The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1918-01-17
Billiards and
Something Else
His Chance Came With a Lesson
In the Game.
By M J. PHILLIPS

nick admitted his ofense and was
anxious to present his excuse, Miss
Welland by her manner ignored the
existence of an offense and 80 made
excuse impossible. At first blush that
sounds all right, but it wasn't.
For how could a fellow secure free
dom from his grievous dungeon
when the pardon board publicly and
officially pretended to believe that
he was enjoying the sweet atmos,
phere Of liberty? That was the
question which bothered Carrick.
He felt that five minutes talk
with Miss Welland would set every
thing right. But she was graciously
and firmly unapproachable. She in
sisted on treating him just the
same as ever, only more 80. And
Carrick ratified his dungeon chains,
while Miss Welland smiled sweetly
on Purves Bland.
Carrick wasn't really to blame.
They had been going to the theater
Wednesday evening after having
waited three weeks to get tickets
because everybody else seemed to
want to 90 too. And that very
Wednesday afternoon the manager
had sent for Carrick.
"Be here at 8 o'clock tonight" "
he directed. "There will be spe-
cial meeting Of the board for the
purpose of discussing your carbon
improvement plan. If we take it
up His pompous smile was rich
with promise.
For young man whom opportu-
nity had seized by the nape of the
neck and was thrusting headlong
into prosperity Carrick was singu-
larly unappreciative. He knew how
Miss Welland was anticipating see
ing "What Woman Would Do"
and the impossibility of securing
other tickets during the remainder
of the run. Miss Welland's slight
est wish was more important just
then than a good many other things,
80 he mentioned another engage
ment."
"Then you must break it, Mr..
Carrick," said the manager quite
decidedly. FMr. Kern, who is
our president and heaviest stock
holder, will be here from the west
tonight on his way to New York.
He can stay only two hours. We
can do nothing without his approx
al. So you see how necessary it is
that you attend the meeting"
There seemed no way out Of it.
Carrick wrote q note to Miss Wei
land, explaining the circumstances,
sealed it and rang for messenger.
When a diminutive representative
Of the A. D. T. arrived Carrick was
smitten with brilliant idea. Why
not send the tickets 30 she could
20 anyway? So he wrote another
note, inclosed the tickets with it and
handed both envelopes to the mes
senger. And the one containing
the tickets was never delivered.
All unconscious of this fact, Car
rick went back to the Office at 8
o'clock. Fifteen minutes later word
came that Mr.. Kern was delayed BY
a wreck and that the board meeting
would be held next morning.
On the chance that he might yet
be in time to escort Miss Wenand
to the theater he rushed off to find
her, only to be informed by the
maid that she had gone out. He
went on home then, where he was
promptly pressed into service by his
sister Beatrice, who wanted com.
pany as far as Gladys Burton's. And
at the Burton door they had en-
countered Miss Welland.
That Young lady had smilingly
cut short his explanations before
they were begun. Later, when he
heard of the nondelivery of the tick
cts, he tried again. But Purves
Bland was now in the play, and e1-
plantations were impossible. He
never saw Miss Welland unless the
hint impervious Mr.. Bland was at
her elbow. He haunted balls and
1ecitals and tea fights in an en-
deavor to tell her of the meeting
that didn't come off, but in vain.
Weeks of plotting and planning
and waiting for opportunities that
never came left him worried and
hungry looking. Why rejoice that
his carbon improvement scheme
was a 60 when the only girl in the
world-it had reached that stage
wouldn't look at him OF, worse still.
looked at him precisely as she look
ed at everybody else?
d. L., ro,,;cfonoo NAV Gno1lu