Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1918-11-30
The Name of
Roberts
o0

By LINCOLN ROrHBLUM


SyndicateD
SWELL, 4 declare" calculated dainty
Madeleine Sommers as pretty frown
marred the smooth whiteness of her
forehead. 'sJust listen to this letter
from Ralph, mother, and tell me If 1t
isn't the most exasperating thing you
ever heard" And With an abused
manner she read aloud:
Dear Sis- know you will be as
disappointed as I am to learn that
Lieutenant Roberts will not approve
my furlough. He Is commanding off,
Ger while the captain is in the hos
pital, and says that If were to go
nome now it would leave the company
without mechanic, as there Is no one
else in the company qualified to do
such work. So we wifi have to pocket
our disappointment and wait for a
more favorable opportunity. Love from
your brother. RALPH"
Ralph Is right" Mrs. Sommers an
swered soothingly as she industriously
continued to knit the wool which was
gradually and surprisingly assuming
the form of "a sweater, land If he is
needed there It would be unpatriotic
TO have him with u.s.
''But, mother, can't you understand
that wanted him home for the mill
tary ball? 1t won't seem like a real
dance unless Ralph is with us. Oh.
Just hate Lieutenant Roberts. It's an
ugly old name, anyway"
flush, child, you don't realize what
you are saying. But how will it be If
i speak to father and see If he won't
let you visit Ralph in camp? You
could make the trip alone"
The happy suggestion brought a
quick smile to the charming face which
seldom failed to reflect cheerfulness.
sYou're dear, dear mother, and if
you can convince daddy to let me go,
I'll give You exactly thirty-nine Kisses"
And as If making an advance deposit
on the proposed payment, Mrs. Som
mers received generous portion of
the amount due.
And because daddy" was never
known to refuse his daughter any rea-
sonable request which would contrib
ute to her happiness, it was but
short week before the Overland Linn
ited swiftly bore the excited girl to-
the great cantonment, very proud Of
the responsibility of travelling unchap-
eroned; and her cup of happiness was
quite filled to overlooking as Mechan-
1c Sommers, with chest inflated, placed
on exhibition my sister" before the
-fellers" standing with gaping mouths
at the unusual vision of loneliness
among their monotonous~ uniforms Of
khaki.
And Madeleine loved to make the
daily trip from town to camp, despite
the tiresome, hard ride upon the rick
ETY., rambling, one-line car-the only
means Of access to the camp. At the
'sY" there was always a crowd of
eager, manly boys waiting about the
piano for the magic music she could
make with fingers and voice and other
magic with her eyes. This night it was
the bugler's warning call of tattoo"
which sent her scurrying for the street
cars last trip back to town, ably es-
corted to the car line by an even
dozen khaki-clad figures on each side.
Madeleine turned to wave pleasant
goodnight from the platform, and as
the conductor tangled the cord the
car moved rumblingly off. 'Fare
please came in the mechanical tone
of habit.
Her purse! 1t was gone! No. she
remembered leaving it on top of the
piano at the Y. M. G. A. How would
she pay her fare? Would the conduc-
tor put her off? 1t was far to town
and the night was dark.
Pardon me, madam, but may as
sist you in your dificulty?' And as
Madeleine looked up she found the
owner Of the dulcet tones handing the
conductor the necessary coin and sa-
auting her with military precision.
"A first lieutenant. and decidedly
good-looking," she thought as her eyes
took in collar insignia and the fea-
lures above. Aloud; "Thank you, sir;
I am very grateful"
The officer bowed and moved up TO-
ward the front of the car. When he
seated himself he found the young
lady beside him.
A blush of faint pink suffused her
cheeks. II would like to repay you.
f."
: Don't" he interrupted, holding up
his hand; II am gladato have been of
assistance. Would you care to sit next
to the Window"
Madeleine accepted the courtesy,
and because she did not know whether
or not she should speak, and If she
should. what to say, she ran her fingers
up and down the iron bars of the open
ed windows drumming the lifting tones
of popular air. She felt she really
ought to make some arrangement to
return the fare advanced"
81 should like to repay you, if
do you really want to repay me?"
he again interrupted, very excitedly, as
If against his better Judgment And