Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-07-04
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BEAUTIFUL ENIGMA
BY JACK LAYTON.
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study his menu card. What possessed
him that he could not 90 ON with his
meal in contentment, until that girl ar
rived! It was as well to be honest
with oneself.
From the moment her dark eyes had
met his across the widespread Ia
bles, he had been as bewitched, though
the girls glance had been as indiffer-
ent as II was unconscious. 1.-THE Beau
tiful Enigma" they laughingly dubbed
the girl, who appeared as a guest,
alone and aloff, at the fashionable sea-
side resort
Bob Writings purpose in spending
his vacation here was to be near young
friends, whose war training camp was
not far distant. This was really his
/ encouraging farewell to the boys be-
fore they sailed overseas.
"At midnight, or near then" the sol
der lads insisted, "she might often be
seen Fastening down the lighted way,
when she returned a man of distin-
guished appearance and military bear
ing sometimes accompanied her. The
man was an undesirable frequenter of
the seaside community, q gambler. Ii
had been whispered"
Bob Whiting recalling these conf
dences. groaned in spirit How had
this unknown girl obsessed him with
an ardent longing for her presence,
this more than eager determination to
know her better Bob glanced Curl
ously at the flowers upon her breast,
each day the corsage was her only
color, and to his fancy, the flowers had
seemed to express her varying moods.
'"The Beautiful departs" laughing
voice remarked at his elbow.
"0ld military, with his spruce get-up,
is waiting outside, Queer comblna-
ton, those two, They say the man
raked in a fortune last night"
Irately silent, Bob rose to his feet.
Good night" called Barney innocent
ly oblivious
Bob Whiting had walked the length
of the pier before he realized the fu-
tility of his Indignation "What had
he to do with the girl?" Again he
fercely asked himself the question.
'Why should the knowledge of her as
sociates bring him tortureT Then
just below upon the beach he saw
her. Openly, reluctant, the gambler
was releasing her hand.
"Tere at eleven tonight" he said
clearly. ana the girl qodded. Glancing
upward she seemed to recognize Bob's
darkening face, for her own flushed
vislbly.
lie watched her white dress until
it disappeared before him within the
hotel doors, then gloomily he chose a
secluded corner of the veranda. Was
the SRI utterly unbefrended? Surrey
her eyes We're the wide, clear eyes of
child. And no woman was aceus-
toned to pass unattended at night
through these gay streets, thronged
with strangers from many lands. lie
himself would wait, would 20 with
her. IF ne could not dare this much,
4 then the question Of his heart was
not worth settling
SO when the girl came warily forth
later, slipping like some small white
ghost out into the darkness, Bob Whit
ing followed At the descent from
the pier she turned quickly and faced
him.
why" she asked quietly, edo you
come this way?"
"To-watch over you" he answered
promptly.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
''You take a good dear upon yourself"
she said.
Bob's tone was resolute. perhaps
1 do" he agreed. Nevertheless, I
intend to assure myself that you are
aware of the fact that this man whom
you meet here at night is notorious as
a gambler"
The girl caught her breath. 81
know" she said. Then wonderingly
shn regarded him. "Why should you
care about me?" she asked.
Il only know that I do care" Bob
answered tensely.
There was long silence before the
girl again spoke. II am moved to
corGde in you" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
lis notorious gambler is my IA
ther. For this fault he and my moth
er have been separated. She is now an
invalid confined to her room here at
the hotel. l am seeking a reconcilia-
ton between them both, based upon
the promise to forsake his ways,
which my father is to give me tonight.
My meetings with him had to be Sc
cret, mother would have resented in
tervention."
Down the beach came a mans erect
figure. "Good night" whispered the
girl, but Bob fingered.
'If l may, 1 will wait to walk back
with you," he said. And in the girls
smile he read consent.
Some Facts About Facts.
A fact is a valuable thing and ought