New Britain herald., 1919-08-12
Orchard Inn, Wednesday.

Orchard Inn, Wednesday.
 My world is all in chaos Joan! So much has happened since that awful night when Jimmie Ross came tearing into Captain Wallis camp in that melodramatic fashion, finding me il1 his arms (exact1y like a cheap movie), that I don't know where 10 begin.
 I left off, didn't I, at the point where I tainted and flopped ungrace- fully on the rug before either of my rival swains could catch me. Well, I came to with the neck of my blouse drenched in cold water and my hair all dishevelled.
 Captain Wallis and Jim Ross were standing by-E,ric with a wet towel in his hand; Jimmy with a brandy hasl1-g1arng at each other.
 Now, Dorothy" began Jim soon as I opened an eye, come with ne. I don't know what all this mess means, but I'd rather learn from yol than from this"
 Be careful, Jimmie Ross,' 1 warned as I struggled up and began wildly to pin and pat my hair into order.
 ''Ill thank you, Ross" said Captain Wallis with ominous calm, "to take yourself out of here and to attend to your own affairs, if you have any. l shall see Miss Varick to the Inn. There is no explanation needed, either to you or to anyone else.'
 Judging from the remarks of the clerk at the Inn, I think perhaps Miss Varicl< would prefer to motor back to town with me-
 Eric glared and turned toward him menacingly.
 'Please!' I broke in. Let's have done with this horrible scene. l shall most certainly go back to the Inn if you'll take mo, Captain Wallis. Pm just~-all in--' l felt my nerves and my knees giving again.
 1 have a confused memory of Erie Wallis rushing about getting out the little old tin lizzie. And of Jimmie keeping up a running fire of entreaty for me "to quit this beastly mix-up' and go back to town with him-that he'd put me up with his mother, no matter how late it was; 'she d under stand" Of me rebuking him tearily for misunderstanding everything and daring to allow a lot of fiendish old gossips at the Inn to babble about l a girl who was doing a perfectly busi- nesslike thing" Of Jimmie saying, Never mind" that he'd settle it afterward with Wallis" And of Cap l tain Wallis slowing me into his little 1 rattling fivver and making the best possible speed back to Orchard Inn, i while Jim Ross followed moodily in his brisk roadster. Of my tumbling !! a last into bed after a sniffy cham | bermaid had brought mo sandwiches and milk (which Erie had probably 1 tipped her dollars and dollars to do). | And of laying awake till dawn trying ! to think out my affairs. i
 Things that seem utterly awful as , you lie in the dark going over them 1 miserably in your beatenout mood tighten with the coming of day.
 As I was dressing, l saw a note being slipped under my door. It was from Jim Ross:
 My own dear Dorothy, whether ! you-like e-it-or-not:" it read. '"For Gods sake listen: I'm the best judge i in this affair. Pack your duds and ! let me ruin you back to Lively Beach. 1 I've had it all out with Wallis. He | has given it to me straight and I see i now the whole thing was a business undertaking.
 'I thought at first it was hot old ! love affair. Gosh, in my state of mind, ! l couldn't see how any human being i calling itself a man could fail to be 1 in love with you. But now it's all i clear. For once, it's simply the nov elist and the secretary-he has con- 1 vinccd me. Come on, dear, let's beat |, it. Wallis has gone to town to see