The Press., 1920-01-01
HOUSE HUNTING
By ELIZABETH. DE BOER.
tCupyrIgnt, 1915, Mcclure Newspaper Syn
 

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 dicate.)
 "V'hy, hello JO!" Gilbert Gleason ex- tended warm hard to Josephine Will by. It was indeed 8 treat to meet her on the boulevard. He had seen her for & few moments only during her last visit to Chicago and that was three months ago.
 Bert! '" UncOncealed surprise and pleasure glowed in JOsephine's dark eyes as she placed ] slender hand in his. There was a pause, then she con- tinued:
 "When did you aTrive?"
 Late last night-too late to call you up, but I was going tO do so this morn ing. This is a wonderful surprise, Jo- finding you up here. I don't want to be curious," he had forgotten that he was still holding her hand, and when she made slight move lie dropped it aWk- Wardly, and went ou. "I don't want to be curious, but really, what are you doing up here?'
 w ny III uOuSo-uuH Jug.
 "IIouse-hUnting $ that so? Funny, but 1 am too." They both laughed, but it was forced laughter, and when their eyes met the girls wavered and heavy laShes duSted a pink flush that crept up her cheek Then suddenly they lift ed and Josephine sl,nke:
 "Cant I take you doWntoWn-or wherever you're going?" she added, uoubtfuily.
 "That's mighty nice of you, Jo, but l tuid my chauffeur to be back in about ten minutes, so I guess I'd better Wait."
 "We ell, anyway, Bert, you must come to see ne before you leave, that is, if you're here long er"ugh to spare me an evening""
 'Tm staying indefinitely and will certainly see you again soon.
 She said gooG-by with a forced smile started the car and drove down the boulevard. The smile disappeared and d froNn not forced. slipped into it's place. She lifted a tan hand and found tear on her cheek. Then her dark eyes flashed and she said aloud:
 Josephine WilDy, aren't you ashamed of yourself? Why shouldn't he be house hunting? Hasn't he a right to get married without you getting, getting-ob. I wish I'd never promised sister to help find house." and she burst into ears.
 Gilbert Gleason watched the car out of sight.
 'IHouSe-huntng That's just my luck. No sooner fall in love with girl than someone else gets her-all my plans, wonderful plans, for noth- ing,"
 He thrust his hands into his pOck cts and ;is the car stopped before him, Ortcrcd:
 "Bucll to the Biltmore, Ted-' then relaxed and me1itated.
 q wonder who the chap is-lucky man. What a fool I am. Had no busi- ness getting house before a wife anyway. love! How I've wanted her -cvcr since that day in Chicago wanted her to work for, to love; and now! I'll be man. I'll see her again and we'll be friends" He fingered over the word "frienls."
 Jo sighed softly 2S she replaced the telcphona on the table and returned to the drawing room, where she seated crself at the piano and played dream fly, dst&ntly. She was as beautiful as the melody she played. A wealth of auburn hair crowned her 0~3; face. At ,Ec belt of her white georgette gown vas a cluster of forget-ne-nots-on had fallen on the bench. Suddenly the music blurred before her and lean ing forward on the piano she mur- murcd: q can't love him-I mustn't but I do, I dO." The doorbell rang and Mir. Gleason was announced. "Im so glad you came, Bert" : There was a quiver in her voice as she Nrlrum 'd him. "I was wondering how I should pass the iong evening. It's too rainy to motor and there is no party on for tonight" She laughed and waved him to a chair
 lies probably in France" Bert l thought.
 "S0metmcs one does get tired of 1 she added softly. Bert studied her in N!ence, admired the so;t hair, noticed the artistic i hands, beautiful, unaidcd by jewels.
 "D'you know, Jo.' he said mpulsive- ly. "you'rc beautiful" | "Why Eert," she laughed. II was 1 just th:nking what handsome man yo1 arc.'
 "Iantsome is as handsom" does, i he uliH-nd. "You remember that" ''Yourn fishing, you naughty boy and l absolutely refuse to make you 1 conrctrd.'
 "Thr"e is only one way you could 1 make ne cOnceited. Jo.' He ben; n~arrr and she almost whispered | "HnW?"
 There was a pause. Then, with q 1 piano and began playing
 "Whut a cad a!n,' Bert murmured i "Jo: .IO-Tm SOrry--I wouldn't have | offended you for the whole World.' She | bod c"n~Cd playing and was looking uI | at him.
 "Why. Bert it's for me to apologize couldn't help asking. I was hopinn against hope, wondering whether could hnve been mistaken about 1he--- 1 the holsc hunting.' Then. desperate 1 ly. "Dh Bert. are v"u frce?" "Tr"e" His big hands wcrt cl nchrd. His head thrust furwar} ''T'rcr' Of course I'm 1rn"--but you = NO mo-" A new light Shone in hr' 1 ...A,.. .sl.1,n not flnn---I nm Nn1lr.