Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-03
KHAKI
BY ANGELA e. SHEEHAN


paper ayndcate)
"Oh, surely l ought to get n letter
from him today, exclaimed Alice, as
she slipped on her hat to run down to
the village postotiice.
The clerk looked through the mail
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 herr Certuinly there could be no
reason for such n long delay. 1t was
about three months since she had nm
swered his last letter. and yet there
had been no reply. Here an awful
thought occurred TO her.
"Oh--oh. L wonder--ycs. That must
be It lie 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 live"
Khaki. Alice's little Scotch collie,
cooked one eye speculativeIy ut his
young mistress. Never in all his puppy
life had he known her to be nyersc
To a romp with him, but lately every
thing was changed. Even his implor-
Ing little tricks could not induce her
TO cuddlc him. Well, mortals were fun
ny, anyway; Il mere puppy couldn't
De expected to understand tFln.
But Khaki was not the only one that
noticed Aliccs abstraction. Her young
brother Jack had been taking account
of affairs.
Probably she's in love" he guessed
Well. something would have to be
done. He simply couldn't let such Il
state of affairs 90 ON.
'Golly. lately II fellow can't even
ask for Il single favor without having
his head taken Off. he ruefully com
planned
Now. Jack was an observing boy. 50
II Is not strange that he noticed how
often his sister went to the postOiiice
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. 81 don't know or | don't
care"
SO that's where the shoe pinched.
Wen. he could easily fix that up.
That's what younger brother was
for anyway.
Dick Falc was resting one afternoon
in Y. NJ. G. a. hut with group OF
fellow engineers. but he was not en-
tering into their discussions. On the
contrary, he was thinking seriously of
q 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
cant be, fer Eve written every week |
for at least three months. Could it be
--er--could II b. that she prefers ed
Field after ALI Wen. no girl win make
a fool out of me if | know it. She'll
get no more letters from me-"
No sooner had he uttered these
words when his chum appeared with I
letter for him.
Thought I'd bring it 10 you. Dick. I
as long as | was coming this way. |
Why, man, what's the matter with
your"
1t Is no wonder the mystified fellow
asked such question. for Dick was
dancing around with lock Of golden
hair dangling in his fingers.
"She's willing! She's wlling" he
exclaimed. "Oh boy Just wait until
get back to the States. Hey, Fred
Want to be my best MANI"
When Dick finally quoted 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-
~ Gu, Off a lock of Aliccs hair. When
Alice was ready TO answer In the af-
asked, she could send him the lock OF
hair. Agreeing, Alice slipped the lock
into d book she was holding, thinking
It to he a safe hiding place
"And now" added Dick. ''as long as
I'm going to be Sent home soon |
won't let her know I'm coming, but
will surprise her.
After the wedding guests had all de-
parted. Jack. with Khaki as a compan-
ion, threw himself down on the lawn,
n Characteristic position of his when
he wanted to think.
Gosh, Khaki, just look mt that
watch. Isn't il beauty" he chuckled
reminisccntly. "but didn't Sis look sur
nrIscd when Dick told her he received
that lock of hair. Wonder how she
guessed | did 1t though? We should
worry, Khaki. If ! hadn't tal;sn Gu.
pid's job, she would never have given