Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-12-31
The Challenge
By OTILLIA r. PFElEFER

Indeed not" dctiantly rctortcd
Madg" Preston with Il toss of her
head. "Why. Irving would never en-
courage a clundcstine meeting with
some apparent bold coQuettc or silly
schoolgirl"
THAT is to be seen, II you agree
to the test" asserted Dora. "Now,
dear. here we are--Winnle Law, Tes-
sic Blake, you and -four engaged
girls. l went down to Orvillc, picked
out sample picture Of very charm
Ing young girl ut photographers,
had four duplicates made, and we are
to send four letters to our unsuspect-
Ing swninS, enclosing picture and
asking each one to meet the writer,
who signs herself Stella, ut the cor
ner of the little park opposite my
Cunt's Thursday evening ut eight"
Suppose your four victims COM
pare notes md suspect trick?"
"Oh! they won't. That isn't q
nuns way" insisted Dora confidently.
Just think how we will enjoy seeing
those four embarrassed ones hanging
around awaiting the writer Of the
gushing note"
Three. YOU mean-Irvins will never
come" declared Nadge definitely.
ave shall see.''
Clyde Barton, Wallace Templeton
and Shirley Branston were close
chums. Irving Delman was a new
conner and somewhat ont OF their
friendly circle. Now. Clyde, kecn-wit-
ted and rcsourceful. happened to meet
little Ned Merrill, who was carrying
the four letters to post. and had n
glance at their superscrIption. When
he received one Of them he went Mt
once to 'rempletOn md Branston. The
trio chuckied. They saw through the
shallow trick played upon them, at
tributed II to the girls. admired the
photographs, and kept them.
well have some fun twittIng the
girls about their adventure after 1t is
all over" said Clyde.
. Irving Delman received his letter
and was about to tear 1t up and for
get 1t, when he fell TO studying the
picture. He examined 1t closely, even
to the photographers name on the
back. He looked surprised and then
thoughtfu, and grave.
what can IT mcnh?" he soillo-
quized. IF It Is really Miss Page.
then BurIeigh Gray has been greatly
mistaken in his estimation Of his
fiancee. But there is some mistake,
and I am going to explore this mys-
terry"
At seven O'Clock on the appointed
Thursdny evening the four girls met
ut the home OF OrR's aunt. They en-
Sconced themselves In an unIighted
room commanding perfect view Of
the little park less than square In
size just across the rOad. All hut
Madge were bnbbling over with ex-
element and jollity. She sat disdaIn-
fully silent.
4 few minutes before eight O'Clock
the telephone rang In the next room.
Dora hurried to answer the call. She
returned all n flutter with animation.
"Oh, girls what do you think7" she
ratified on. 1.-THE Gull was from Clyde.
He, Wallace and Shirley are at our
house and have learned in some way
that we are to he home mt nine and
are waiting for us"
"Can they have seen through our
little plotT' suggested Winnie.
Probably not. hut they nre good
boys. you see, after all. Look look {!
look |"
Breathlessly the group noted q fig.
urs pass along the outside park walk.
Madge suppressed great gasp. The
others settled their glances upon the
object Of their interest. 1t WIS Irv.
ing Delman.
There was dead silence In the room.
Dclman walked leisurely along as
though looking for some one. For hnlf
an hour he acted the man expecting
TO meet some person by special ap-
pOlntmeDt. Finally he consulted his
watch. shrugged his shoulders and
went hway.
Willie Dora, Winnie and Tessic had
felt triumphant ut the fact that a
pretty girls photograph and a clever.
~ devised love letter had not affected
nor tempted their lovers In the least,
'"Ss "S'' Hei''"S'S SoiIS ioT oihuSc.
She declined going with them to
Dora's home, left them summnrily. and
they knew that she was deeply affect
ed by the episode Of the evening.
The following day MadGe returned
20 Irving Dclmnn his letters, his gifts
md the engagement ring. She re-
quested him to seek no explanation
Of this summary procedure. Warm
hearted Clyde Barton was the person
who fcrreted out the inside Of the af-
fair before the week was our.
Dora, TINT was cruel trick
against Delman," he said. at is true
he went TO the park in reply to the
letter, but only because by some fear
fu mischHnce the photograph you Sc