Warren sheaf., 1918-01-02
Copyright The Bobbs-Merrin Company,
CHAPTER Viii.
A Clear Call.

1ne unKle OF the telephone disturbed
the family as they were at dinner, and
Connie, who sat nearest, rose to an
swer the summons while Carol. at her
corner of the table struck tragic at
titude. l.
IF Joe Graves has broken anything,
he's broken our friendship for good and
all. These fellows that break them
selves" s..
Break themselves?" asked her IA
ther gravely. w..
"Yes-any Of his members, you
know, his leg, or his arm, Or If he
has, I must say frankly that hope it
Is his neck. These boys that break
themselves at the last minute, thereby
breaking dates, are"
"Well," Connie said calmly, eff
you're through, I'll begin"
ION, goodness, Connie, deafen one
ear and listen with the other. You've
got to learn to hear in a hubbub. Go
on then, I'm through. But I haven't
forgotten that missed the Thanksgiv-
ing banquet last year because Phil
broke his ankle that very afternoon on
ice when he had date"
"Ready?" asked Connie, as the phone
rang again, insistently.
"Go on, then. Don't wait until I get
started. Answer it,
Connie removed the receiver and
called the customary "Hello." Then,
Eyes, just a minute. It's for you,
Carol"
Carol rose darkly. "It's Joe," she
said in dungeon-dark voice. "He's
broken, foresee it. If there's any
thing I despise and abominate it's
breaker of dates. Men have no busi-
ness being broken, except their hearts,
when girls are mixed up in it.-Hello? :?
oh; Oh-h-h! Yes-it's professor!
How are you?-Yes, indeed-oh, yes,
I'm going to be home. Yes, indeed.
Come about eight. OF course Til be
here-nothing important-it didn't
amount to anything at ADJUST a little
old everyday affair.-Yes, can ar
range it nicely.-We're so anxious to
see you-All right -Good-by."
She turned back to the table, her
face flushed, eyes shining. tits pro-
fessor!, He's in town just overnight,
and he's coming out. I'll have to phone
joe
"Anything despise and abominate
it's breaker of dates," chanted Con-
ME.
"Oh's that's different" explained
Carol. ''This is professor! Besides,
this will sort Of even up for the
Thanksgiving banquet last year,
'But that was Phil and this is Joe ="
"Oh, that's all right. It's just the
principle, you know, nothing personal
about it." . -
She stood thoughtfully beside the
table, her brows puckered unbecom-
ingly.
II think" she said at last slowly,
with wary eyes on her fathers quiet
face, II think I'll let the tuck out Of my
old rose dress. It's too short"
Too short! Why, Carol" inter-
rupted her aunt. =.
'Too short for the occasion, I mean.
I'll put 1t back tomorrow" Once more
her eyes turned cautiously fatherward.
'You see, professor still has the little
twinnie' idea in his brain, and I'm 60
ing to get it out. It isn't consistent
with our five feet seven. We're grown
up. Professor has got to see it. You
skoot upstairs, Connie, won't you,
there's dear, and bring it down, both
of them, Lark's too. Lark-where did
you put that ripping knife? Aunt
Grace, will you put the iron on for me?
It's perfectly right that professor
should see we're growing up. Well have
to emphasize it something extra, or he
might overlook it. It makes him feel
Methuselish because he's so awfully
smart. But I'll soon change his mind
for him"
In less than two minutes the whole
family was engaged in growing Carol
up for the occasion. They didn't see
any sense in 1t, but Carol seemed so
unalterably convinced that it was nee
essary that they hated to question her
motives.
II her idea had been utterly to dunn
found the unsuspecting professor, she
succeeded admirably. Carefully she
planned her appearance, giving him
just the proper interval Of patient wato
lag in the presence Of her aunt ant
listers. Then, a slow parting Of thl
curtains and Carol stood out, brightly
gladly, her slender hands held out II
welcome, Carol. with long skirts swish
ing around her white-slippered feet
her slender throat rising cream-Whit,
above the soft fold of old rose lace, he
graceful head with its royal crown o
bronze-gold hair, tilted most charm
ingly.
The professor sprang to his feet an,
stared at her. Why, Carol,'' he ex
claimed soberly, almost sadly, as b,
lcrossed the room and took her hand
s'Why. Caroll Whatever have you beel
doing to yourself overnight !"