The Tomahawk., 1919-03-20

Miss Phylys," he Stammerpd; "but l.
I don't think I'll go to town today.
You Sec"
Bennington was completing a
lengthy toilet an hour later, when
something's mysterious, prophetic
something-made him glance out OF
his front window, through which the
April sun was now shining effulgently.
Its beams lay in golden shafts over
the shaven lawn, and across it, from
the direction of the hotel, could be
seen strolling leisurely man and
girl! There was no mistaking them.
Pomeroy had stolen march on Ben
ningtOn, Or-what was wOrSe-a walk
with Phylys.
The rest of the morning seemed In
terminable to Bennington. 1t had
cleared off beautifully, after all. with
a turquoise sky above, and under foot
a hard earthiness that positively cried
for motoring. But Bennington's ma"
chine stood neglected in the garage,
while its owner tramped moodily up
and down the hotel piazza smoking
frequent cigars and wondering when
that couple would return. They had
not come back by luncheon, which
meal Bud devoured hastily, stattoning
himself Immediately afterWard In his
first front window, where with an I'M
patience which turned gradually into
positive alarm, he sat scanning the
drive as the minutes rolled by.
What had happened? What could
have become of them?
At 3 o'clock distant whistle pro-
claimed the New York train, and some
minutes later the hotel bus drew up
in front of the door, depositing Miss
Skipworth, not to mention her UNI
brella, waterproof, valise, and sun.
dry parcels.
"Such a nice day as I've hadw she
announced cheerfully to little group
assembled on the hotel piazza. "Whom
should ] meet as I got out at the
Grand Central station but my old
friends, the Allertons, just in town
for the day! We lunched together
at the Waldorf and had delightful
talk. But, what do you think? Mr..
Selfridge and his partner we're both
out of town and the Office closed
Isn't it the most extraordinary thing
about that telegram?"
"She's had lovely time, however,
thanks to it," thought Bennington,
rather sadly. Somehow, although his
jokes were brilliantly successful, they
had not turned out quite to his salts
faction.
Grimly he watched certain pair
come into sight at last along the drive,
the girl swinging her hat, while the
youth ambled beside her with jaunti-
ness that struck Bennington as posi-
lively asinne. Listening anxiously he
heard them come into the house, and
a moment later steps assembled the
stairs and stopped at Bennington's
door.
MAY I come in?" inquired a mascu-
line voice. And without waiting for
permission Pomeroy entered the room
"a beaming, glorified, altogether in
comprehensive Pomeroy.
"Hello!' he said, grinning idiotical-
~, Haven't seen you before today"
Here, quite unnecessarily, he strobe
across and shook Bennington warmly
by the hand. "Well, old boy"
The reserved, diffident Pomeroy call
ing any one 'old boy"
Cork out your congratulations
every one Of 'em. She accepted me-
tell you, man, Phylys has accepted
me"
What else he said in his exuberant
frenzy the stricken Bennington could
not quite take in. There was a good
deal about Miss Folsom's angelic char
acteristics, Pomeroy's own incredible
good fortune, and then confidential
authorizing on the subject of an I'M
expected couple of thousand that had
drifted in that morning-the very cap
ital he had wanted for so long in
order to get into Green & Waldrop's
real estate office"
"And, do you know, Bud" Pomeroy
volunteered huskily, as he at length
verged- toward the door, IF 1t hadn't
been for that blessed money coming,
I don't believe I'd ever have had the
courage to propose. 1t just made ev-
erything possible"
Oddly enough, it was these last
words that settled POmeroy's fate, up
to that time hanging on the balance
of his listeners distracted mind.
For a moment after the door closed
on his happy, unconscious victim. Ben
nington stood struggling fiercely with
the resolution that was gaining pos
session of him.
Then, squarfng his shoulders deter
minedly, "Yes," he said, between hia
teeth. cts the only thing to do now
the only thing, for gentleman to DO"
And, seating himself at his writing
desk, Pomeroy's voluntary benefactor,
with few strokes Of the pen, convert
ed an April FOOLS Paradise into .
tangible bank account:
New Plastic Material.
I'll L. -