The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-05-31
A Diplomatic
Benz.

sy EDWARD 8. sPiNNEY.

uueHCe 10 sctuit an "PpOlulihcut
kept my ambition To- myself afy pup.l |
Alec Kirk. should have h.eh ready foa |
college. but hc was not. aud IL was
my part to get hln ready M soon ~
possible. His father. after turning
him over Ia me. went To Europe lie
fore leaving he gave me n single IN
struction-viz:
Don't let any woman snare him
while l am away"
I made companion OF Alec, and lac
seemed TO enjoy my society In prefer
cnce TO that OF young fellows Of his
own nge. lie gave me his confidence
In everything but one. A woman
laid siege for him. and he did not tell
me. Ills fnther had lcctured him be-.
fore going away on his susceptibility
and told him that was empowered 10
forbid his attentions 20 any woman.
Alec not only failed to trust the mat
ter 10 mo. but told the woman who was
trying to snare him Of my charge. She
was smart enough To keep sioof from
me, aud | did not discover her or her
object till | was informed Of both by
the housekeepcr warned thu house
keeper not To diyulge the faet that
knew Of what was going on. II
could save the boy would put his
father under obligations Mr., Kirk
had great political iui'uence
Alec wished the lady To win my good
opinion. She. surprising TINT ! knew
nothing II their nllnir. consented
though reluctantly. was Introduced
10 Miss Martha Collingwood. aged
twenty eight. lmpecunious. passably
good looking and of common family.
| called OH her with Alec and during
the call manifested fricndliness that
dlsnrned both Tut while extending
the olive branch was sharpening the
sword. suggested that Miss Colling.
wood aud Alec use the tennis court al
his holue and even offered II We coulI
and another girl To make up a set with
them myself had In mind Miss
Gladys Hoyle. young lady who had
the faculty oS making the most rasp-
Ing remarks with the MOST kindly pre-
tended intentions. knowing that there
IL nothing which will turn q man from
a woman quicker than q feminine light.
I hoped to use Miss Hoyle for the pur
pose OF drawing out whatever Of tein
Der Miss Collingwood might possess
and intended that Alec should witness
the seriinmage.
We secured Miss Hoyle. and ! chose
her. for my partner. Miss Collingwood
opened the game, serving to me. ]
sent the ball back, and she returned
1t. 1t dropped just within the line. but
I pronounced II foul.
THAT want FOUL" said Miss COL
hngwood
looked ut my partner for support
certainly It was" she said.
my eyes must have deceived me-"
said Miss CollipgwoVd.
''Some people can't play tennis III
ALL" returned Miss Hoyle. "op account
Of their eyes. ] thought l snw some
thing amiss with yours l''s lnite
noticeable"
There was an ominous hs.h FROM
Miss Collingwood She niaos 40 r"
ply, and the game went on Ny ow'
game had opened auGpiciouSly. uo'
fortune continued to favor mo. Mi
Hoyle In volleyiLg close 10 the ~,
sent the bali against Miss C"lii,.,:
woods nose. The latter Drop u b,
racket and caught trickiins STREE
OF blood in her handkerchief
"You did that on PURPOSE" she cred
casting a flashing glance at Mis-
Hoyle.
you hatter me. IL could nit .
mark like that Id enter for cham
pionship." replied Miss Hoyle
Miss Collingwood was getting read.
for a rejoinder when added To her
rufiling nv asking II she would pro
coed with the game.
IL don't think she'd better" Miss
Hoyle put I'm, with that nose. TN be
NIL the eolsrs. Of the rainbow tomor
row My advice Is raw be.,f'
Some people are offensive with
their advice" snapped the sufferer
Pleasure had gone out Of the game
for Alec He proposed to stop playing
Miss Collingwood started for the honsr
TO put cold water O., her nose Alec
instead Of accompanying her. fonat
occupation IN gathering the balls ane
rackets. whispered to him 10 tax,
Miss Hoyle home. She smilingly ac
cepted his Invitation As the two
walked away Miss CollinGwood turned
and dartcd fiery spark. saw her
home. adding fuel TO the name by tell
Ing her that thought Miss HOyle had
sent the ball against her nose on pur
pose and was trying TO catch Alec.
supposed that ] had only made 9
beginning. uut ! was mistaken Wher
Alec and I met again he confessed t.
me that there had been an sHair be
tween him and Miss Colhngwood "a
which l expressed great surprise). bu
that II was ended. kindly offered Il
give him my advice as to the bes
method Of dropping It. The Illusion
had passed out OF him. and nothin!
could bring II back.
, When Mr.. Kirk returned from En
rope | made no mention OF his SON
escape. hut he learned OF II aud aske,
: me about II. J. told him the story. .
the end Of which be said:
: "Yor should be In the diplomats
corps. The nrst requisite Of q Dip,
mat II absence of conscience Judrir