The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-11-14

UlCaLe.)
tanning bare toes into the sand
while in deep thought had become a
habit with Ross Balloon. His vaca-
ton was more than half over, and get
ting acquainted with Audrey Colling-
wood. was a possibility more remote
than ever.
Suddenly his hand jerked to his head
to draw the miscreant curls into or
der. but his efforts availed him little.
The big chap was hard hit, but what
was the use, when he couldn't meet
this, flying apparition2g Senator Col
Iingwood's daughter was staying at the
fashionable "Beachcroft." while Ross
had fourweeks' lien on the top floor.
front, of the incest boarding house In
the village. There. were ways, Of
course, and Ross had tried them. He
attended the hotel dances assiduously,
hoping to run across a mutual ac-
quaintance. At last, one evening, his
rowing eyes fell upon familiar figure
In the brilliant fOyer-the mother Of
an old college mate, Bob Denton.
Ross literally pouuced upon the good
lady,. When he learned she knew the
Collingwo0ds he had difficulty in re-
straining himself from Selling the
placid little woman in his arms and
racing with her to the ballroom, where
he had just seen Audrey whirling in
the arms of a stranger. Later he
wished he had done 1t. After a dig
nified tour of the entire house they
learned that Audrey had gone to her
room. Next day. when Ross was due
to call upon his life. saver, Mrs. Den
ton. she was ILL. On the next visit the
Dentons had quit the hotel.
Then the SHADES arrived from the
West. Arabella- SIade was an. old
friend of Ross married sister. She in.
vited him to dine and he accepted at
once. His heart pounded when he saw
Arabella and her mother bow in a
friendly way to Senator Collingwood
and his daughter.
He had been hidden to dine with the
SHADES again and was bordering the
matter, his toes ever busy in the
sand. A black object decorated with
one white button rewarded his in
dustry., Carelessly he bent and tugged
a serpentine strip Of black channels
from the clutching sand 1t was a
money belt with a broken buckle, and
held a large sum of money.
'Some poor overseas chap" he NUT
tered as he laid the money across
bare knees to count it. His hands
trembled. Was the owner alive or at
the bottom?
A clue! A postal savings certificate
Ross bent close to decipher the
washed-out signature: civilian s..
Collingwood" was written upon the
certificate, which had been purchased
at the local post Office few months
previous.
Excited. infatuated, Ross for the
moment failed to reason that postal
savings and riches did not go together.
He instantly believed the money be-
loDged to Senator Collingwood. 1t was
no more than natural that he should
wave peremptory hand as Audrey gall
loped back up the beach. She drew
up with much saving on the bit, her
finely-marked eyebrows arched with
surprise.
"She remembers me-" was his first
exultant thought as he held the
money towards her. Her blue eyes
rounded.
did you find it?" she asked in the
sweetest voice in the world.
YES" he answered. little instead
lily. 1T belongs to Williams S. Col
lingwood. Is he a relative of yours?"
Her horse was curvetting. so he
couldn't tell whether she resented his
knowledge of her name.
"No-I think not" she replied
thoughtfully. my fathers name is
Benjamin" Her eyes appreciated his
bronzed athletic shoulders.
"Ohl' was his non-committal re-
Spouse.
She flashed him a heavenly smile be-
fore her horse whirled away Ross
didn't dine with Arabella that eve
ming.
Audrey and her father walked up
Main street. The senator wished very
much to learn who civilian Coling-
wood" was.
Strolling in the opposite direction
was young chap in white fiannels
who could tell the senator all about
his namesake. Ross heart beat
quickly. Would she recognize him?
She did more; she stopped and in
PRODUCED ''Mr Ross Balloon" to her
father Hadn't she been to Arabella
Slade and learned all about him?
Z 1t was happy man who led the way
to tent by the water, where "Cap'n
BILL" the lobster fisherman, lived a
lonely life. :
Twas every cent | had in the
world" the stopped old man repeated
to the senator what he had already
told Ross and the postmaster in the
morning. exhibiting the money belt
delightedly. Sunny bout them white
Al H.