The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-04
EIE. DAILY
SHORT STORY
Jerry Decides
BY .EEoLA DREW

BY EEoLA DREW
Copyright 1919 b, the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.J
sII suppose they sent me here be-
cause ] was named after you,
Uncle Gerald" Jerry dug into
lis grapefruit aggressiyely u hate
Gerald Didn't they ever cal you
Ieny2
Men do responded Marbury alb
lsertly. AN Of his answers to Jerry
had been absentminded ones for the
PAR 40 weeks. He had run out OF
details the second day after Jerry's
sudden arrival
doesn't she?"
Mafbury frowned and wiped off a
giobule OF juice from his waistcoat.
.fyon shouldn't eat that in bath
Tub, old man. Cent you be careful?"
i Jerry pushed back his plate com
tortably.
tTm Through" he announced
what are we going to do today?"
Marbufy read his newspaper, pre-
tending not to hear. AS an entertain
meht committee or one for Margarets
one and only he had .officiated for
two weeks, and the thing was getting
on his nerves. There was no special
reason why his sister should have
sent Jerry on for month. She knew
he lived IN an exclusive bachelor
apartment with one Jap manservant
Kato had left the first week after
Jerry had brought in a dozen fresh
crabs and put them in the ice box.
mo delight in undisciplined youth
he had said smilingly. me go reluct-
antly but soon"
Since then Marbury had been at the
mercy Of Jerry. He had constituted
himself private secretary and house
4 boy protein. when he was not in the
basement cumming, with the en-.
gineer; or on the roof sending off
beroplanes to the Joy Of Madison ave
niue. When his uncle returned from
The club before dinner he would give
q report on the days calls.
aThat tailor wants you to pay the
spring bill anyhow. Says you can let
the summer one go till fall. told
him you had the measles badly and
had left for the country. And Mrs.
iJocelyn asked If you could go to her
house party at Newport next week,
and ] told her yes, II there was good
fishing. That right? And fellow
named Bobbie Newell wants you to
sall, him up at the club and tell him
how about that supper with
sCut IT, said Marbury briefly. III
sallr him. Did Miss miGrd call up?'
mo, but l called her four times"
, Erinned Jerry. Gee, that's some girl,
Uncle Gerald. She said could call
her up any old time liked when 1t
got slow here for me, and she thinks
RS awful for you to leave me up here
alone, and she's invited me down to
Lakewood as long as like, and she'll
ZONE in herself and get me-"
Pine thing to do cut me out over
my own phone with the prettiest girl
{ know Marbury said keenly. ANY
body else?"
yep. Mrs. Hamiltons back and
wants you to come over as soon as
gou get in. told her you couldn't
because. we were going to the the
atre tonight What's up?"
Marbury reached the telephone in
pne stride and called hotel number
while Jerry stared at him.
tHello, Mrs. Hamilton, please.
What2 Then page her"
That had happened two nights ago
md Jerry had dined alone twice in
the little private dining room down
stairs. He didn't like It. Somehow he
resented Mrs. Hamilton. His uncle
lad been moody and cheerful by fits
Ind starts. He got out large mount
ed photograph and stared at it long.
( So did Jerry after his departure and
he did not like her. She was very
lovely, in evening dress, leaning back
In a carved ecclesiastical sort OF
chair, very slender and dreamy.eyed
and gracious, but Jerry summed her
lp In one word; she looked sort OF
tsfumpy," he thought. Mrs. Hamil-
TOMS admirers called it dangerous
grace, but Jerry had no chivalry. Over
ON the mantel stood another poto-
Eraph he liked better-a girl standing
Ga an old boat landing in sweater
short sport skirt and white tam smn-
tng back at one, her hands deep in
her pocbets. This was Nan Millard,
and Jerry did som= I'D thinking on
her account. Before the coming Of
Mrs. Hamilton she had been Mar
bury,s principal concern in life.
''Did Miss Willard" Jerry began
md stopped short, lingering the pearl
studs on the bed. He had almost
thought out loud. II mean, Uncle
Gerald. which are you going to
narry3"
Marbury's fingers fumbled over his
Ties in the drawer. He missed Kato's
illustrations.
g N"I like Nan the best" Jerry added
In what he tried to make an off-hand
manner.
80, do I, old man, come to think
Of IT," Marbury answered between his
teeth. Trouble is, the ladies have the
prefercnce. You can't club them and
ace for the nearest honeymoon cave
you know. Miss Millard is not &C;
repting a man with only ten thousand
year. She lacks the essential femin-
Inc quality Of sympathy which is a
bit beyond you. isn't 1t, Jerry"
HAS the widow gotit?" asked Jerry
earnestly. Narbury stared at him
llxedly,
slow do you know she's widow?"
IF shes Mrs Somebody, you