Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-12-10
HER MISTAKE
BY IRENE E. HAYES.

ling about u man. IL wa"
when there were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ones-in Silverwaters. AS for the men'
we'll. it depended on whom they sa"
first. 1t seemed as though Allcla were
TO be victor this time, since, as sue
maliciously told Caroline, MIR. Barton
was to spend the coming weeK-ehu
with her folks.
Alicia Grant was a ~statuesque
blonde. She gave one the impression
of being ever cool and ump
Caroline was of the tawny type-reu
golden hair, Carmen complexion, tenn
per and all. Betty Murray was thelr
go-between in quarrels, besides an Ell
fective foil for their respective charms
From childhood it had been so. Bet
tvs home, appropriately enough sep
arated those of her two friends,
like theirs, the lawn sloped to the
river from which the town derived Its
name.
II do wish l weren't so plainF"
Betty wanted to compete in this par
ticular affair. She had seen Mr..
Keene Barton's picture, and for one
solid week had listened to his praise
as sung by Alicia. Heretofore the
victims had never appealed to her as
being real, worthwhile men. But now
why. Mr.. Barton had just the right
kline of wavy black hair, the ideal
chin and nose!
Still there were possibilities. 1t was
a dear little heart-shaped, rosy flushed
face peeping at her from the mirror.
The velvet blue eyes could look almost
satanic and the nose was saucily tilt
ed, the mouth deceitfully demure.
There are no homely women in the
world, only those who do not know
how" That quotation inspired her.
I'm going to the city"
Having no family to say her no,
only a grandparent who always said
yes-she did 90. If l should enumer-
ate the things she bought you might
get the impression that she was go
ing to partake in some theatricals.
No sooner had she returned than
Alicia phoned. For a moment her
plans seemed all for naught.
News, Bets, dear. Dad has sent
word that Mr.. Barton will arrive to-
night instead of tomorrow! His things
are here now"
"May l come over and size him up
by his trunks?" Betty's voice sounded
gay over the wire"
And another inspiration came to her
during the examination Of the stran-
gers luggage.
"Oh. Liccy dear, lend me your new
bag; mine is too shabby to take with
me when | go to cousin Sues" The
bag was brought and Alicia thanked.
"And now I'll be going. l hope Mr..
Barton will prove the man his trunk
indicates" With this enigmatic re-
mark she was gone.
Living alone with only a grandpar-
ent has it's compensations, especially
when one wants to be alone.
"Grampie. dear, let me fix you a
nice something and tuck you up for a
Sleep" "Grampie" fell into the trap
neatly.
You'd think she was expecting some
intimate caller to see her preen when
once alone in her room. She donned
the flimsiest of negligees-the kind
they wear only in the movies-all rib
bons and lace and rosettes. More
over, she used one of her recent pur-
chases-an eyebrow pencil.
1t was perhaps 10 O'Clock when the
door bell rang. Betty received the IN
expected caller, who, when he could,
a%pologiZed.
"I'm awfully sorry to intrude-
but" 1t t%ranspired then that Betty
had taken his bag by mistake.
what a lot Of trouble I've caused
you" She was blushing most charm
ingly. He was watching a little curl
try to kiss a dimpIe neal the moist red
lips. All! the attempt had been sue
cessful. Betty brushed the audacious
thing away.
"Tm afraid I'm keeping you from
your beauty Sleep"
"Oh, beauty sleep! Early morning
dips in the river are so much more
beneficial. Don't you think sol" The
dimples winked.
Keen Barton evidently thought so.
At any rate, he was "Johnny-on-the-
spot" next morning.
"Yes, 1 enjoyed my SWIM" In an
swer to Alicia's query at breakfast
later.
"Fibber." he hadn't been in the wa
ter any longer than it took to swim
to the Murray landing place. Alicia
became uneasy-he wasn't responding
to her smiles.
The reception that evening was q
very brilliant occasion. Alicia wore
an artistic black gown. Caroline
well. Caroline was a Cleopatra for
gorgeouSneSS.
81 wonder why Betty came in her
grandfather's. old barouche when the
machine-Oh, look, Liccy, who's that
with Mr.. Barton?"
Could this pansy-eyed imp be Betty