The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-02-21


ever, and smiled up ut him delightfully."-.
"How nice Of you to come and sec
your poor. lonely brother r. she said.
I'VE have done our best to spoil him.
but I'm afraid he II very homesick
sometimes. I hope you've come to stay
long time and to learn all about Lon
don, as John is doing. II you are half
as nice as he is. we'n give you such q
good timer
From his great height, Stephen
looked down upon the girls upturned
face a little austerely. She chartered
away, entirely unabashed.
II do hope you're not shocked al, my
bursting in upon your brother like
thisi We really are great pals, and I
live only just across the way. We are
much less formal up here. you know.
than you are in the country. John, I've
brought you a message from Louise"
"About tonightr
She nodded.
Louise is most frightfully sorry"
she explained, "but she has to 60 down
to Streatham to open bazaar. and she
can't possibly be back in time to dine
before the theater. Can you guess what
she dared to suggestT
II think I can" John replied. smiling.
"Say you will, there's a dear" she
begged. II am not playing tonight.
May Enser is going on in my place. We
arranged 1t a week ago. had two
fines to pay on Saturday, and haven't
had a decent meal this week. But i
had forgotten" she broke OF. with a
sudden note Of disappointment in her
tone. 'There's your brother. ] mustn't
take you away from HIM"
"weIl all have dinner together"
John suggested. "YouM come, Of
course. Stephen7"
Stephen shook his head.
.sThank you," he said, "T am due at
my hotel. I'm going back to Cumber-
land tomorrow morning, and my errand
is already done"
"You viii do nothing Of the sort"
John declared.
"Please be amiable," Sophy begged.
'If you won't come with US, shall
simply run away and leave you with
John. You needn't look at your
Clothes" she went on. Eve can go to
grillroom. John sha'n't dress, either.
want you to tell me all about Cum
berland, where this brother Of yours
lives. He doesn't tell US half enough I"
John passed his arm through his
brothers and led him away.
"Come and have q wash, old chap"
he said.
They dined together at Luigi's, .
curiously assorted trio-Sophy. be-
tween the two men, supplying a dis
tinctly alien note. She was always
gay. always amusing. but although she
addressed most of her remarks to
Stephen. he hever once unbent. he ate
and drank sim1y. seldom speaking Of
himself or his plans, and firmly mega
tiving all their suggestions for the re-
mainder Of the evening. Occasionally
he glanced at the clock. John became
conscious of q certain feeling Of curl
osity, which in q sense Sophy shared.
"Your brother seems to me like q
man with purpose" she said, ~ they
stood in the entrance hall on their way
out of the restaurant. 'Like q prophet
with a mission. perhaps should say :
John nodded. In the little passage
where they stood. he and Stephen
seemed to dwarf the passers-by. The
men, in their evening clothes and pallid
faces, seemed suddenly insignificant,
and the women like dolls.
"For the last time, Stephen" John
said, won't you come to . music hall
with us7"
"I have made my plans for the eve
ming, thank you," Stephen replied,
holding out his hand. "Good night"
He left them standing there and
walked of down the Strand. John. look
ing after him. frowned. He was con-
scIous of a certain foreboding.
'I suppose" sophy sighed. as they
waited for a taxicab. 1--WE shall spend
the remainder Of the evening in the
usual fashionl"
"Do you mindr John asked.
"No." she assented resignedly. "That
play will end by making a driving
idiot of me. II Louise is tired tonight,
though. I warn you that I shall insist
upon supper"
Its a bargain" John promised.
"We'l drive Louise home, and then I'll
take you back to Luigi's. We haven't
been out together for some time, have
| we?"
She looked ur st him with q little
grimace and patted his hand.
you have neglected me-" she said.
II think all these fine ladies have
turned your head"
She drew little closer to him and
passed her arm through his. John
made no responsive movement. He was
filled with resentment at the sensation
Of pleasure that her affectionate ges-
ture gave him.
The curtain was up and the play in
| nrQQresQ when fhax raachofi tho hoY