New Britain herald., 1919-08-06
The Orchard Inn, Forest Valley, N. J..
 4I, T4l-

The Orchard Inn,
 Forest Valley, N. J..
 the 7th.
 My Dearest Joan:
 l have your letter and most reverently thank God for giving me an understanding friend To reassure you, dear, for believing I have not done a foolish thing, let me tell you how sanely it has worked out.
 Of course, Captain Wallis met me at the station. The instant I laid eyes on him I felt at ease His quiet manner was at it's quietest. There was an air of satisfaction about him as he greeted me, cordially but not effusively, gratefully but not as though I had performed d miracle of self-sacritice in coming.
 1T knew I could count on you," he said. "aS soon as you realized how terribly up-against-it l really was. Gosh, how helpless a man is nowa- days without the expert hand of the secretary! Might as well try to go to fire on a hobby horse as dictate 30,00O words to yourself on the type writer. Here's the Fierce-Arrow!"
 He led the way with a comic four ish toward a battered tin lizzie which is part of the furnishings of his bor- roWed camp.
 What a heavenly place!" was ali l could find to remark as I climbed into the clattering car. I had rather braced myself for-I don't know What-some sign of embarrassm ent on his part, perhaps, or a trace of too personal appreciation.
 Tt sure is,' he answered heartily, finally getting the machine started with much rasping of levers and barking of throttle. "Old Max Porter did all his best writing out here. When he went to the Coast on a Spe- cial mission for his magazine he turned the shack over to me. It has saved my life-it and you together for could no more have got out this order in a summer hotel or a city apartment than a rabbit"
 We were on a straightaWay bit of wood road, and he turned from the wheel a moment to look at me. It is this restrained, observing manner of his Joanie, that gives me those sud- den inward throes-like when Caruso lets out one of those soft, tense, long drawn velvet notes of his. Rem em Der how we used to lose our breath and get goose1esh over his photograph records in Mrs. Darbys parlor years ago? Well, Captain Wallis may just have been looking to see whether there was any smut on my nose from the long train ride. Or wondering whether I was expert enough for his purposes. Or-Oh. anything. One never knows what he thinks. One m om ent you'd swear he was going to make the most violent love to you 1 The next he is back in his shell again | leaving you all at sea. wondering 1 half-disappointed.
 He turned back to his driving.
 "We-the shack and Twill do our | best to help,' I said, feeling I must | be businesslille and casual and not being able to think of a more bril- ! liant remark.
 There's rather a decent little room for you at the Inn," he went on. Well drive straight there." And after lunch," said I, "your secretary will appear upon your door mat. refreshed and ready for work" He turned again and looked at me.
 What a wonderful girl you are!" Are businesslike secretaries so scarce, then?" I smiled. "Of your sort, yes" he answered gravely. ITO have @ face like that, and intelligence and kindness and character and-' He stopped abruptly and looked away again.
 "-and-?" I found myself asking. with an odd, tight sensation in the throat
 Call it charm" he answered oriskly, adding in the same brisk tone: We're almost there. Inns just round the turn"
 We finished the drive in silence. At the quaint little hotel built of cement and rough logs an elderly colored woman came out to welcome me, and ! boy took my bag.
 'I'n stop for you, then, Miss Varick, at o'clock" said Captain Wallis, and with friendly, though half-formal wave of the hand. he chugged off in his rattly old machine.