Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-10
The Mad and
the ManiE<in
N&1
By barbara KERR
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure News
per Syndicate.)

keyholes." giggled Bert Wainwright to
Louise Laurent, as they were yainly
trying to get into their rooming house
without waking the other inhabitants.
II never knew that we were her.
metically sealed up from the rest OF
the world, once we were inside this
castle. Let's ring the bell"
"Oh. no; this is so funny! Here. we
can stand on this stool, reach that roof
and walk right along to the verandah."
And get shot. Well, give me your
hand"
And in n minute more of giggling
and cIambering they both stood on the
upper verandah, when just ahead of
them n blind ran up and the window
opened, but evidently merely for air,
as they heard mans voice humming
softly, and the wind blowing aside the
curtain they beheld a man at work.
Both were rooted to the spot. for 1t
was most unusual work.
Mr.. Reginald Santerre was draping
a manikin with yellow gauze.
"Oh," breathed Louise. "How ador-
ablc!"
"Sh-for the love of Mixer whis-
pcred Bert, as the draper backed
gracefully away from his work, walked
to the dresser and picked up a photo
graph. MEL" again whispered Bert,
when the draper leaned the photograph
up against the face of the manikin and
smillngly eyed 1t In mental perspec-
tive. She tried to keep Louise from
seeing. Was he coming to the win
dow? Hastily they turned the corner
and climbed hurriedly into their own
room.
oh! Oh! Obi" laughed Bert as
she rocked back and forth on the floor.
"Oh, wasn't that the funniest thing?
If YOU ever tell 1t. Louise Laurent, I'll
murder youi Obi Obi"
Tell 1t? OF course l won't. But
isn't it the sweetest thing you ever
saw?"
"What:" demanded Bert. "That
dress for met"
"Bert! That's the dearest dress I
ever laid eyes on. always knew Reg
gle was a wizard In dry goods. You
are the luckiest thing / ever saw!
Think of him. working all his evenings
designing a dress for you! Aren't you
crazy to get into itY'
mo! What do want with dress
like that? You know"
"Oh, yes, know you'd rather get
into corduroy hunting suit and tramp
all over the country. But you'll have
to quit that and settle down. The wife
of Reginald Santerre-"
Hush, Ouida. Think of a man
dressmaker!''
@Shame on you. Berti Think Of
Worth"
Worthless! OF course. not just
that; but have no ambition but to
be a dummy to-hang-things on-a
| Christmas treeT
snow, Bert wainwright, ever since we
were In school In No. 6 I've thought
sometimes that you were conceited.
You ought to be the proudest girl in
the world"
But Bert put her hands before her
face, and a hard. dry gurgle, much
more like sob than a laugh. escaped
her. Don't talk to NEEDN'T. I'm
going to bed"
"Are you crying, Berthe? Are you
sick" came softly out Of the darkness
mo, was just telling Reggie good.
bye was giving him to you."
Louise bounded out of bed, turned
on the light and got the thermometer
"You are sick, Bert. You've got q
fever. Open your mouth"
"Fudgei Take that thing away OF
I'll bite the end off, and you know
what happened to Willy
"Twas chilly day for WHY
When the mercury went down.
"Tm not sick. You couldn't understand
in a hundred years, Louise, but
couldn't any more marry Mr.. Santerre
Why was such a fool as to think
could2"
You'll be all right in the morning.
You listen to me-"
And then and there Bert unfolded
the scheme of presenting her lover to
her lifelong friend. arranging all the
details of the Remuneration. Louise lis
.ened, at first to humor her, but as she
went on planning In the darkness she
knew that she meant every word of it
So when morning came she felt lit
! lie panicky, but Bert was as cool al
though they were swapping sweaters
and things happened just as she had
planned. It was Sunday, and they me-
az the breakfast table. The girls re
lated to Reggie how they had gotter
in. and were afraid they might have
wakened him, saying nothing Of the
dress.
aWell, now, isn't that stranger
worked late last night, hesitating &
moment. Il had an inspiration for I
gown for Miss wainwright"
"Adorablel Lucky Bert! Could W.
see it?'
"Ripping" smiled Bert. sAnd here
nra all logged out for a hike. Is Il
rs nice as this?" smoothing out hel
old brown corduroy.
The faintest frown appeared on Reg
E1e5s brow. but the girls hastily ar0ss
<r.s~,. <1.x. fnhlo ALI ~.,.~<<.<..z<<7 IA.