The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-24

them was little Miss Hall. her blonde
head bobbing in and out among the
swaying couples. At her right and left
was a girl. Her bright eyes held her
two victims in the doorway.
Miss Cunningham. this is Mr. Tyler
Ramps. Mr.. Moran. Miss Cunningham.
Miss Drew-Mr. Moran. Mr.. Ramps"
Would you like to dancer" said Miss
Cunningham. and raised limpid eyes
to Tylers.
"Why-I-you see don't know how.
1 just started to"
'Oh, that's all right" Miss Cunning
ham interrupted. cheerfully. Wen
try it." She stood in position and there
seemed to radiate from her a certain
friendliness. certain assurance and
understanding that was as calming as
it was stimulating. In a sort of daze
Tyler found himself moving over the
floor in time to the music. He didn't
know that he was being led
The music ceased. A spat of APP
plause. Tyler mopped his head, and
his hands. and applauded too. like one
in dream. They were Off again for
the encore.
Five minutes later he found himself
seated next Miss Cunningham in a
chair against the wall. And for the
III OF bllIiC SlAAC6 AlSAl meeting Tie AlllSAA
of agony cleared before his gaze and he
saw Miss Cunningham as a tall. slim.
dark haired girl. with a CLINT of mis-
chief in her eye, and a mouth that
looked as If she were trying to keep
from smiling.
why don't your" Tyler asked, and
was aghast.
why don't WHAT"
Smile II you want to-"
At which the CLINT in her eye and
the hidden smile on her lips met and
spanked and she laughed. Tyler
laughed too. and then they laughed to-
gether and were friends.
Where are you FROM"
why. I'm from Texas. ma'am. Mar
vim. Texas"
when do you think the war will
end. Mr.. Kamps?"
He told her. gravely. He told her
| many other things. He told her about
Texas, at length and in detail
They danced again. Miss Cunning
ham introduced him to some other
girls. and he danced with them. and
| they in turn asked him about the sta
| ton, and Texas. and when he thought
| the war would end. And altogether he
| had a beautiful time of it, and forgot
completely and entirely about Gunner
Moran. 1t was not until he CALAMITY
escorted Miss Cunningham downstairs
for refreshments that he remembered
his friend. He had procured hot choc-
olate for himself and Miss Cunning
ham; and sandwiches. and delectable
chunks of caramel cake. And then he
had remembered. A look of horror
settled down over his face. He gasped.
"W-what's the matter?" demanded
| Mic- C,ppfr oh
"My-my friend. I forgot all about
him" He regarded her with stricken
| eyes.
| oh, that's all right" Miss Cunning
ham assured him for the second time
| that evening. We'll Just go and find
him. He's probably forgotten all about
you, too"
! And for the second time she was
right. They started on their quest. 1t
was a short one. Off the refreshment
room was a great. gracious comfortable
room all deep chairs. and soft rugs.
and hangings. and pictures and shaded
lights. All about sat pairs and groups
of sailors and girls. talking. and laugh
ing and consuming vast quantities OF
cake. And in the centre of just such a
group sat Gunner Moran. lolling al his
ease In a rosy velvet upholstered
chair. Four particularly pretty girls,
and two matrons surrounded him. And
as Tyler and Miss Cunningham up
preached him he was saying: well,
| IT'S got so 1 can't sleep in anything but
a hamick. Yessirl Why. when I was
| fifteen years old I was" He caught
TyIer's eye. "HelIoi" he called genial
| ly. Meet me friend" This to the bevy
surrounding him. Il was just tellin'
these ladies here"
And he was off again. All the tales
that he told were not necessarily true.
| But that did not detract from their
| thrill. Moran's audience grew as he
| talked. And he talked until he and
Tyler had to run all the way to the
Northwestern station for the last train
that would get them on the Station be-
| fore shore leave expired. Moran, on
leaving. shook hands like a presidential
candidate.
They did not talk much in the train.
| 'e and Tyler. 1t was sleepy lot of
oys that that train carried back to
| he Great Central Naval Station. Tyler
vas undressed and in his hammock
wen before Moran. the expert. He
would not have to WOO sleep tonight.
Finally Moran. too. had swung himself
up to his precarious nest and relaxed
With a tired. happy grunt.
Quiet again brooded over the great
dim barracks. Tyler felt himself Slip
ping off to sleep. deliciously. She would
be there next Saturday. Her first
name she had said was Myrtle. An
awful pretty name for a girl. Just
| about the prettiest he had ever heard.
Her folks invited jackies to dinner at
the house nearly every Sunday. Maybe,
if they gave him thirty-six hours leavs
next time
Hey, Sweetheart" sounded in q
Kissing whisper from Moran's ham
mock.
"what?"
Say. was that four steps and then
| turn-two. or four and two steps t the
side? l kinda forgot"
20. shut up!" growled Monlcker.
from the other side Let a fellow