The Coconino sun., 1919-11-07
KHAKI By ANGELA E. STEPHAN
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
 paper Syndicate.)

NSopyrisht, iSls, py the McClufe News
 paper Syndicate)
 "Oh. surely ought to get letter from him today, exclaimed Alice, as she slipped on her hat to run down to the village postofiice.
 The clerk looked through the mall for her, just as he had done every day for over two months, but there was none. Poor Alice turned away with & sinking heart. Would Dick never write to her? Certainly there could be no reason for such long delay. It was about three months since she had an swered his last letter, and yet there had been no reply. Here an awful thought occurred to her.
 "Oh-Oh. I wonder-yes, that must be 1t He has met some French girl over there that he likes better than me. Why-why-ooh I'll never write to that boy as long as I live"
 Khaki, Alice's little Scotch collie, cooked one eye speculatively at his young mistress. Never in all his puppy life had he known her to be averse to romp with him, but lately every thing was changed. Even his implor. ing little tricks could not induce her to cuddle him. We'll, portals were fun ny, anyway; mere puppy couldn't be expected to understand them.
 But Khaki was not the only one that noticed Alice's abstraction. Her young hrnfhar Jack had hoan taLin1 ocooupt of affairs.
 Probably she's in love-" he guessed. We'll, something would have to be done. He simply couldn't let such state of affairs go on.
 "Golly, lately fellow can't even ask for single favor without having his head taken off," he ruefully com. plained.
 Now, Jack was an observing boy, so 1t is not strange that he noticed how often his sister went to the postoffice for mail she never received. He was also diplomat.
 By the way, Alice, how's Jack?' he casually remarked one evening.
 "How do you suppose know?" she snapped. "I don't know or I don't care"
 So that's where the shoe pinched. We'll, he could easily fix that up. That's what younger brother was for anyway.
 Dick Fale was resting one afternoon In Y. M. c. A. hut with group of fellow engineers, but he was not en- tering into their discussions. On the contrary, he was thinking seriously of a certain girl way back In the States.
 "Wonder why she doesn't answer my letters" he questioned. Possibly she doesn't receive them No. that can't be, for I've written every week for at least three months. Could it be -er--could 1t be that she prefers Ed Field after all? We'll, no girl Will make a fool out of me if know 1t. She'll get no more letters from me-"
 No sooner had he uttered these words when his chum appeared, with a letter for him.
 Thought I'd bring 1t to you, Dick, as long as I was coming this way. Why, man, what's the matter with you"
 It Is no wonder the mystified fellow asked such O question, for Dick was dancing around with lock of golden hair dangling in his fingers.
 "She's willing! She's willingl" he exclaimed. "Oh boy 1. Just walt until I get back to the States. Hey, Fred Want to be my best manT
 When Dick finally quieted down he explained to the curious Fred the meaning of the strange lock of hair.
 One evening they had been sitting out on the porch, when Dick fooling- ly cut off lock of Alice's hair. When Alice was ready to answer In the af- firmative a question he had recently asked, she could send him the lock of hair. Agreeing, Alice slipped the lock into book she was holding. thinking 1t to be a safe hiding place"
 And now" added Dick, "as long as. I'm going to be sent home soon I won't let her know I'm coming, but will surprise her"
 After the wedding guests had all de ]