South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-20

plying tone that mothers use 20
console. and strangely ruffle at the
same time. a pretty face and
what more can you say for her?
Why, Fred, you must think OF your
future. your ambitions. You want
a wife with brains-one who will
help you up the ladder to congress.
10 the senate-to-
oh. mother. cut it out" snap
ped Fred, peevishly. Surely this
stalwart, handsome young giant had
outgrown his mothers affectionate
term of boy" "Nothings settled
yet / admit I like Dorothy. but
I'm not such a fool as to jump at
conclusions. But there's one thing
sure-you're wrong about her being
silly-why. she's got a fine position
in the war department She's con-
suited all over the place for her
spelling"
Doubtless she's an authority
there" remarked his mother. dry
~. Considering the spell she's
working on you. But. Pred"
Fred didn't wait 10 learn the
rest. II was twelve o'clock al
ready and he had a luncheon engage
ment with Dorothy-the only dates
he could make for a while. with his
night work. Ten minutes later he
faced a tremendously pretty girl
across a table overlookisg the ave-
nue., near the treasury, and all that
portion Of Washington's diners who
cared to observe could have noticed
the wealth of devotion he put into
that look.
But an unkind fate seemed TO be
working against Dorothy Gates in
terests just then. II seemed almost
ominous to Fred Hastings that his
mothers views were not altogether
groundless as 10 Dorothy's mental
timber for she prattled away about
the most inconsequential things.
And now she was changing the sub
ject again. resorting 10 another
mood.
MIR. Andersons perfectly hate
full" she was saying. with little
pout. My spelling is always right
and after / hand him his letters,
he's been in the habit lately OF
erasing words until the paper is
rubbed right through Then he goes
and writes the same word above
just as | spelled it. It's too mean
for anything"
Fred's gaze fell to his plate. At
ter all. was his mother right? 1t
seemed so. And then. his attention
was attracted 10 neighboring table
where a guest was arguing rather
loudly with the waiter.
Bring me the regular card,
Fred heard the man say. rather inn
patiently. Il don't want the carte
de jour"
The waiter fastened away and
soon brought back another. The
stranger. brandishing a letter in his
hand. consulted this card. and then
again summoned the waiter.
This is not the one l want ne
snapped. angrily. II want the one
with the oyster list at the bottom"
But. sir" the waiter respectfully
protested. in the manner OF one &C
customed TO cranks. The cards
we're changed only this morning.
The old ones have been destroyed
The guest with an impatient oath.
tore the letter in half, and threw
in on the floor. then rose and
stamped out of the diningrOom.
Isn't he a nasty. mean man, de-
manded Dorothy. turning her gaze
back 10 Fred. But what more
can YOU expect? Did YOU notice he
looked like a German"
"Oh. / say" protested Fred, with
a short laugh. Don't get the in
sane notion that everybody who's
rude is a German"
But l say he looked like one,
retorted Dorothy. pouting. And
I'm sure he is" Leaning over. she
picked up the torn letter from the
floor. and then exclaimed quickly.
oh, see, Fred, it's one of MIR. An
dersen's letters. Look. here's where
he's rubbed through the paper.
must give il back 10 him when l re-
turn 10 the office
They finished their luncheon in
nonosyllables. Fred being in a
somewhat grumpy humor. And he
had thought this girl witty. charm
ing. intelligent, The following day
being sunday, Fred made an en-
gagement to meet her at the same
hour and place on Monday. and she
hurried back 10 her office.
Rumors OF a leak Of valuable in
formation in her department had
spread like wildfre during the
luncheon hour, and she found every
one. inncluding Mr. Andersen. in an
irritable mood. Then about two
thirty, he left the Office, and she
VAS given a breathing spell.
1t was threethirty. and Dorothy
was seated beside the desk of the as
sistant secretary Of war over his
face a cold sweat had spread and
his hands trambled violently.
Good God. girl.' he was saying.
how did you discover this? And
when ,"
AT luncheon today she answered.
calmly. THAT is. l tumbled across
the first link of the chain there. I
ate at the Banner restaurant with a
friend" And she blushed. but the
official ignored this.
Yes, yes, go on" he command