The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-01-24
CHAPTER VIII.
A Clear Call,
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The tinkle of the telephone disturbed
the family as they were at dinner, and
Connie, who sat nearest, rose to an
swer the summons, while Carol, at her
corner of the table struck tragic at
tituhe.
"If Joe Graves has broken anything,
he's broken our friendship for good and
all. These fellows that break them
selves"
'Break themselyes| asked her fa-
ther graveIy.
"Yes-any of his members, you
know, his leg, or his arm, Or If he
has, l must say frankly that I hope it
is his neck. These boys that break
themselves at the last minute, thereby
breaking dates are"
"Wen," Connie said calmly, "if
you're through, I'll begin"
ooh, goodness, Connie, deafcn one
ear and listen with the other. You've
got to learn to hear in hubbub. Go
on then, I'm through. But l haven't
forgotten that missed the Thanksgiv-
Ing banquet last year because Phil
broke his ankle that very afternoon on
the ice. What business had he on the
ice when he had a date"
"Ready" asked Connie, as the phone
rang again, insistently.
Go on, then. Don't wait until get
started. Answer It."
Connie removed the receiver and
called the customary "Hello." Then,
"Yes, Just a minute. It's for you,
Carol"
Carol rose darkly. "Its joe" she
said in n dungeon-dark voice. "He's
broken, l fOresee 1t. If there's any
thing l dcspise and abominate it's Il
breaker Of dates. Men have no busi-
ness being brokcn except their hearts,
when girls are mixed up in it.-HGllo?
oh; oh-h-h! Yes-lt's professor
How are you?-Yes, indced-Oh, yes,
I'm going to be home. Yes, indeed.
Come about eight. OF course I'll be
hpre-nothing impOrtant-it didn't
amount to anything at all-juSt a little
old everyday affair,-Yes, I can ar
range it nicely.-We're so anxious to
see you-All right-GoOd'by.'
She turned back to the table, her
face flushed. eyes shining. "It's pro-
fessor! He's In town just overnight,
and he's coming out. I'll have to phone
joe"
Anything I desplse and abominatc
It's a breaker of dates" chanted Con,
ME.
"Ohs that's different" explained
Carol. "This is professor! Besides
this will sort of even up for the
Thanksgiving banquet last year."
"But that was Phil and this is Joe! !!
"Oh, that's all right. It's just the
principle, you know, nothing personal
about it,"
She stood thoughtfully beside the
table, her brows puckered unbecom
ingly.
81 think" she said at last slowly
with wary eyes on her fathers quiet
face, 81 think I'll let the tuck out of my
old rose dress. It's too short
"TOO shOrt Why, Carol" inter
rupted her aunt.
"TOo short for the occasion, mean
I'll put 1t back tomorrow" Once more
her eyes turned cautiously fatherward
"YOu see, professor still has the little
twInnie' idea in his brain, and I'm 60
Ing to get 1t out. 1t isn't consisten
with our five feet seven. We're grow
up. Professor has got to see 1t. Yol
skoot upstairs, Connie, won't you
there's q dear, and bring it down, botl
of them, Lark's too. Lark--where die
you put that ripping knife? Aun
Grace, will you put the iron on for me
It's perfectly right that profcsso
should see we're growing up. Well hay
to emphasize It something extra, or h
might overlook 1t. 1t makes him fee
Methuselsh because he's so awful,
smart. But I'll soon change his mint
for him."
In less than two minutes the who'll
family was engaged in growing Caro-
up for the occasion. They didn't Sc
any sense in It, but Carol seemed s.
unalterably convinced that 1t was nee
essary that they hated to question he
motives.
If her idea had been utterly to dun
found the unsuspeCtlhg professor, sh
succeeded admirably. Carefully sh
planned her appearance, giving hir
lust the proper interval Of patient walt
ing in the presence Of her aunt an
81. RS. Then, slow parting Of tn
curtains and Carol stood out, brightly
gladly, her slender hands held out Il
welcome, Carol, with long skirts swish
ing around her whlte-sllppered feet
her slender throat rising cream-whlt
above the soft fold Of old rose lace, he
graceful head with its royal crown o
bronze-gold hair, tilted most charm
ingly.
The professor sprang to his feet an