The Washington times., 1920-07-15

Copyright. 1890. by King Feature syndicate
Inc.
A S DAISY and l were leaving
~ Tom Mason's antique shop
4 something happened which
threw me off the track and kept
me from entering on a dangerous
discussion with her.
I meant to press her on the sub
ject OF her first enthusiasm when
Tom offered her employment and
her subsequent stubborn indiffer-
ence and the lethargy from which
none of his amazing insistence
that she think his offer ever could
stir her. 1t was just the opening
] had been looking for. l had only
to ask Daisy why she let me sheer
her off in moment or two, and she
would let slip some tell-tale word
about my acting as II l didn't want
here there. Then I'd ask her how
she thought / could stand sponsor
for her. and we'd drift into a dis
cussion of honesty. The confession
OF her theft of my pearl ring would
follow automatically and inevitably.
/ felt sure OF that.
Planning all this, / led the way
down the dark stairs to the street.
And then, in moment, fate illus
trated for me how the best laid
plans of mice and men gang aft
agley." For there-walking down
the avenue together were Virginia
and Sheldon Blake.
/ was sure Virginia saw me just
as l caught my glimpse OF her.
But in another moment she had
made a little gesture OF exclama-
tion. and was drawing Sheldon to
look at an exhibition OF water
colors In a book shop window. And
she held him there until we got
by. ] wondered If Sheldon had seen
me out of the tail of his eye, and
if-even while submitting to Nir-
ginia--he was wondering what was
wrong in our family.
The incident upset me. And so I
didn't try to manage Daisy, but let
her manage me and the converse
ton to suit herself. ! had q sudden
discouraged feeling that whatever
/ touched went wrong. For only
last night Pat and Virginia had
been so near-and today. with Nir-
Ginia sauntering down the avenue
accompanied by sheldon Blake, Pat
had never been further from the
goal of what | knew perfectly we'll
was his hearts desire.
AMIABLE UNDERSTANDING.
Daisy and I parted in a state
verging on amiable misunderstand-
ing. / wondered IL the incident OF
Toms shop had been closed for ell
time by her veneer OF Indifference.
II know Tom Mason as well as I
thought / did, her manner had mere
ly insured a little urging from him.
| wondered what Daisy would do
then? Defy me7 Refuse him again
with fnality even he couldn't
doubt? or find herself driven into
a corner where she longed for the
opportunity Tom had to offer and
yet realized that II came through
me and that many things were COM
ing to her through me, but that sna
couldn't take them until the situa-
tion between us was cleared up.
have to leave Daisy and Vir-
ginia, too. in a manner of speaking,
on the lap Of the gods. And I felt
IL best to discuss neither them nor
the incidents OF the day with Jim.
The ring mystery ] had to see
through by myself inside OF a week
or let Jim and Justice have their
day. As for Virginia / couldn't
torment Jim by mentioning her and
her latest performance.
But II turned out that needn't
have troubled myself TO come to
any hard and fast decisions on the
subjects OF what Jim and I would
or wouldn't discuss at tho table.
For when got home Jim was there
ahead OF me, and he met me with
the announcement that we we're
going to have dinner with valerie
and Lane Cosby.
tiLA that renlied
very much piaued. I'm to forget
the way Val has ignored me ever
since that first night she took
care of me and my sprained ankle,
am I. and trot down there to dinner
as serenely as II she hadn't been
neglected. and rude? won't go,