Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-17
DAILY NOVELETTE,
PIES rs. LIES
BY Nellie Gordon
Ar EXACTLY :45 p. IN. Grace burst
into the Office fifteen minutes late.

"Oh, girls" she almost shouted.
what do you think? The Mt. Wash :
ington docks tomorrow afternoon at
> 80. And Jacks on it,"
so is Bill" cried May.
"And joe" added Helen ioyfuly.
Every one had answered except quiet
Ruth. Brent. A comparatively new ar
rival in the city, her seemingly uncon
qucrable shyness formed barrier be
tween herself and young people of both
sexes. The other three girls in the
office locked upon her with rather a
mild, good -natured contempt, as one
who never received invitations to go
about as they did.
She was not unattractive as to looks.
but her charm was of the sort that did
not flash upon one at first glance, but
rather grew upon one, and few people
had seemed to bother TO study her after
that first glance.
II notice Ruth hasn't said anything"
teascd Grace. "I'll wager there's some
special he on that boat that she 8
thinking about. Come, 'fess up, bashful-
ness. isn't thcrc?'
Poor Ruth's cheeks burned with hu-
initiation; if she were only .able to say
yes" but lump rose in her throat
and she couldn't answer
II knew it. triumphcd Grace; "shc
doesn't answer. That's why she has
been so quiet. She's been waiting for
him
Ruth opened her mouth to protest. but
stopped. Why shouldn't she let them
go on thinking that there was some one :?
Perhaps they would treat her with a
little more respect hereafter. And they
need never know. She seldom met any
of the girls after business hours. so
the harmless deception would never be
discovered.
just before closing time the Office
manager made the announcement that
in view of the general interest shown
in the docking of the transport the
next afternoon would be half holiday
so that the girls might go down to the
pier.
| His words were greeted with great
gl"c, and they Immediately began max
ing plans for the morrow. I'm tell
YOU what girls" began Grace. the
leading spirit, ''we'll all go down to-
gethcr direct from the office. And I
was just thinking that the boys might
appreciate something in the line of
sweets. You know, they don't get much
of that in the army. so why wouldn't t
it be a good idea for each of us to
bring q pie?'
The idea was instantly adopted and
the girls separated. promising to bring
the most delicious pic possible in the
morning.
Poor Ruth Her harmless white lie. if
lie it could be called. was assuming
alarming proportions. What should she
do? If she stayed away from work the
next day they would probably suspect.
On the other hand. if she came. the Sc
cret would be out. as there would be no
one to meet. She finally resolved to see
it through. leaving the outcome il the
hands of fate. If worse came to worst.
she could say that she had been mis-
taken in the name of the boat.
The mighty Mount Washington. bear
ing her precious cargo of khaki clad
heroes, was stcamng toward the har-
Dor. The din of changing bells. piercing
whistles. and people shouting. all testi
fed to the stupCndouS welcome which
awaited them.
One lad, standing little apart
leaned over the rail watching the near
ing city sky line. The thrill that he
had felt upon hearing the noisy well
come had died away, leaving in its stead
dull ache of loneliness. If only there
would be some one there who would be
looking for him alone. 1t had been hard
to listen to the other chaps. whose
mothers, sisters and sweethearts were
on the pier, waiting to greet them.
Bert Crandall was an orphan from
far western city. who had enlisted at
the beginning of the war. He had no
relatives, and what few friends he had
were hundreds of miles from here. He
had never felt his lack of relatives quite
SO kecnly before.
The girls, after hasty lunch. ar
rived at the pier in due time. After the
docking of the boat. Ruth had some
how become separated from the others
in the monster crowd. She leaned
against post wearily, protecting her
precious pie, as best she could.
Suddenly. she spied one chap, stand
ing alone, an unusual fact. as most of
the fellows were surrounded by a small
feminine army. At sight of his rather
weary face. daring idea popped into
her head. She walked over to him and
touched his arm.
Crandall turned quickly. hat in hand.
and asked courteously, "Anything /
can do for you?'
All of Ruth's newly acquired cour-
age seemed y ooze away from her.
why, yes-er. that is-you see. T."
suddenly the girls hove into sight, and
her courage returned. and she quickly
blurted out the whole tale.
All the wearincss dropped from Bob's
face, and he laughed heartily. I'm be
! delighted to act as your fiance, and also
to eat that delicious looking pie. My
name is Robert Crandall, and as | be-
lieve it is customary for people to know
each others names, 1 will have to ask
yours"
Then the girls joined them and intro
ductions followed When they were