Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-26
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
by Mary Douglass.
FRIDAY NIGHT.
Chapter XIV.

The hands Of the clock i'll the motor
car pointed to eIeven-thirty. could
stand the silence and the suspense no
longer.
what time shall We reach South
ampton. Jack2' asked.
Jack turned his head and looked at
me quickly "Oh, around one, he said
casually
| gave a little exclamation.
What did YOU expect he asked
This is n motor car, not an aeropiahc'
| said nothing more pulled the
robe nm closer around me AMI tried to
settle back IN my corner coriortah'y.
There was no use Of worry ing, perhaps
lacks sister expected us at this hour oi
tho night AZ any rate should not ask
Inck another question He was evidently
irving 10 punish nc with hls sullen
silence TRYING to punish me because
was not willing TO lose southampton
with him.
mus, have slept; for when ! looked
next 1T the clock II was midnight anh We
were swinging INTO a broad avenue ln>'
IRON gates and toward house that was
brilliantly lighted and lnomcd tnrg'
against the landscape.
As We stopped before the steps inc
door swung open and servant came
hurrvlng ont stepped out oi th' '"I
IN 6nd myself vrry s,if and very cold
after that long drive | waited ior lack
for though was thorough, dlNEuStcd
with him. did not care "a enter ms
SISTERS house alone The servant picked
IN NV luggage and NE went toward the
house.
We climbed tho steps and even IN tue
riimncss knew thrt here Wa the some
thing which had always dreamed wonti
Some day hr my own The door "I"ncd
and We went down wide hall that seemed
~ nv ,laizlcd senses all sdtnS 'rd
warmth
II the other end OF tho hell 4 room
opened out, and thcro heard VOICES
and the sound ot laughter telt tluid.
almost frightened must tac" these
strangers ~ this hour ol tho night ai t'"'
mercy OF Jack cNplanatlons AMI 81 tl'f
judgment
Someone rose 10 greet NJ IS We catnr
IL the doorway \ woman NAuuG hnH
lovely. II me-. then she booked h"aufh0
with her cleaning light har and radi'ut
skin and a ehlmmrrtn2 gown that i'ti
her arms and shoulders bare
We are charmed (" have sou. shr
said in = liutv ~opran" No,'c 'n wtdEh
there Was no slightest tc'ltnl lt"r slan Il
swept mo with au amused tNl'ran,"
~Hc asked 10 explanation a jark. nrr
,l,I he give tier any Il ml1h hay h",n
In ordinary occurrcn'" Z" rrclN' g''-l@
81 midnight
"Pcrhar, ,ou wuuii like ~ @o ~ Your
room Ndan> Will ~cc Ihat N"n Afc
comfortable
N could, muir uur-d
IS chmhcd tho VIII I.ag +tar n",
i hlack-clad maIi follow nr, 4, l.,~
i,ch,i4d mo ln'u the rons q Vr
with lights. a1.d Err ..atihi, RI. re the
open hrcptarc ! atHg' +. rla.u~, u.
two vo,p, u IA ~nr ,I 'r~~.~ l.tit
thcn htd. n llnr " h ,l t thr 'toaelt
1t nj, ~can', ,,rifa 4 ulesca 'nt' th"
one ~ ! t.i 4 ghAp> tac c' tt'
Who vcrc ,t-u.1ng .t,m. ort.. 'arr
shorter than tho r,-' .r,u"i to q "-
tertainlng thc Nholn narlt
Noud fr,I 4 psr ~ th~ cr,s. s.
morrow night" Cr .',ould ., Ist
,nI~cr4l Il orIaoscr du to lacl III t-
mcnj ot uc knew that ] ck II our II
HIS engaging moods. nn,.li ! ~ rni ir
tfl< 4 r,,rr-frrc. .nlIv vych ,ui Ent tr
tls suil,n Star, ntn wftca hc hal ialip
woHil =, MAI ~ ttn N,t ~ uieht
r ovrr i tonorroN wrrtlna ,ra orN
tor al i- r,j,u
} MS ~ 0., I,o.p 1904 And H. D .t.
into y ci4s ! h:ad no' f,;itn
the nervous -.raia "a tc.r !.taae
no~ Low t;rei tfc r@a ee.d r.lc