Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-12-27
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER

after Mrs. Wilson pronounced her
toilet completed, Betty still primped
before the mirror. She must look her
very best, she thought, and later stolid
Eel Pasoans found second turn of
the head well worth while as the fair
skinned northerner motored by.
At the fort Betty wondered why
the soldier on guard assumed such an
aggressive position as she smiled her
prettiest and asked to be directed to
the proper location. 1T seemed" she
afterward told her mother, "as If he
was afraid l wanted to snatch his
rifle from him. Bobby's tent necessi-
tated long climb on foot through a
sandy, uphill stretch, and 1t was a
rather breathless Betty who stopped
before the tent to which she had been
directed. AS she saw no one, she mo-
toned to her mother, laboriously max
ing the ascent, to wait below.
Betty walked few PAGES of. She
could see no one in or about the tent.
A bit Off she saw a laborer cleaning
a saddle, and behind him soldier with
a rifle. She decided that she would
make inquiry of him and advanced.
"Can you tell me-" That man in
blue Overallsl That man scrubbing a
saddle! Betty reeled. 1t was Bobby I
With an armed soldier behind him
He was u prisoner. And he had told
her he had won sergeant's chevrons.
Betty few down the hill as she
heard the soldier says: alas the skirt
gone nutsf" And Mrs. Wilson became
fully convinced she had been very I'M
wise to accede to her daughters plans,
as her arm was grabbed and she was
violently pulled down the hill by a
very agltated Betty.
stop, stop, Betty, my slippers are
full Of sand" But her appeal brought
no response, nor could she on the ride
back to the hotel elicit any explana-
ton for the sudden demand that they
return Immediately home. But Mrs.
Wilson was too eager to leave the hot
climate to question very infinitely her
daughters change Of plans.
The bellboy had already carried
their valises into the taxi and Mrs.
Wilson was making final inspection
Of their room to see that nothing had
been left behind. Betty stood discon.
solately at the window, gazing at the
street below.
"All right, Betty" called her mother,
"let's CO."
Eyes, let's CO." repeated Betty In an
unwilling tone. She did not want to
leave ri Paso. but II was the only al
tentative.
As the elevator stopped at the main
floor and discharged Its burden Betty
STOOD aghast.
: There was BObbyl
Her Bobby. But looking surprisingly
military in a perfectly fitting uniform.
And on his arm were the prescribed
three stripes Of a sergeancyi He
turned and saw her.
Betty" he cried out joyfully as he
made rush for the girl shrinking be-
hind a huge palm. The hotel guests
turned to stare at the unusual commo
ton. Betty, my Betty" he called as
he caught up to her, come to me-
And as she held of, "What is the mat.
teri"
Betty was choking. She could hard.
ly speak. "But you're prisoner"
"a prisonerT Bobby repeated ques.
tlonlngly. "Tm no prisoner" His EN-.
phntic denial did not convince her.
"Oh, but I saw you this morning at
camp. You were In overalls, scrub.
bling saddle, and there was q sol.
der with rifle behind you"
Bobby laughed loud and long. His
voice re-echoed throughout the lobby.
"Oh, you dear, dear Betty. Don't you
know soldiers wear blue denims 80 as
not to soil their uniforms? And the
soldier behind me-that's my bunker
As hotel guests and employees re
turned to newspaper and duties they
pretended not to see the happy kiss OF
reconciliation.
Mrs. Wilson leaned weakly agaInsl
a chair. Imagine" she said, sum
merlng in Texasp