Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-16
Printed by Special Arrangement with
Houghton. Milf1ln Go.
ConNrlght. lUln. by Ier0y Scott

Houghton Minn Go.
Copyright. 1919 by Leroy Scott
CSHE watched them carefully, trying
all the while to maintain the appear
ance of young girl who had moth
ing on her mind but the enjoyment OF
n young girls pleasure. Presently she
saw Slim and Gloria withdraw quietly
from the rest and 90 out the front door.
In a moment she had excused herself
on the plea of getting glass Of water
for herself passed into the dining
room, and thence through darkened
side entrance out into the grounds. She
darted to a corner of the house and
peered around il. A score of PAGES
away Slim and Gloria were strolling
off into the night
There was d possibility that they
might be saying something revelatory !;
At any rate. she had to hear, Her
y only chance of approaching them un"
heard and unobseryed was to avoid tue
brick walks and cross the lawn but the
lawn was dew covered, and wet slip
pers would look very suspicious when
she returned to the party within. She
drew off her slippers, and carrying them
she swiftly made her way across the
grass in stocking feet, dodging from the
cover Of one dim bush or clump of
shrubbery to another-until she saw the
figures pause in n side patch not half
n dozen yards away.
,''No one can hear us out here, she
heard Gloria remark. "Quick-what did
you wanty'
sIt's like this, Gloria. But listen |!
Was that somebody" And Slim NOV
ed in Jennie's direction. lie took but
two or three steps, then paused and
flashed tiny electric torch, no larger
than a cigarette case, full upon the
bush behind which Jennie was crouch
ing. Jennie dared not move she was
palpitant with the fear of immediate
discovery.
But the tiny torch flashed to othei
bushes. Then it went out, and Slim
returned to Gloria.
1T was all my Imagination"
Quick, thep--what did you want to
tell me?"
His voice was the voice OF fiattering
complaint. Il wanted to tell you that
you've been letting me see mighty little
of you of late--and that IN missing IL
lot--and that l think | have real
J kick coming.
"Oh, you haven t missed me so much.
The worlds full of other women
who"
''But not fun of Glorias."
''Besides. while I'm staying. out. here
at Silver Bluffs, you know there's no
chance to see each other.
''There's got to be a chance, Gloria.
want to see you simply because i want
to see you. Also because there's some
thing l simply must talk over with
you-and ! don't need to say that
there's no time for that now. We'd be
missed But I've got to see you
"When, then = and where - and
how?"
III know Mrs. Harrison is going to
try to close the party down Mt
midnight, and everybody who's staying
Sin down to the library at two--to
play it safe. come at exactly two. III
be waiting"
But what for?' she persisted.
"Well-for thai And drawing
her suddenly to him. he kissed her.
''Cut that out. Jackson Holt But
there was no severe displeasure in her
voice "If that's all, I'll not come
''But | said / had to talk to you.
lGloria--I simply must. -
There were two or three sentences
of debate. then Jennie heard Gloria
say: can right--at two O'Clock, then.
Now we'd better get right back to the
house"
They moved away. The moment ac-
tion seemed safe. Jennie scurried across
the lawn to the side of the house. drew
her slippers on her dew soaked feet,
passed through the dining room and
reioined the party just as Slim and
Gloria sauntered in. Jennie did her
best to seem light spirited as before,
but all the while she was fcverishly
thinking and planning. To her con-
glomerate of earlier motives she now
had added new motive, and she was
righteously indignant. 1t seemed
shameless to her for Slim TO violate the
Harrisons' hospitality aud Kenneth 5
friendship, and for Gloria to treat so
lightly the respect due her hostess and
her own position. OF certainty the
pair deserved anything and everything
that might be brought to befall them.
But how should she handle this sit
nation? She considered the problem all
the evening while she apparently had no
concern other than her girlish pleas
tire; but it was not till she was in her
room, after midnight, that she could
give the situation her undivided mind.
4 Plainly the thing to do was SO to man
age that the Harrisons, and most par
ticularly Kenneth should be witnesses
to that o'clock rendezvous in the il
brary. Just how could that best be
brought about?
Suddenly hitherto unperceived dan =
ger to herself darted into her mind.