The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-12-27
THREE BUTTONS
By VERA 7. RO0

SggsgSSeSReSSSSe5 go f1Ho 20 sl5''
.convrisht. 1919. McCluref
tSop' dicate.y
Pinto the sand
while in deep thoY ON HE ' noao
habit with Ross klf over a., ana ,a aa,.
ton was more thi Audrey Colling-
ting acquainted klity more remote
wood was p
than ever. Ad jerked to his head
Suddenly n treant curls into or.
to draw ths FITS availed him little
der. but hi as hard hit. but what
The big when he couldn't meet
was the kparition? Senator Col
this fyShghter was staying at the
lingwo3 Beachcroft." while Ross
fashioe eeks' lien on the top floor.
had e incest boarding house in
fro1fe. There were ways. Of
thapd Ross had tried them. He
cd 1.-THE hotel dances assiduously,
ITO run across a mutual &C
6nce. At last. one evening, his
Aeyes fell upon familiar figure
brilliant foyer-the mother of
Nd college mate. Bob Denton.
PISS literally bounced upon the good
". When he learned she knew the
alingwoods he had difficulty in re-
&rainfng himself from selling the
lacid little woman in his arms and
xracing with her to the ballroom. where
he had just seen Audrey whirling in
the arms of a stranger. Later he
wished he had done 1t. After dig
nifed ~. II the entire house they
: seN< Audrey had gone to her
ros day, when Ross was due
to ca at IA his life saver, Mrs. Den
ton, she was i'll. On the next visit the
Dentons had quit the hotel.
Then the SHADES arrived from the
West. Arabella Slade was an old
friend of Ross married sister. She in.
vited him to dine and he accepted at
once. His heart pounded when he saw
Arabella and her mother bow in a
friendly way to Senator Collingwood
and his daughter.
He had been hidden to dine with the
SHADES again and was bordering the
matter, his toes ever busy in the
sand. A black object decorated with
one white button rewarded his in
~dustry. Carelessly he bent and tugged
a serpentine strip of black chamois
from the clutching sand. It was a
money belt with a broken buckle, and
held large sum Of money.
"Some poor overseas chap" he NUT
tered as he laid the money across
bare knees to count it. His hands
the bottom?
A clue! A postal savings certificate
Ross bent close to decipher the
washed-out signature: civilian 8
.Collingwood" was written upon the
certificate, which had been purchased
at the local post Office a few months
previous.
Excited, infatuated, Ross for the
moment failed to reason that postal
savings and riches did not go together
He instantly believed the money be
lopged to Senator Collingwood. 1t was
no more than natural that he should
wave a peremptory hand as Audrey gal
Hoped back up the beach. She drew
up with much saving on the bit, hel
finely-marked eyebrows arched witt
surprise.
"She remembers me-" was his frs
exultant thought as he held thu
money towards her. Her blue eye!
rounded.
ibid you find it?" she asked in thu
vo;oo In tho world
"Yes," he answered, little INSTEAD
lily. .Tt belongs to William s. Col
lingwood. Is he relative Of yours?'
Her horse was curvetting, so III
couldn't tell whether she resented hi
knowledge Of her name.
sNoeI think not" she replied
thoughtfully. my fathers name i
Benjamin." Her eyes appreciated hi
bronzed athletic shoulders.
"Oh!" was his non-committal re
Spouse.
She flashed him heavenly smile be
fore her horse whirled away. Ros
didn't dine with Arabella that eve
ming.
Audrey and her father walked VI
Main street. The senator wished yer.
much to learn who civilian C0llin9
wood" was.
Strolling in the opposite direcrol
was a young chap in white flannel
who could tell the senator all aDou
his namesake. Ross heart Dea
quickly. Would she recognize him
She did more; she stopped and IN
PRODUCED "Mr. Ross Balloon" to ne
father. Hadn't she been to AraDeli
Slade and learned all about him9
It was happy man who led the wa
to a tent by the water. where cap
Bill.n the lobster fisherman, lived
lonely life. ).
.,rwas every cent had In tn
world" the stopped old man repeate
- the senator what he had aireau
to,d Ross and the postmaster IN "a
morning. exhibiting the money Del
deliehtedly. Sunny bout them wnlt
hsttons, too. gettin' the young cnap
,tention. You see. the Diack QUE
vore On and sewed on some from 2
a. hs~<-uvish he'd take some pd.