New-York tribune., 1920-12-19

SpOOlleu every IlNle Jney were con-
tiguous. That they were in love
with each other, as Ellen had said.
was easy to see. The wherefore was
more Of puzzle.
Bobs hirsute adornment having
been disturbed by his spouse's
digits during one of the orgies, he
went upstairs ten minutes before dim
nsr time to effect repairs. Mrs. Bob
was left alone on the davenport. In
performance Of his social duties,
Billy went over and sat down beside
her. She was not, like Miss Muffett,
frightened away, but terror or some
other fiend rendered her temporarily
dumb. The game Mr.. Bowen was
making mis- fifth attempt to pry open
a conversation when Bob came back
To the impartial observer the
scene on the davenport appeared
harmless enough. There was gen
erous neutral zone between Billy and
Flo, that being an abbreviation of
Mrs. Bob's given name, which, as
few may suspect, was Florence.
Billy was working hard ana his face
was flushed with the effort The
flush may have aroused Bob's sus-
picions. Al any rate, he strodc
across The room, scowling almost
audibly, shot glance at Billy that
would have made the Kaiser vince,
halted nlagniticently in front Of his
wife and commanded her to accom-
pany him to the hall
Billy's flush became ac. nigh. He
was about to get up and break a
chair when a look from Ellen stopped
him. She was at his side before the
pair Of Bobs had skidsed out of the
room.
"Please dent mind" she begged.
Hes crazy. l forgot to tell you that
he's insanely jealous"
Il understood you to say he had
sense Of humor."
1T doesn't work where Flo's CON
cerned. If he sees her talking to
man he goes wild
with astonshment, probably"
said Billy.
You're a nice boy" said Ellen
irrelevantly.
WINNER was announced and
~ Mr.. Bowen was glad to observe
that Flo's terrestrial body was
still intact. lie was glad, too, to
note that Bob was no longer frotn-
ing. He learned for the first time
that the ease" and Kathryn were Of
the party. Mrs. Mcdonald had want
ed to make sure of Walters presence;
hence the presence Of his crush.
Kathryn e:ggled when she was
presented to Billy. 1t made him un-
comfortable, and he thought for
moment that a couple Of studs lad
fallen out. He soon discovered, how
ever, that the giggle was perma-
nent, just as much a part of
Kathryn AS her fraction of a nose.
He looked forward with new inter
est to the soup course, but was dis
appointed to find that she could ne
gotiate it without disturbing The
giggle or the linen
He next centered his attention on
Wilma ard Edith. Another dis D.
polntrent was in store. There were
as many and as large oysters in
Wilna's soup as in any ones. She
ate them all and, so far as appear
ances went, was the same Wilma.
He had expected that Edith would
either diet or plunge But Edith
was as prosaic in her consumption
Of victuals as Ellen, for instance. or
Aunt Louise.
lie must content himself for the
present with Aunt Louise. She was
sitting directly opposite, and he had
IN unobstructed view of the widest
part he had ever seen in woman's
hair.
Ogden Avenue" he said to him
self.
Aunt Louise was telling about
her experiences and Aunt Harriet's !
among the heather Of Peoria Street.
You never would dream there
we're such people!" said she.
Il suppose most Of them are for
"'en born," supposed her brother.
who wsrs Mr.. Mcdonald.
Practically all Of them" said
Aunt Louise.
Billy wanted to ask her whether
she had ever missionaried among the
Indians. He thought possibly an at
tempt to scalp her. had failed BY
a narrow margin.
Between courses Edith worked
hard to draw out his predicated
and Wilma worked as
hard to make him sound his low
notes. Their labors were in vain.