The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-11-04
BAB'S DUPLICITY
BY AGNES q. BRocAN.
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go. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.

line of autos and went down TO sit on
bench before the water An early
moon shone over the ripping waves
and the summer scene was one OF
beauty and calm. But there was no
calm in Tom Webster's heart, for
since that desolated member had set
tied down into one steady ache of
longing, calmness gave place TO sor-
row and anger by turn. When Tom
reached the zenith of his hope In win
ming the hand and heart OF the girl
he loved he had reasonably expected
the assured Joy of betroihal. But
"Babs" was not that kind Of girl. In
fact there was nothing assured about
Babs.
The hour that raised Tom to a
heaven of delight was certain 10 be
followed by several hours of uncer-
tainty and gloom. Babs did not in
tend to be unkind; frankly she de-
clared that she did not understand her
self. I'm just the original Mary,
Mary quite contrary" she told her
lover repentantly.
Babs was always breaking engage
ments and atoning charmingly after
ward. The months of Toms betrothal
left him quite dizzy. He never knew
exactly what Babs would do next, or
how she would welcome him, or, in
deed, If she would give him welcome
at all. So at last. the engagement
was broken. This tragedy occurred
after overstrained nerves had driven
Tommy TO reprove his love concerning
her shortcomings, and the love
would not be reproved. That was all.
Barbara absented herself from the
usual haunts as though she had dis
appeared from the world. Tommy was
consolable-Tommy was desperate.
His pleading notes met with no re-
Spouse.
If he could 60 far away where every
spot would not be eloquent of her pres
ence, poignant with sweet memories
past-but the darned old business held
him. In his last erratic effusion he had
besought Barbara. If she had the
slightest remaining feeling for himself
TO send some sign-to let him come to
her-and the heartless one made no
reply.
Tommy went back through the
shadows of the public park to his car
and swung II savagely from its corner.
The homeward trip was light and
speedy, then-ye gods from the rear
Of the machine came startled cry.
Tom turned in his seat and stared. A
child sat on the back seat blinking at
him. a goden-curIed fairy-sort of
child.
Where" she demanded, "is my
daddy?"
Gosh !" Tommy exclaimed. he shut
off the engine, show did you get in
back there?"
The little girl whimpered:
81 s'eep," she explained. "a s'eep on
back seat. ] want my daddy"
Tenderly Tom lifted the volunteer
passenger to place beside him. She
had climbed in. he decided. while the
car was parked under the trees. Prob
ably she had taken his for her daddy's
car and then had fallen asleep on the
cushions. But now he was in a fix
Tommy was a diplomat. "Pm going
to stop here and buy you lollipOp,"
he told the child, "then I'll take you
to daddy; wait"
Contentedly Helen-Jean, as she pro-
claimed herself, waited.
Tommy was just in time. His an
20 hn nrly
brought immediate response. Anxiety
had been felt regarding the little girls
disappearance Would he be kind
enough 70 bring her back at once to
the pavillon-or-this after hurried
conference-would II be convenient
Rose terrace? That was her home.
Tommy decided to take his charge d.
rectlv home.
When Tommy carried the little girl
up the fower-bordered path to her
home her arms clasped his neck and
her golden curls rested against his own
dark pate. The housemaid who an
swered TOmmie's ring directed him to
rear garden; surely, the friends Of
the lost one were not unduly alarmed.
But there on the rear rose terrace he
saw slim Whitehead figure. girls
figure so gracefully like to another,
that TommIe's loving heart hammered
painfully: then the figure was coming
toward him and no one else was near.
"Babs % he whispered unbelievlngly.
A demure and humbled Babs reached
her arms TO the child.
"Helen-Jean. darling" she coaxed.
"come TO Aunt Barbara"
But Helen-Jean. darling, evidently
inherited her aunt's perverseness.
won't" she briefly but emphatical-
ly remarked.
"I'm afraid" Babs Insisted, that
you will have to-"
Then in some joyous'y bewildering
fashion Barbara's arms. covering Hell
en-Jean's chubby ones. cncircled Tom
mics neck. while with unbelievable
rapidity his own arms closed about the
slim figure ms well as the chubby one.