The Washington times., 1920-07-29

w yHEN the boy ushered me into
M Jim's office I didn't find him
w alone. with him was the
dear old soul had first met at
Valerie Cosby's few days before.
"Why, it's Uncle Ned" ! called
out. as inetinctively as II Mr.. Pet
tingill were my kinsman or life
long friend. ~ am glad to see you.
How's Aunt Mollie?"
While I was speaking 7 planted
kiss on the top of Jim's head In an
unembarrassed fashion I'm not in
the habit Of feeling or showing when
strangers are about. And Uncle
Neds shraWd, keen, intensely blue
eyes envelopcd me in the same
warm, approving fashion the big
hand showed when it swallowed
mine in greeting.
my brides right smart" he said
"She's traipsing about with our Val
today. And she tells me you had n
wonderful time yesterday in that
little car you drive like a regular
expert. ! guess you three gals cal
culate to have some pretty good
times together while we camp on
this trail"
eve do" replied. eve do. in
decd, Aunt Mollie didn't have one
bit better time yesterday than
did. and tomorrow We're going to
do il again"
"No. you aren't; not Just pre-
Cisclv the same" said Uncle Ned,
strokinc his white mustache. "To-
morrow I'm going to desert the boys
for the gals. and you'll find an ex-
ira passenger for your party and
your car. SO long, children. I'll be
running along to see If my bride
got little Val into any mischief at
lunch"
And with n courtly bow for each
of us he seized his wide gray soft
hat and made for the door. Jim
flung himself to his feet at once
and took his guest out
When he returned he made me a
little bow in friendly imitation Of
Uncle Neds, Strengthening up alb
ruptly with n wry smile for his own
awkwardness.
NOT THE OLD SCHOOL.
mo use. ] don't belong to the
splendid old school and can't
cope with Uncle Ned Isn't he a
wonder" he demanded, adding with
a little tweak Of my ear. "And
now, Mrs. Harrison, will you tell
me to what l am indebted for the
pleasure and honor of your COM
pany? Have you the little car out
side? It's n bit early. but I may be
able to start before long"
mo" I replied, careless OF the car
which once gave me so much joy.
"I found yesterday that II still
hurts. my ankle to drive. So after
I've kept tomorrow's engagement
l.
disappoint I'm not going to use
the car again for a week or so.
had lunch with your little field
daisy and / came here to find out
about your visit from her"
Jim looked at me searchingly. his
eyes seeming to pry into my inner
most thoughts.
"If she told you about II. why
bring it up again." he said
Just because she told me" I
began.
But Jim interrupted. leaning for
ward in his chair and putting slow
emphasis on each word:
"Surely. Anne. you've seen that the
child doesn't interest me. She's n
colorless little nonentity with whom
you insist on pairing me OFT when
you arrange your-eNcursions with
your old friend, Rooth. 7 have to
put up with II. But I'm the ono to
be hurt-not you. I've done moth
ing to Justify the little goose in
thinking, in supposing-- oh,
hang 1t all. I didn't want her break
ing in here. and ] think she saw
that in short order"
As tho light of Jim's words dawn
cd on me I gave n mental gasp, and
did some arithmetic of the sort
known as putting two and two to-
gether. OF course, when Daisy
spoke OF trying to rctaliate and
gasped out that she couldn't take
what was mine, ] thought of my
ring-not OF my husband. When
she told me that she'd been to
Jim's office thought II was to re-
store the ring-not TO try to steal
Jiml But his words made II clear.
Last night. over the bridge table
where Daisy and Jim discovered In
playing for stakes their hrst taste
in comomn. she had met him as an
equal. For the nrst time Jim had
been cordial to her-respectfuL