Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-03-10
THE SECRET
POCKET
By WALTER ]. DELANEY

mented Mrs. Laura Delevan sincere
ty. But look at your raincoatI"
ut is nothing considering the serv-
ice rendered" bowed Rodney Cleve
aud he was the courtly gentleman
complete as he lifted his hat and drew
aside discreetly, as the lady reached
the steps of her palatial home and re-
warded his attentions with an admir-
ing glance.
Never since the days of good old
Queen Bess of Merrie England, when
Sir Walter Raleigh set the example
young Cleve had now followed. had n
more delicate compliment been paid to
womankind Coming down the street,
Cieve had seen the Delevan automo-
bile halted with Jar directly in the
middle of the road.
Something broken" announced the
chauffeur, and Cleve stepped to the
curb. Mrs. Delevan, fair and forty.
had pushed open the door of the ma
chine.
Can you not get nearer to the curb,
John?" she inquired petulantly.
impossible, ma'am," came the def
mite reply. THE power is gone and
it's something serious"
Rodney Geve knew Mrs. Delevan by
sight. For two months she had been
a bugaboo in his life without knowing
1t. He had met her niece, bright, pref
ty Patty Delevan. who lived with her,
al
deeply In love with her and had re-
ceived some encouragement In return,
but Patty, while she had allowed him
to see her home on two occasions, had
parted with him at the vestibule door
and had never invited him to call.
Then a friend had enlightened Cleve
Mr.. Delevan is high and mighty
descendant Of the very oldest Puritan
stock" this Informant said, "and Mrs.
Delevan is social leader. As to
Patty, they guard and guide her as
If she We're some princess, crowd off
the fellows, circumscribe her list OF
acquaintance and frown on the least
sign of an attachment"
Ii was no marvel, therefore, as Cleve
found himself in a position to serve
this formidable ogress that he was
inspired to a remarkable act He had
whipped off his ralncoat swiftly: he
had spread it out from the curb to the
step of the automobile, had extended
his hand and the lady had thus safely
evaded the soil and wet of the muddy
street.
His heart fiuttered as he snatched
up the coat and shook Ii into folds and
carried 1t away with him. There was
no sense of affectation or the ridicu-
lous, for he had followed a preeept of
his father, drilled into him since child
hood.
A stickler for propriety, the elder
Cleye had made record as a gracious,
courtly gentleman of the good old
kind.
1t was few days after the incident
of the stalled automobile that Mr..
Cleve called Rodney into the library.
81 haven't forgotten that this is your
birthday. Rodney" he said, land my
tailor suggested practical present"
and he removed from box an over
coat built on lines In exquisite har-
mony with the prevailing dictates of
fashion.
Rodney expressed pleased approba.
ton and gratefulness. Then, discoy-
ering small slit on the inner arm of
the garment, he inquired:
Here Is new wrinkle TO me. What
is this for?"
"a pocket for. the dainty hand of
any young lady to whom you may hap
pen to be escort when the weather is
cold,' explained Mr.. Cleve.
Rodney sighed inwardly. Would the
fair hand of Patty Delevan ever nestle
there?
week later, passing the opera.
house, Rodney recognized Mrs. Dele
van in the line of those purchasing ad-
vance seats Again the courteous i'm
pulse came into play. The ogress
smiled graciously as he stepped to her
side.
You will have to stand In line for
hdil an MUIR at iedSI, ne spoke, III
you will step into the lobby where II is
warm, l win see that you get what
tickets you want through my friend
In the box office"
"Of all the admirable young men"
murmured Mrs. DeIevan, as Cleve re.
turned.
Could he be Of any further seryicef
She was going only few squares to
her husbands office. He would be
glad to be her escort, and as walks
were slippery would she take his arm?
Quite naturally. as she did so. her
hand slipped into the secret pocket
How original what a coy concep-
toni She really must introduce him
TO her husband after all his kindly
attentions, and Cleve felt that he had
certainly acquired a footing in their
good graces.
1t was vast step forward when