we must have mutual acquaint-
ances. If you can direct me to any one
who might possibly have spare ticket
Of invitation I'd be obliged. That's all"
His friend considered. "Why, there's
Jack Maynard" he said. His wife
speak to him. Before we get down to
business, what's the name Of this girl,
Billy? Might know her myself"
ThorntOn's eyes took on their previ-
GUS reminiscent CLEAN. "Wilder," he
! repeated softly-"Jane Wilder"
| In the desperate hope Of hearing from
Jack Maynard he fingered In the Of
fee long past closing time and at last
was rewarded by the appearance Of a
messenger bearing an envelope marked,
with the date, Ticket to auditorium
meeting" Billy's sinking spirits scared
to their highest level. That very even-
ing he should see her again at least
that evening" There was not much
time for dinner. The auditorium would
be crowded.
For a moment as he waited in the
entrance Billy's eyes roved excitedly
among the white gowned tiers of ush-
ers. Then at length he spied her. She
was even more charming with her I'M
covered golden head than in the fetch
ing hats of his remembrance, and
yes, she was coming slowly toward
him. A rather stout woman usher put
out her hand
'Ticket. please" she demanded. But
Billy smiled in the direction Of the on
coming little figure.
Waiting" he said. Miss Jane VII
der's gaze was entirely impeIsonal.
Silently she accepted and read his
ticket; then "OhI" she breathed.
Vaguely troubled, he glanced down at
the golden head. Surprise, disappoint-
ment-what was 1t that showed for a
moment In the eyes appraised to his?
"This way" she said, and Billy fol-
lowed her down the aisle. But at the
choice seat designated the stout over
seeing usher reappeared.
Must be some mistake" she argued
loudly. "This section reserved for ush-
ers and their husbands only. Let me
see your ticket" Billy was about to
apologize and withdraw-other fortu-
nate possessors Of nearby seats inter-
estedly watched the outcome-when his
directors voice sounded distinctly.
tits all right, Mrs. Sayles," she said
''The ticket reads, Mr.. and Mrs Jack
Maynard. Mrs. Maynard is not here
this evening, but she ushered at this
afternoons meeting"
Before Billy could collect his senses,
before he could deny to the one girl In
all the world this fatal imputation, the
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