Evening star., 1920-11-28

possible that somehow Mortimer might
take it into his head to break the
engagement himself?"
Absurd! He loves you devotedly."
I'm afraid so," said Betty, defect
edly. "Only the other day 1 dropped
one of his best vases. and he just
smiled and said it didn't matter"
I can give you even better proof
than that. This morning Mortimer
came to me and asked me to give him
secret lessons in golf"
Golf! But he despises GOLF
Exactly. But he is going to learn
it for your sake"
But why secret lessons?"
Because he wants to keep it sur
doubt Ie hi his sST love ," F'"' ~ Cd" sou
"I am not worthy of him." Ahe
whispered.
The words gave me an idea:
Suppose" / said, I'VE could con-
vince Mortimer of that"
IT don't understand"
Suppose, for instance. he could be
made to believe that you were, let US
say. a dipsomaniac."
She shook her head.
"He knows that already
What
'Yes. told him I sometimes walked
in my sleep"
II mean a secret drinker"
Nothing will induce me to pretend
to be a secret drinker."
I: X !: x
ss,THEN drug-fiend?" / suggested
hopefully.
II hate medicine
II have it, said: "A klepto-
maniac"
What is that"
"A person who steals things
"Oh, that's horrid."
Not at all. It's perfectly lady
like thing to do. You don't know you
do it,"
But. il. don't know do it, how do
know do it?"
s'I beg your pardon?"
II mean, how can tell Mortimer l
do it il don't know"
You don't tell him. ] will tell him
I will inform him tomorrow that you
called on me this afternoon and stole
my watch and" / glanced about
the room my silver match box. ="
I'D rather have that little vim
|aigrette.S
"You don't get either. l merely say
you stole it. What will happen?"
Mortimer will hit you with a
cleek"
mot at all. / am an old man. NV
white hairs protect me. What he will
do is to insist on confronting me with
you and asking you to deny the foul
charge
"And them
Hhor mi n ~n1o l.
from his engagement"
She sat for awhile in silence. I
could see that my words had made an
Impression.
II think it's a splendid idea Thank
you very much" She rose and moved
to the door. IT knew you would sug-
gest something wonderful She hesi :
tated 'You don't think it would
make it sound more plausible if !
really took the .vinaigrette?' she
, asked. little wistfully.
piled firmly, as ! reached for the vim
aigrette and locked it carefully in
; my desk.
1 She was silent for a moment, and
her glance fell on the carpet. That.
however. did not worry me. 1t was
nailed down.
We'll. goodbye" she said.
! "Au reaaoir," l replied. II am meet
ling Mortimer 1t $50 tomorrow. You
may expect us around at your house
at about g."
! Mortimer was punctual at the tryst
next morning. When 1 reached the
tenth tee he was already there. We
exchanged brief greeting, and l
! handed him a driver. outlined the es-
sentials of grip and swing and bade
him go TO 1t.
| ut seems simple game" he said,
as he took his stance. You're sure
it's fair to have the ball sitting up on
ttop of young sand-hill like this"
| Perfectly fair
! II mean. ! don't want to be coddled
because I'm beginner"
THE ball is always teed up for the
drive" / assured him.
| ''Oh, well, it, you say SO. But it
seems to me to take all the element
..of sport out Of the game. Where do
l hit itT'
''Oh. straight ahead"
But isn't it dangerous? L mean
suppose 1 smash window in that
house over there?"
He indicated a charming bijou resi-
dence some 500 yards down the fair
way.
.in that case" l replied. 1.-THE owner
comes out in his pajamas and offers
you the choice between some nuts and
a cigar
He seemed reassured and began to
address the ball. Then ne paused again
| lSu NltEc coiuctuthS Sou sdy uSlOTt
you start?" he asked. Five or some
thing?'
You may say 'Fore:' if it makes you
feel any easier. But 1T isn't neces-
sary."
"If am going to learn this silly
game" said Mortimer firmly. II am 60
ling to learn 1t right! Fore.'
l watched him curiously. I never put
a club into the hand of a beginner with
out something Of the feeling of the
sculptor who surveys mass Of shape
less clay. l experience the emotions OF
a creator. Here. | say to myself. is q
semi-sentient being into whose SOUL
less carcass I am breathing life. A mo.
ment before ne was, though technically