Evening star., 1919-02-16

"Louishe's family" says Ernie. T.
l don't care for her family. No.
Sorry. but"
MEAN to say Louise took you homo
Ernie mods. Wanted me to meet
family" says he. Dear old daddy,
darling mother. sho on. Charmed.
says 1. was willing to meet any one
then. Right in the mood. Certainly.
says I. Feeling friendly Patted
leader, shook handsh with perfect
stranger going out. Went to lovely
house. uptown somewhere. Fine OIL
butler, fine oil rugsh in hall. tapesh-
tries on wall. And then-then--"
Ernie slumps into a chair. pushes
the loose collar end away from his
chin fretful. and INDUCES in a deep
sigh. expect he thinks he's told
the whole story.
II take it," says I. that you did
meet dear old Daddy"
"Washn't so very old, at thash," says
Ernie, NO. Nor such a dear. Looksh
like-like Teddy ROOSEVELT. Be-
hayesh like Teddy, too 1m-pesh-
uous. Very first thing he says Is.
And who the devil are you? 'Guesh?'
tells him. Give you three guesshes.'
He--he no good as guessher, Dad
dy. Grabsh me by the collar You,
Louishe comes to rescue. Can't you
see, Daddy? she tells him. It's Ernie.
Found him at LASH Ernie who?'' de.
mandsh Ta,,4ls Daddy II forget says
Naughty, naughty saysh 1. Mustn't
tell talesh Bad form. Daddy. Lessh
al be calm now and--and we'll tell
you about dlnner-bubblesh in the
glass, neyerything. Louishe and I.
nashur.' And thash as far as / got.
Different nashur. Daddy"
Il gather that he didn't insist on
your staying?' says 1.
No, he hadn't. AS near as I could
make out dear old Daddy took firm
the fine old butler held the front door
open ne got more impetuous than ever.
AS Ernie tells me about 1t he rubs
n1mseif reminiscent and gazes sorrows
ful at his dented derby.
Mosh annoying says he. Couldn't
even shay goodnight to lovely
Louishe"
'Oh, WELL" says I. you can make
up for that when you pay your dinner
call. By the way. where was this home
of the lovely Louise?
Ernie doesn't know. When he'd ar
rived he was too busy to notice the
street and the number. and when he
came out he was too much annoyed.
Also he didn't remember having heard
Louise's last name.
Huh" says I. Except for that
everything is all clear. eh? 1t strikes
perfectly good mystery. You've been
kidnapped by lovely lady, had
swell dinner. with plenty of fizz on
the side. been introduced to a strong
arm father. and finished on the side
walk with your lid caved in. And for
an assistant auditor who bushes as
easy as you do that's what I call kind
of a large evening""
Ernie mods. Then he chuckles to
himself, sort of satisfied. and remarks
mushy: Lovely girl. Louishe."
Yes. we've admitted all that" says
I. But who the blazes Is sher'
Ernie rumples his hair thoughtful
and then shakes his head.
"But during all that time didn't she
say anything about herself. or give
you any hint" l goes on.
Ernie can't remember that she did.
What was all the chat about?' de-
mands.
"oh, everything" says Ernie. "she--
she said she'd been looking for me
long timesh. Knew me by-by my
eyesh."
How touching" says I. That must
have been during the clinch."
Yes" says Ernie. But nexsh
time"
Say" I breaks in. "if you don't
know what her name is, or where she
lives, noW w Suu hSutc va a hSAs
timer
"Thash So" says Ernie. TOO bad"
STILL" says ], the kiss stringency
in your young career has been lifted,
hasn't IL? And now it's about time
fixed you up and towed you out to q
hotel, where you can hit the feathers
for about ten hours. My hunch Is that
a pitcher of ice water is going to look
mighty good to you in the morning.
And maybe by tomorrow noon you can
remember more details about Louise
than you can seem TO dig up now.
You can't always tell about these
birds who surprise you that way. i
was only an hour late in getting 10
the office myself next day, but fnds
Ernie at his desk looking hardly any
the worse for wear. and grinding away
as usual He looks n little sheepisn
when | ask him If Louise mas phoheu
him yet.
'S-s-shw saws he. glancin' around
cautious Please"
'Oh, sure" says Trust me. I'm
no sieve. But I'm wondering II youh
ever run across her again. -
Il don't know" says Ernie ~
all seems so vague and queer. l can
recall much of anything except that
Louise-weU, she did show rather
fondness for me, you know; ana per-
hans some time or other
Yes" says l. "lightntn does occa-
sionaliy strike twice in the same
place But not often. Ernie.
He's a wonder. Ernie Is, seems sat
isfled TO lot It so AS it stand. without