The Washington times., 1918-10-17


ehanicaIly.
And mechanically / continued TO
thy to puzzle out the mystery OF
Betty's return to town and her
discovery OF us-though, Of course
both would be explained in a very
few minutes.
Then, hoping was going to
manage it with some OF the finesse
that was one OF the things in Jim's
world / most admired, opened the
door to greet her.
'1-his is . nice surprise" said
whether to be proud of my insin-
eerity-or ashamed of Il, puzzled
me; but Il turned to sinceri y under
the warm friendIiness of Betty's
eyes and words.
She took my hands in her strong.
ateady white ones ana l saw again
that red scar under the knucRles OF
her right hand-that scar which
stood for the new chiValry and sell
sacrifice OF womAahood.
One of the incest things about
= coming back Is seeing you again,
Princess Anne" said she. Nov
let's put me into an apron SO l can
help you with the dinner party you
don't know you're giving!"
l entered into the spirit Of her
frisnduness and liked myself for
doing IL! Then Betty explained,
and / was Eladder than ever that
had been decent even before Betty
made IL all clear: II got back only
yesterday, and there wasn't q soul
10 help me strip covers off my fur
niture and make the p ace hsbita-
BILE Terry came over to explain
about the new work OF rehabtiltat-
ing crippled men the Rel Cross
wants me to do here in New York
and we were on our way to
dreary Sunday dinner in q hotel
when we saw Jim running down the
steps OF a house over on the other
side OF the Arch. He took pity on
us and invited US here And l took
pity on you and TAXED ahead to
warn you.
"Now may have an apron right
away quick? The boys will be
here in Just about five minutes"
In spite OF my protests, Betty in
sisted on taking that lavender
1oveIiness into the realm OF pots
and pans. OFF came the satin
turban, draped high on the left
us Betty's little, hats always are:
off came the cape, and Betty pin
ned up her chiffons and hid them
away under the pink and white
checks OF my prettiest bungalow
apron. And she looked an aristo-
crat even in that!
Anne, do you see much OF Tom
Msson?" demanded Betty sudden
".
All the warm friendliness fled
startled before the attack So, Jim
had told her about Tom and the
robe l resented IL, and all the
more since my husband had as
sured me the whole thing wasn't
worth talking about.
Perfectly Natural
why do you ask7'' warily In
euired.
Isn't IT natural little friend?
Here you and Jim are-established
IN his apartment. Tom Mason is
q cad. Anne-a cad, and R-gTest
lover of the beautiful You're very
loveIy-but, surely, Jim tells you
that q hundred times q day-well,
don't let the MAson-man tell you.
too"
Jim had not told me that he
thought me lovely" for longer
than liked to remember. ! re-
sented Betty's taking for granted
that he spoke often OF my looks
which 1 felt were in sad enough
contrast to Betty's regal beauty. !
resented her Eupposing that il
must be for my looks and nothing
else that Tom Mason liked me
and felt myself rising Up In
arms at her calling him a cad.
A moment before I had been
ready to like Betty. but now the
barriers were up again. 1t is al
ways So find myself ready TO
like her and then she's sure to do
something at which fairly must
take offense.
A ring al the door saved me
from answering Betty rudely. /
terked the strings OF her apron
into a bow and ran to the door.
There was a elegram-addressed
20 me. signed for IL and then I
studIsd II for a moment, as II the
typewrit;en address on the yellow
envelope could tell me something
about its contents or course,
there was no reason for fright but
somehow felt terrified by that
mysterious little envelope
Betty came to the door be weeu
the kitchenetts and the living
room
Il peeked into the oven. Princess
Anne, and saw a delicious lamb
roast Shall / light the burners
AGAIN. The boys will be here d.
Rectly"
please" I replied. "And wifi
you put on some water to boil?
make my coffee the old-fashioned
way-with the yolk OF an egg"
Then / crept over to the window,
hid behind the curtains Of apricot
silk and ran my little finger under
the flap OF the yellow envelope.
OF course. looked Hrst AZ the siE-
nature-"Th 1mas c. Mason"
At that fell to trembling as II
With cold. But. as stared out the
window, ] could see Jim a-d Cap
tain Winston coming down the
Btreet-and / must read and digest
the message before their arrival
II was . night letter:
"Please send blue Venetian Yobe
20 Camp Torvald, Ruyter's Land
tng, As soon as convenient. Ar
ranging pageant benefit Italian
war sufferers Wednesday. Wish
you were here 70 lend yourself to
Workeut isnd robe insteAd 20