Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-04
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
EIIZABETH'S TANGLED
WEB"
n. os.:, III Sim, u,nns
By Lonie W. Simmons

Aunt BETTY was good neighbor, n
"A good cook and a good hand to look
after the seventeen-year-old niece en-
trusted to her care--a pretty little miss
with too large appetite for ice cream
sodas and the admiring glances OF tall
young soldiers.
When bake-a-pie day rolled around
IL fell to Elizabeth to wrap up the ex-
ira half-dozen delicious ones Aunt Betty
baked and generously set asrus st io OF he
most tempting. pie of all she surrep-
titiously tucked small strip or paper
with the words 'If you like this pie
call at % Bowdoin street Saturday eve
II was n most delicious pie, so thought
Lieutenant John H, as re tuckeu
Elizabeths note inside his pocket. IL
was Saturday evening before ne tnousIe .is,1o
that Elizabeth was fiufflng her halr ana
wondering IL her scheme for littie run
would bring any results. Maybe ne was
a little bit hungry. too, or tEe supper
way he couldn't help linking that a
chance to secure whole pie, ana such
a pie was not TO be considered nghtly'
When the bell rang Elizabeth flew to
the door, a sweet little pink-faced Wis
ion In blue. Lieutenant H was
rather taken aback. but Elizabeth was
equal to the occasion. "Oh. good even
ing" she trillcd. SO you are the one
that got my note. and you want another
pie? Well. come right in. have one
for you so glad you liked It," John
H was by this time thoroughly en-
joying the most unusual situation. In
a pretty room with a pretty girl tying
up an extremely notwithstanding pie,
all for him-well. the fates were kind,
thought he. II must compliment you
on your skill as ,pie-maker, Miss
Elizabeth looked blank for a second;
then "F-,' she added glibly. Eliza
beth =: and now who is going to
accept this pie?" Elizabeth thrilled a
little when she learned his name and
his rank, and quite suddenly decided
that he was very, very good looking.
They chatted pleasantly for a few mo-
ments. after which Lieutenant H
very properly took his leave.
The next morning Aunt Betty discov-
cred that she was pie short.
"Sakes alive! you didn't eat whole
pie last night. did you. Elizabeth?" she
asked. Mercy, no! Aunt Betty. Some
one called at the door last night and 7
you know"
What sort Of a looking tramp was
hep "Oh. he was very good. looking
for a tramp" said Elizabeth. feeling
but as Aunt Betty. said nothing further
she was soon breathing easy again.
Aunt Betty had just PLACED the pie
swer it, "Oh, It's for you," she called,
Lizzie b is sick and they want you
TO come right over"
Elizabeth gazed in dismay at Aunt
Betty's figure hurrying down the walk.
That meant no pie for Lieutenant H
that night. oh, IL only she could bake
one! Whatever had possessed her to let
him believe she could---why hadn't she
rlgiy adp hn btnly 80 \
Disconsolately she mixed the sponge
cake, but was too wise to attempt the
pie. Suppertime came, and no Aunt
Betty. She telephoned instead saying
that she would be home early in the
evening. Elizabeth was in despair. OF
course auntie would come while Lieu
tenant Il was there What should
she do? IT was not the radiant Eliza.
beth of the week before who answered
Lieutenant H--'s ring at the bell, but
a very sober little girl in a plain white
dress, Hardly was he seated before
Aunt Betty hustled in. Elizabeth intro
Bettys frown vanished before the frank
smile and cordial handshake of the en-
aging young soldier. "If your niece will
make such delicious pies he began
my soul" interrupted Aunt Betty did
! you bake pies today. Elizabeth? You
never made pies before in your life"
Looks on the two faces before her stop
~
| Betty" stammered Elizabeth then
realizing that she must either laugh or
| cry she began TO laugh which was the
! best thing she could do. She explained
] everything TO her listeners as gracefully
as she could. ending with 81 don't think
/ I am natural-born deceiver-really ;
still don't know why fooled you both
so Please forgive me-" John II
! laughed good-naturedly, seeming neither
| shocked nor offended, much TO Eliza
beth's relief. Aunt Betty, too, was kind
as of course she would he. You surely
. aid weave a tangled web as the poet
Vsays. Elizabeth" she said with a laugh.
Lieutenant John II was a frequent
| and welcome guest at the r home
| after that. II wonder which he likes tho
best" unused Elizabeth one night, Aunt
| Betty's pies. or me-" but something in
his eyes as they met hers across the
| supper table convinced her that he would
| still come II Aunt Betty never placed
another pie before him also that it wa
| Thigh time that she was learning how to
bake pies herself.
| The next complete novelette--"The
! Goose"