The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-04-03

Pomeroy started too. "No, iAce~&
Miss Phylys," he stammereds nat -
don't think ri 60 to town today.
You See
Bennington was completing .
lengthy toilet an hour later, whca
something's mysterious, prophetic
something-made him glance out Of
his front window, through which the
April sun was now shining effulgentIy.
Its beams lay In golden shafts over
the shaven lawn. and across It, from
the direction Of the hotel. could b
seen strolllng leIsurely a man and .
girl! There was no mistaking them.
Pomeroy had stolen Q march on Ben
nington. 0r--what was worse-a walk
with Phylys.
The rest Of the morning seemed in
terminable to Bennington. It had
cleared on beautifully. after ell. with
a turquoise sky above. and under foot
a hard earthiness that positively cried
for motoring. But Benningtons 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. stationins
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 happenedf What could
have become Of themf
At 3 o'clock a distant whistle pro-
minutes later the hotel bus drew up
In front Of the door. depositlng Miss
Sklpworth. not to mention her UNI
brella. waterproof. valise. and sum
dry parcels.
"Such a nice day a. rve hadi" she
announced cheerfully to little group
assembled on the hotel piazza. "Whom
should I meet a. got out at the
Grand Central station but my old
friends, the Allertons, just In town
for the dayi We lunched togethee
at the Waldorf and had Z delightful
talk. But. what DO you thlnki Mr..
Selfridge and his partner were both
out Of town and the once closedt
Isn't II the most extraordinary thing
about that telegram
"She's had a lovely time. however.
| thanks to IT," thought Bennington.
rathe: sadly. Somehow. although his
jokes were brilliantly successful, thsy
had not turned out quite to bis salts.
faction.
Grimly he watched Z certain pair
come into sight at last along the drive,
the girl swinging her hat. while ne
youth ambled beside her with jaunti-
ness that struck Bennington - posi-
lively asinlne. Listening anxiously ho
heard them come Into the house. and
= moment later steps attended ~
stairs and stopped At Benningtoa's
door.
MAY come ins" inquired I mascu-
lihe voice. Aud without waiting foe
permission Pomeroy entered the roo0
Ia beaming. giorined, altogethsf H.
\ comprehensible Pomeroy.
"Hello!" he said. srinning ldlotfcal.
", haven't seen you Sefore today
Here. quite unnecessarily. he strodo
across and shook Remington warmly
by the hand. "well. old boy
The reserved. difiident Pomeroy cali
Ing any one "old b0yi"
"r0rk out your congratulations-
every one Of 'em. She accepted me.
tell you. man. Phyiys has accepted
met" f=RS
What else he said in his esnberant
frsnsy the stricken Benningteh eoul1
not quite take In. There wait eo1
deal about Miss Tolsom's angells .:hars
acteristics, Pomeroy's own incrediblo
good fortune. and then . confldsntial
outpourlng on the subject Of On ~
expected couple Of thousand mat had
driftsd In that morning-ths very cap-
ital he had wanted for - long u
order to get into 0reen 3 WaldroDio
real estate ONCE"
"And. do you know. Bud" Pomssoy
volunteered huskily. - he at lsageA
verged toward the door. ''lf lt hadn't
been for that blessed money coming,
! don't believe I'd ever have had tho
courage to propose. II Just made ~
erything possible"
Oddly enough. It was these Iase
words that settled Pomeroy's fate. -
to that time hanging on the balance
Of his listeners distracted mind.
For q moment after the door closed
on his happy, unconscious victim. Bsn-
nington stood struggling nsrcely wlth
the resolution that was gaining poss
session Of him.
Then. squaring his shoulders deter
minedly, "Yes." he said. between hiD
teeth. ITS the only thing to do now
the only thing. for . gentleman 10 d" -
And. seating himself at his writing.
desk. Pomercy's voluntary bensfactcs.
with few strokes Of the pen. coavsres'
ed an April Fools Paradise into 3.
tangible bank account.