The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-17
Eoening Story
Supper for Two.
BY WALTER BREWSTER.

you are taking chances-running risks
which I don't care to have my wife
incur, and which you yourself, If they
materialized, would find mighty I'M
pleasant"
Nevertheless. Ned, my dearest. you
are not going to forbid your usually
obedient little wife her bit of excite
ment- BY. by. 1 promised to meet
Dot after the matinee"
She stepped down from her perch,
kissed Ned swiftly on the tip of his
nose. and before he could summon
further argument, had slipped like a
will-o' -the-wisp out of the office door.
Ned remained as she had left him
for a moment, his substantial brow
furrowed and his pleasant eyes trifle
worried. Cecile was the dearest per-
son in the world but would she never
settle down?
There was this business of trotting
down to the grill room of the Alden
House. for tea after the theater,
proper enough thing to do on ordinary
occasions. But Cecile, led on by her
friend Dot, in whose good sense he
had less confidence than in his wife's,
had fallen into the habit of going
there on days when some big musical
comedy was billed at the local theater.
Now Alden was a college town, and
among the many students attending
the university lntIc WCIe, VI IOuA &C.
some who felt called upon to mingle
more or less with the minor stage ce-
lebrities. To that end IT was custom
airy after the first performance for
the girls to congregate casually in the
lobby of the Alden House and await
those of the students, and incidentally
of the young men about town, who
were DESTROYS of making dates for
dinners and the like.
As Cecile had reiterated times with
out number. her presence and Dots
was perfectly innocent. They were
not made up" their attire was
quiet" and they viewed proceedings
from secluded corner of the bal
cony.
Well. Cecile had not respected his
wishes. Ned put his wife resolutely
out of his mind. switched on the light
and settled down to work.
Then, for the second time that
afternoon. he was interrupted. well
-well-well," sang out hearty
voice. Its a. dogs age since 1 saw
you
"Jim, by all that's lucky!" and Ned
stretched out his hand.
His business forgotten, he settled
down to a comfortable. reminiscing
talk with this old friend he had not
seen since his marriage.
II wanted to meet your wife" said
Jim, but 1 have to leave town at g."
Suddenly. like a man inspired, Ned
leaned forward and put his hand on
Jim's arm. Say, old man, you're
the best friend I've got. Help me
teach my wife lesson, will your
Ned ignored Jim's hesitation and
outlined the circumstances, also his
scheme. Just enough to give a hint
what the real thing would be like
then bring her home with you and
We'll make out some sort of a feed.'s
"Well.'' said Jim, Il suppose I can,
under compulsion. walk up to a
companion to have supper with me;
but how the deuce will I know her.
and how the devil. afterward, will 1
be able to persuade her that it was
all a put-up job?''
"Oh, that's easy" said Ned. "I'll
scribble a note explaining. which you
can give her when you think tho joke
has gone far enough. AS for know
ing her-you won't have a bit of
trouble. She'A be the prettiest woman
there-and she carries a green para
SOL"
Meanwhile, Cecile wendell her way
slowly down to the place of meeting
with Dot-the drug store near the
Alden House. But after many min
utes Of waiting. no Dot arrived. At
last she deciG d to go over to the hotel
and see if Dot was there.
But in the lobby, filled with little
groups of stars from Linda. Look
Out" there was no sign of her friend.
Spying a telephone booth across the
hall, Cecile concluded to telephone
and find out If possible if Dot had
left home or had mistaken the day.
AS she approached the door her
way was barred by not unprepos-
sessing youth, a bit older than the
average run of men about the room.
INNrr h. Il ~;
". in voice that was slightly I'M
steady. the cause for which Cecile,
inexperienced al she was. did not fail
to trace, but 1 am looking for some
one to eat supper with. May have
the pleasure?"
Cecile shrank back. "oh. II
don't, belong to the crowd - 1
couldn't think of such a thing. Thank
you. but She made an effort to
pass him. but he would have none of
Come. now" he said coaxingly.
en- casserole, glazed sweet potatoes
oh. you haven't the heart to refuse
What could she do? CHANGING about
her,. she thought quickly. She must
temporize-and telephone Ned. Yes. it
would be humiliating. but. hang hu-
initiation, if it got her out of this
scrape.
She turned toward her prosecutor.
Il don't know. But first must
elephone-a-friend about some
some arrangements" He looked at
her without suspicion, as one might to
whom it did not occur that to dine
with him would be anything but most
agreeable.
"All right" he said, TIL wait, and
see you don't run away"
Cecile escaped into the booth, and,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
{ A In