The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-10-30
With the Help
of His Friends
By II. LOUIS RAYBOLD

needles beside Tom. "Where's Court?'
he asked.
Chasing a skirt!" Toms voice held
utter disgust ITS the limit. Here
we fellows come up here on camp
ing trip and the first thing Court does
is to fall for a pretty face staying over
at the hotel. It's playing the deuce
with our plans"
"Righto," returned Jack, chucking
pine cone into the lake. ''Per sched-
ule, we should now be catching black
bass on Lost Loon pond"
1.-THE funny part of 1t u.s." unused
Tom, "the lady in question turns an
iceberg shoulder on Court. happened
over on the steamer dock and, take
It from me. she has no use for him.
Jack sat up quickly. "All the more
reason that we should nip it In the
bud before he's smitten beyond hope"
'Listen here, boy. What's the first
thing a man objects to in q pretty
woman"
"Her belonging to somebody else!"
replied Tom promptly.
"Prezackly, old top. Same with
woman. She wants to think she's the
first and only. Now bark to my little
scheme. You put Court wise-don't
tell him how you get the information,
that isn't necessary-to the fact that
the beautiful girl Is engaged. Get it?
Engaged. Only it would spoil her good
times up here If the men got wise.
For my end of it, I'll hint to Miss WI
lis that Court is not what he seems,
that he has never got over youthful
love affair. Still loves the fair hand
that gave him the mitten. Get me?"
Il get you," said Tom, 'but why do
you draw the pleasant end of it? And
how" he continued suspiciously, "do
you know her name, and how can you
manage a conversation with herr"
"Wcll," said Jack, slightly embar-
raised, II happen to have met the
girl she's staying with, Sally Dalton.
Our canoes bumped and-oh, I'll man.
age all right. Only, for the love of
Pete, let's be speedy about it or Wen
be too late with our assistancew
Few schemers find their opportuni-
ties lying so neatly in wait as did Tom
and Jack when they padded over to
The hotel that evening, apparently
Yured by the seductive strains Of the
th.ee-piece orchestra playing for the
weekly hop. First they spied Court
leaning against q veranda pillar, gaz-
ing morosely at a thin young moon.
Then on the lawn they deserted Mir
lam Willis in the midst of little
group Of men.
"Beat it, Tom," cried Jack, 'over to
Court, and, so long as you're in it at
all, 60 in strong. I'll wait my chance
with Miss Willis"
Twenty minutes later, Tom had sue
ceeded in reaching the point he de-
sired In his conversation with Court.
"She's some looker!" he was saying
automatically. Then he set off his
bomb. "Her f1ance is lucky man y
Even in the darkness Tom could feel
Courts piercing glance. miss VIII
lis-engaged?"
"Oh, years and years-three years ~
Tom threw it of casually. Then,
goaded by Courts silence, he elaborat-
ed. "She's keeping 1t dark up here
! for various reasons-but she's really
absolutely infatuated with him."
Look here, old chap"-Court's voice
sounded strangely broken-'did she
she didn't get you to tell me all thisY'
"No-oh, no." Tom retreated in
alarm. "Only-it seemed as If you
ought to know"
Tom felt Courts hand gripping his
I shoulder. Thanks, Tom," he said.
you've been genuine friend" Then
Tom found himself alone.
Tom gazed after him doubtfully. In
terfering with loves young dream-by
George, he didn't know about it. Then
his spirits rose. Tomorrow at this
time their tents would be pitched on
Lost Loon pond.
/ Meanwhile Jack, after a series of
successful maneuvers which afterward
he recalled with pride, succeeded in
rounding up Sally Dalton, having a
dance with her, getting an introduc-
ton to Miriam Willis, suggesting to
! the latter that they sit out dance on
the veranda.
Then, after a few remarks on the
beauty of the night and the numerous
| ness of the stars, Jack adroitly intro.
duced the subject of Court. "Poor
Court" he said, "he tries so hard to
enjoy himself. That affair a few years
ago. He's never got over ftp'
Indeed! How interestingly and
Miriam's cool voice was more than
merely polite. do tell me about it. >
| "Well. it-er-seems the girl Tilted
him. But he never stopped loving her
Says he never will. Unusual, isn't 1t p
"Very!" returned Miriam dryly, as
one who wishes to imply that her ex
periepce with men has been far other
wise docs he know you are telling
me this?''
| "Oh, no." and Jacks voice was
shocked. Hes very sensitive about
it-never has mentioned her name He
simply goes to pieces whenever he
speaks OF it."