The Washington herald., 1921-05-01
''PLAYlNG THE GAME" ):
Solomon Was Right: It's
Wonderful, the Way of a
Man With a Maid.

=
THE new young man had arrived at
Lobster Cove on the late afternoon
train, and all the eager guests at
the Sunset inn had yet seen Of him was
\ we'll hitting gray business suit and q
smooth. slightly perspiring face under .
very good Panama hat. : Also. he had
tossed his suitcase at the hotel porter
with an accustomed air. and had crossed
the veranda and passed Its staring occu-
pants with the nrm step Of one for whom
that ordeal no longer held . nervous
strain The general impression Of him
was favorable.
Fifteen minutes later. In q retired COR
ner Of the hotels big living room. three
extremely pretty girls solemnly drew
lots for him
she shook the folded slips in the crown
Of her straw hat at the beginning Of this
interesting ceremony. you see. it's like
this: II We all three made . dead set
at him. we'd scare him to death. or.
worse still. scare him away from the
NONc- but II JUG u - N1SI4u4 Ohos
she intsriected wsrningIy-'If one OF Us
approaches him and gently leads him
along the daisied path OF friendship, she
can arrange for the other two to meet
him naturally. And let US hope" she
added piously. that she'll be decent
enough to do It"
Her last word slipped out on . little
gasp of triumph. While she talked she
had drawn and unfolded her slip. which
revealsd-on its fair surface q heavy black
cross
7 win she added simply.
Her companions looked disappointed.
then resigned.
How are you going to begin?- asked
one of them. affecting a languid air to
conceal a vivid interest.
Elsie reelected for a moment
That's the easiest part OF it, she
said I'll have him put at our table. TIL
let him eat his dinner in peace and then
start a Conversation II he cares to-"
What IL he doesn't care tor"
Anne Madden. Elsie's most intimate
friend. asked the question without malice.
Sometimes they don't. you know-at
nrst" she added. spologetically. What
II he doesnt?s
%. I'll make him do It anyway" ac-
knowledged Elsie lightly when q
young. good looking. unattached man
comes to hotel where three girl. have
been living for three weeks among . lot
of self-centered wives and mothers, and
tired. fat. week end husbands, he'll real
ize, II he has any humanity. that it's up
to him to make himself agreeable to Us.
That's all we want. and it's mighty little
to ssk-especially as we're all prepared
to be agreeable to him"
Stand on q chair, dear" urged the
third member of the group admiringly.
We can see you better there. And let
US bring you a glass Of water"
Abruptly and with a seIf-conscious
blush Miss Lester dropped her oratorical
delivery.
I've said all I've got to say" she NUT
tered. And just for that, Mary selden.
I'm going to mention to the new man
tnat you're nlsnoFo" anu man
haterr
That evening at dinner and under cover
of frank interest in the food before her.
Miss Lester studied the new young man:
His name, she had learned from the hotel
register. was Herbert Alton Smith. The
smith was q blow. but Miss Lester tenn
porariIy forgot 1t in observing with ap-
2roval the very pleasant face Of the
ltranger and the excellence Of his table
manners. He was not exactly handsome,
eyes. and . mouth which. though over
large seemed admirably adapted to smil-
ing. Just now. however, young Mr..
Smith was ssrious-almost depressed
and he ate his dinner absentIy as II his
thoughts were elsewhere.
Miss Lester liked the shape of his head
and the way his hair grew on his fore
head. She did not like the fact that,
after one long and somewhat breathtak-
ing look at her he glanced past the side
of her face as IL unconscious OF her ex-
istence. Hers was not face that was
often ignored. He finished his dinner be-
fore any Of the others at the little table
and. rising with . slight bow. he passed
out onto the veranda. There he reclined
languidly against pillar and drew
from his pocket that unfailing solace of
the only man, q fat brown cigar.
The neighbor on Miss Testers left
grinned at her understandingly. He was
big. good natured creature with exactly
three interests in life-his wife. the au-