Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-09
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
pERRY'S DEED OF KINDNESS

q The lounge of the Quinnipiac Club.
gloomy In the half light of late after
noon, held q solitary OCCUPANT siumped
IN big. chair 1t was Perry Hansbrough
and he wasn't smoking. which was a bad
sign. His thoughts dwelt unhappily on
Evelyn Keynes He had thought he loved
her lot when he had asked her to
marry him, but he had only discovered
fused him--him and his money. She
hadn't been any too gentle about It,
either.
"Of course like you, Perry. lot.
but long, long ways from enough. Tho
trouble is, Perry, you never do anything.
you keep busy more or less and ! sup
pose It's something to be ono OF the de-
tenders Of the international polo trophy.
But you might 90 some active good In
the world besides Just signing a few
checks for organized charities"
How the words had cut! But who OF
his acquaintance did any more than he?
Take Doug Fletcher, for instance, whom
he supposed Evelyn would be sure to
marry now.
He moved restlessly. unconscious In
his abstraction that members had been
"'Smatter, old top?" Bobby Curtis
asked from his, right. Weather getting
under your skim"
Perry accented the deduction. Sure,
put the RoaIner in commission and chase
to a better climate"
Douglas Fletcher sitting back in the
shadow, pricked up his ears. That sound.
ed good to him. He had hunch that all
that stood between him and Evelyn
Keynes was this same all-too.good-look-
ing Perry Hansbrough
The lights had not been switched on
yet Otherwise, Perry Il ould not have
said what he did next. Sentimentality
was very small part Of his makeup II
say, YOU fellows" he pleaded, how the
personal good in the world?"
Ribald laughter greeted him. II don't"
declared Bobby. II let the world do good
to me-"
suggested Tom Stanley.
81 was done. good today" growled
voice on the left. Motor Consolidated
dropped points"
Perry pulled in his horns. That's
what a man gets for a little idealism," he
laughed. who'll set me up to a plank
steak for beating him at pool?
Tom took him on and the two went
out. Douglas Fletcher, toying idly with
penny box of matches. watched their
retreating backs reflectively. Suddenly
he grnned and drew a pencil from one
pocket and cigarette papers from the
other Crudely he printed on the bit Of
rice paper the words: please, Honor
ablc American. so tired die. Make
too many matches too long. Kind help, IL
please. Annatto Stsue."
He slipped the tissue inside the box
Of matches, which he had noted were
made In Japan. called a boy and handed
him the box along with a dollar. THE
first timo Mr.. Hansbrough orders Il
smoke, see that he gets this box" he
commanded.
Then he leaned back with n pleasing
sense. Of accomplishment. With Perry
Hansbrough thinking Of n sea voyage
and In the mood to ape Don Quixote,
that little slip Of paper ought to take
hold. and If 1t did, It meant months OF
leisure to court Evelyn Keynes with his
rival out OF the way
1t worked, and as he had foreseen.
Douglass suit prospered with n girl
who, to tell the truth, was a bit cha
fusal so casually and gone away without
a word. Then one evening as he waited
In the Keynes drawing-room for Evelyn,
he noticed a. penny box OF matches on
the table; It's incongruity. there struck
him and he casually picked 1t up. Then
he gasped with astonIshment-his own
slip of paper was still inside. But why
had Perry sent 1t to Evelyn? Looking for
appreciation. probably BY George, was
evelyn pack OF Perrys whim to 60
joke on Perry, going half way round the
world on wild goose chase and losing
Evelyn besides. The humor of 1t struck
him and he laughed aloud.
Just then Evelyn came in.
what Is it?" she asked
This match box amuses me-" he
yes, isn't 1t odd?" exclaimed Evelyn
frankly: 1T came unsigned post-mark.
ed Honolulu, with the address typewrit-
ten."
Then D""~iss slipped a cog. The
two were SO very much in accord. these
days, and Perry was so very much an
outsider and so very far away, that he
told her the whole joke He was a littie
dubious at the last as to whether the
full humor OF 1t appealed to her, but as
she remained her usual gracious self, he
assured himself that 1t hadn't been q
tactical error after all.
Perry's sixty.footer made slow time
and 1t was some two months after his
departure that he finally reached Yohe
and looked up the Steel Products Export
Corporation, whence the matches had
come. The interpreter lent him by a
friendly United States consul explained
his errand to tho superintendent.
oh, yes. Annatto Sitsue was stiIl EN-.
ployed there. Certainly. she could be
called. Walt. please. In the anterior
The interpreter went out with the SUI
perintendent and Perry found himself
alone when n slim figure with hair piled
high. dainttly japanese, in every detail
spectfully bowed.
Perry was silent in embarrassment
Here was no worn old woman, such az
he had been expecting, but
Then she looked up, 1t couldn't be-
1t was!
evelyn"
Perry
YES" explained the girl meekly. "I
came at once when ! learned. so as not
to disappoint you. and Uncle Edward
who Is consul general here. you know
made everything quite simple"
There was a moments silence. Their
II wonder IL Doug Fletcher will send as
a present" suggested Evelyn.
The mans face broke into a smile "T
think it's up to us to send him onar
he said, and took her in his arms.