The Washington times., 1920-04-10

Copyright, 1920, King Feature Syn
dicate. Incl
TvHE license to drive my little
car came the day after my
luncheon with Dick West and
Tom Mason. II seemed an official
climax to a pleasant series Of tri-
umphs. As once I decided to go for
the car practice driving for an hour
or so, and when I was timber and
self-confideut, to surprise Jim by
calling for him at his office to mo-
tor him up, the road for dinner.
was in particularly happy mood
because Of the unforgettable words
Jim said to me when l reported the
meeting with Dick West and Tom:
"Anne. you're the wonder of the
world. First you put Envy and Val
in their neat little places. Then
you win Lanes confidence. And now
you have such confidence in my
girl and such poise that you are
able to handle Tom-who, IL l mis-
take not, used to give you lot OF
trouble. I've never seen a lilac
lady flower into q charming, clever
woman before. But. by Heck, it's a
pretty sishtr'
So when ! drove neatly through
the city's traffic and parked my car
only six inches from the curbstone
! felt at once an approved. chauf-
feuse and successful wife. Up to
Jim's office l hurried in such glad
some mood that hardly blamed
Fate for playing little joke on me
and melting out to me the mes
sage that my boy was out for the
rest OF the afternoon.
Long, disappointed hours Of lovely
daylight stretched ahead, and / felt
peevish and baked for a minute.
Then I had an inspiration.
Meals office is in the same build
ing. Why shouldn't l call for my
brother and take him for a ride?
Perhaps this was just my chance
to have a real chat with Neal. Out
in the cozy intimacy OF the country
roads we would be free from inter-
ruption, and the whole influence of
the out of doors would be to bring
US close and to make Us simple and
honest with each other.
At Meals Ofnce.
l sped to Meals office. I found
him phoning, debating, and nutter-
ing through a card-catalogue sys.
tenn all at once. with nerve
racking air OF business. A smil-
ing nod of welcome, a sentence or
two in conclusion. a nod OF dismissal
to the stenographer, and then I had
Neal to myself. l gave him a hug
that was most unsuited to the Of
fice environment, and then / prof
fered my invitation:
"Come for a ride, lad-will your"
I asked. You're second choice, I
confess-but I'm almost blessing
the Fate that took Jim out this
afternoon IL 1t gives me visit
with my brother
"Babbsie, you're n temptress"
laughed Neal. "And how cleverly
you forestall having me ask how
you dare think I'll be a traitor to
work and 60 when Jim wouldn't.
But I can't make II, old girl. I've
at least three hours of work ahead
and then I'm thinking of running
out to Mason Towers for the week
end"
Mason Towers" repeated,
hesitating. That was full two
hours run and couldn't get back
in time TO dine with Jim II I
motored Neal 80 far. Then some
thing impelled me TO take Neal
anyway.
That's q nice run" 1 said. "And
there's n charming inn near there.
IT'S only about forty minutes by
train, so I'll call up the house and
leave word for Jim to make the
six-thirty or seven and meet me
there. And that gives me plenty
OF time to walt while you go home
and pack bag and then to roll
you comfortably over velvet roads
to your journeys end"
In a furry of determination to
carry out this idea, ] seized the
telephone and called UP my maid
Bertha, giving her the message
that Jim should take the train and
meet me at the Glover Leaf Inn.
Bertha repeated all the directions
after me clearly and understand
ingly, so had no doubt that Jim
would appear on the scene some
time between seven and eight.
Delighted with my plans and