The Meeker herald., 1920-09-25
THE SECRET
POCKET
By WALTER ]. DELANEY


1T iy nothing, considering inc SerV'
Ice rendered." bowed Rodney Cleve,
and he was the courtly gentleman
complete MS he lifted his hat and drew
aside discreetly, rs the Indy reached
the steps OF her palatlal home and re.
warded his attentions with aI admir-
Ing glance.
Never since the days OF good old
Queen Bess Of Mcrrle England. when
Sir Walter Raleigh set the example
young Cleve had now followed. hnd u
more delicate compliment been paid to
womanklnd. Coming down the street,
bile halted with n 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,
John3" she Inquired 2etulantly.
Impossible. ma 'am." came the def
mite reply. 1.-THE power Is gone and
it's something serious"
Rodney Cleve knew Mrs. Delcvnn by
sight. For two months she had been
q bugaboo In his life without knowing
it. He had met her niece. bright. pref.
ty Patty Delevan, who lived with her,
at several social functions. had fallen
deeply In love with her and had re-
ccived some encouragement In return
but Patty. while She had allowed him
to see her home on two occasions, Ind
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 Ia a social leader. As to
Patty. they guard and guide her ms
II she were some princess crowd on
the fellows. circumscribe her list of
Acquaintance and frowh on the least
sign OF an attachment"
1t was no marvel. therefore. as Cleve
found himself IN q position to serve
this formidable ogress that he was
Inspired to q remarkable act. He Ind
whipped OF his raincoat swiftly; he
had spread 1t 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 huttered as he ssRtched
carried 1t away with him. There was
no sense Of affectation or the ridlcu
lous, for he had followed a preccp Of
his father. drilled into him since child
hood.
A stickief for psopraety, the elder
Cleve had made a record a. . gracious
courtly gentleman Of the good old
kind.
1t was a few days after the incident
Of the stalled automobile that Mr.
Cleve called Rodney into the library.
II haven't forgotten that this is your
birthday. Rodney" he said, "and my
tailor suggested a practical present"
and he removed from box an over.
coat built on linss In exquisite har-
mony with the prevailing dictates Of
fashion.
p,,, .,.,
,s...,.. ri" -.
-, IN. A.. -,
the garment. he inquired:
"Here Is n new wrinkle to Inc. What
Is R.is fort"
poehet 10. .'e u"'hty nane OF
sny YOUNG 'a"S 10 whom Eo" "ay nap
pen " DC escort M"en 'ne w'"'her IL
eom'' eAp'",neu 'tr. oiese'
Nouhey signed inwaru's. "ou'u the
iair nahu OIL i"''! Ie'e'ah ever nestle
there'
week "'er' passing me opera
"o"ss ,so"ne! ,s."s''Neu sirs ,'e',''
van III 'he iihe Oh 'nose purchasing nu'
vance seats again the courteous I'M
pulse chme mo pay Inc osresS
smiieu gr"e'o"s'! us ne s'eppen l" h'r
size.
You Will have to stand in line for