Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-01-14
With the Help
of His Friends
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

OdNh GAARA 49,
and threw himself down on the pine
needles beside Tom. "Where's CourtT
he asked.
"Chasing a skirt" Toms voice held
utter disgust. Its the limit. Here
we fellows come up here on a camp
ing trip and the first thing Court does
is to fall for a pretty face staying over
at the hotel. It's playing the deuce
with our plans"
"Righto," returned Jack, chucking a
pine cone into the lake. per seized
ule, we should now be catching black
bass on Lost Loon pond"
1.-THE funny part Of it is" unused
Tom, "the lady in question turns an
iceberg shoulder on Court. l happened
over on the steamer dock and, take
it from me, she has no use for him."
Jack sat up quickly. "All the more
reason that we should nip it in the
bud before he's smitten beyond hope"
listen here, boy. What's the first
thing a man objects to in a pretty
woman?"
"Her belonging to somebody else"
replied Tom promptly.
"PrezackIy, old top. Same with a
woman. She want to tn NIX she's the
first and only. Now bark to my little
scheme, You put Court wise@don't
tell him how you get the information,
that isn't ne~ceSsary-tO the fact that
the beautiful girl is engaged. Get it:
1--um OIL. a .x1-1I e.Of1 hor onnR
times up here If the men got wise.
For my end of Il, Til hint to Miss VIII
lis that Court is not what he seems,
that he has never got over a youthful
love affair. Still loves the fair hand
that gave him the mitten. Get meT"
81 get you," said Tom, "but why do
you draw the pleasant end of 1t? And
how" he continued suspiciously, do
you know her name, and how a you
manage a conversation with herr"
well" said Jack, slightly embar-
raised, II happen to have met the
girl she's staying with, Sally Dalton.
Our canoes bumped and-oh, I'll man
age all right. Only, for the love of
Pete, let's be speedy about it or We'll
be too late with our assistanceP
Few schemers find their opportuni-
ties lying so neatly in wait as did Tom
and Jack when they padded over to
the hotel that evening, apparently
lured by the seductive strains of the
three-piece orchestra playing for the
weekly hop. First they spied Court
leaning against a veranda pillar, gaz-
ing morosely at a thin young moon.
Then on the lawn they deserted Mir
lam Willis in the midst Of a little
group of men.
"Beat It, Tom" cried Jack, lover to
Court, and, so long as you're in it at
all. go in strong. I'll wait my chance
with Miss Willis"
Twenty minutes later, Tom had sue
ceeded in reaching the point he de-
sired in his conversation with Court.
"She's some looker!" he was saying
automatically. Then he set off his
bomb. Her iance is a lucky man!'
Even in the darkness Tom could feel
Courts piercing glance. Miss Will
lis-engaged?"
"Oh, years and ~years-three years! "
Tom threw it off casually. Then,
goaded by Courts silence, he elaborat-
ed. "She's keeping it dark up here
; for various reasons-but she's really
absolutely infatuated with him."
"Look here. old chap"-Court's voice
sounded strangely broken-"did She
she didn't get you to tell me all this?'
"No-oh, no." Tom retreated in
alarm. "Only-it seemed as If you
ought to know"
Tom felt Courts hand gripping his
| shoulder. '"Thanks, Tom" he said
you've been a genuine friend" Their
Tom found himself alone.
Tom gazed after him doubtfully. In
} terfering with loves young dreamy
= George, he didn't know about 1t. Their
T his spirits rose. Tomorrow at this
{ time their tents would be pitched or
! Lost Loon pond.
. Meanwhile Jack, after a series OF
5 successful which afterwarc
> he recalled with pride, succeeded il
y rounding up Sally Dalton, having
udLCe Will HcI, ScltliS al ihtAOuuN
I ton to Miriam Willis, suggesting tt
I the latter that they sit out a dance OF
the veranda.
Then, after a few remarks on tn
: beauty of the night and the numerous
: ness of the stars, Jack adroitly intro
: duced the subject of Court. POO
' Court" he said, che tries so hard t
enjoy himself. That affair a few year
ago. He's never got over it!"'
Indeed! How Interestingly" an
Miriam's cool voice was more thai
. merely polite. do tell me about it.
"Well it-er-seems the girl jilte,
him. But he never stopped loving hei
Says he never will. Unusual, isn't it?
every" returned Miriam dryly, a
, one who wishes to imply that her eS
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