South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-14

lieve this Airline Benton and the one
! 1 knew are the same. But
Little and dark" put in Earni
/ estine. eagerly. with a trick OF TIT
ing her head TO one side, and a soft,
drawly way OF speaking"
airline Benton-housekeepi ex-
pert Austin had sagged in his
chair gain, but his brows were still
tensely drawn Her family must
have met with reverses. She was a
social butterfly when 1 met her a
few years ago, all for dancing. dress
| ing and flirting. Ted Byng took me
down 10 the Benton place; and after
wards at a country club dance he
asked me what I thought Of her.
Kids way, you know And I re-
piled, Charming. but useless" Ar
line Benton overheard US"
"Oh. AUSTIN
Yes, naturally she was peeved.
But instead of showing anger she
unmasked all her femme batteries.
My! but it was a whirlwind affair
while II lasted. I ran away to es-
cape"
! Escape what?" demanded Ernes-
! tine with a show of Indignation.
Austin Cakes, / believe you ran
away in defense. And suppose
that poor girl really cared for you
and-the idea of your calling a girl
like Airline Benton uselesS."
Austin looked bewildered. "She
was then charming but useless, just
as l said. And a fiirt," he added.
stubbornly. ''She was trying to get
| square"
Ernestine said no more; but in her
mind was a growing conviction that
she had stumbled on a truly ro-
mantle affair indeed.
Her bachelor brothers explana-
| ton might be truth, but it was not
all the truth. She recalled his in
voluntary show of emotion at the
/ first mention of Airline Benton's
name. She dwelt upon a vision of
the girl relinquishing Austin's photo
/ graph with trembling fingers, turn
/ ing tear-wet eyes from the pictured
features. Thereupon Ernestine cakes
made up her mind 10 turn conspira-
\ tor
The next time the household ex-
pert came to the Cakes apartment
she found a PROSTATE. helpless wom-
an swathed in a blanket on the liv-
/ ing room couch.
I'm so i'll" moaned Ernestine.
I've phoned for my brother, Miss
Benton; and if you'll stay till he
comes. OF course, I'll pay you
for the time. just the same"
She was watching her companion
between half-closed lids.
The charming dark face had
/ flushed and paled again as Airline
| impulsively caught up her furs, with
Il hunted look directed at the door.
The PROSTATE one moaned and
moved restlessly. Cant you do
something's" she pleaded. Its my
stomach-my head-all over. Do
YOU know anything about illness %
I've studied first aid" replied the
other. coming reluctantly forward.
"Of course, 1 won't leave you alone.
Shan't / call a doctor 80
Wait till Austin comes" NUT
ftered Ernestine. mo, / don't want
anything done now I've got a pc
culiar constitution. guess I'm
tired out and ought 10 go South"
She fell into a seemingly heavy
sleep and did not rouse when Aus
tin entered the apartment. So the
two who had parted in bitterness
a few years before met now with no
witness to their startled chances
their timid hand clasps. their fiimsy
pretense Of indifference. which dis
appeared beneath the mounting
pleasure Of seeing each other again.
A more convention meeting would
have found them guarded. But with
Arline's hand on his arm, leading
him away from the sick room, and
Arline's voice murmuring in his ears,
young Cakes found himself strange
~ shaken.
She's asleep" whispered Airline.
she seems very i'll. but I don't un-
derstand the symptoms. She says
she's tired out and ought to go
South"
Austin whistled softly. 81 expect
ed It, know Ernestine. She wants
TO go South! Then I'll be left alone
again"
He met her sympathetic glance
with ready friendiness. Tell me
about yourself. Airline" he said. fer
vently.
I'm a very useful woman now"
said Airline with a glance of demure
challenge.
Agreed" young Cakes heartily
whispered back.
A half hour later Ernestine had to
call them repeatedly before they
heard; and she had ample time 10
lose her cunning smile and assume
a careworn expression before they
came into the living room.
lhRSENhTE NJ FAN