The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-04-14
The Slater-Ashley
Affair
By RAY LEWIS
ca i,,i. BY Meclur. Newspaper syndicate

70 ls4l. Dy AcSIurs HeNsptpet SyhoS<N'
George vanderpyle gazed from the
balcony down upon the animated
scene below. where many couples
moved in rhythm with the seductive
cadences Of the palm-embowered or
chestra. He had wandered into the
chapter house In search Of an old
classmate and had paused for a mo-
ment TO look on.
Suddenly. "Who Is that won ie-ful
womanf" he exclaimed, grabbing the
arm Of the young fellow nearest him
and pointing out a slim figure swaying
In the dance on the floor beneath.
"Who dye mean?" Billy Walters
leaned farther over the balcony. "Oh,
that Why, that's Miss Slater libra
rian of ,he Mary Webster Memorial
has been here several years"
The man who had addressed him
made no comment. but merely con-
tinued to wait for the reappearance of
the slender, silk-draped figure in the
round OF the waltz. George Wander
pyle had seen many women In his
for y-odd years Of life, but never, so
he told himself, had he seen as beau
tiful, as graceful, as attractive a one.
And to think of her being incarcerated
In the Mary Webster Memorial
Where were the men, to permit such
thlng7
Vanderpyle. back for his twentieth
reunion, had dutifully done what was
expected of him as a wealthy alumnus,
and made the rounds of the various
university buildings. lie recalled the
Mary Webster Memorial. erected since
his time, as an archltecturally perfect,
severely classic building of cold stucco.
with dim, vaultlike interlor-admira-
bly, adapted, no doubt for the preser-
vation of fragile first editions and rare
manuscripts, but hardly a suitable en-
yironment for the winsome, glowing
bit of flesh and blood he had just seen.
He did not remember living seen her
there. No doubt she had an assistant.
Suddenly, the man smiled, whimsl-
cally. All his life a mere desire on
had predicated Its accomplishment.
And although thus far the field of
matchmaking was for him virgin soil.
that fact might make venture there
all the more interesting.
Surely out of all his vast acqualnt-
ance he could pick some well-favored
bachelor sufficiently cultured and
worthy to rescue the beautiful libra
rian from the clutches of the Mary
Webster Memorial and place her in the
environment to which her loveiness
and charm entitled her.
But first he would like to meet her
to make sure that she fulfilled upon
acquaintance the promise of her face.
who'll introduce me to herr" he
asked young Walters, much to the lat
ters amusement. These old fellows
coming back were dandy chaps and all
that, and demanded loyalty as fra
ternIty brothers, but Il was odd to
think of them being interested in the
female sex! He considered d moment,
reflectively.
Then. "Why, let me see," he said de-
clsively. "You might ask Jack Ash
ley-he knows everybody"
Jack Ashley! The boy had hit It.
Jack Ashley not only knew everybody
but everybody knew Jack Ashley, knew
of him as one of the finest products,
mental and Physical, ever turned out
by the university. Yanderpyle knew
little Of his history since graduation.
He had hunted big game in Africa,
had served with the Canadian troops,
had become an American ace, and was
now being spoken of for an important
diplomatic post. And there was the
very man he was looking forl What
pair they would make!
He found Ashley at the Union, swap
ping cigars and stories with other
members OF his class. which was about
ten years later than that OF Wander
pyle. Like the canny financier he was,
the latter approached his object OBJ
liquely. For he was becoming as en-
thusiastic over the match as was his
custom In closing a business deal in
volving millions.
Settling himself In a deep-cushioned
chair, he Joined In the conversation.
Not till its close did he direct his at.
tention particularly to Ashley. Then,
"I'm interested" he began, 'i1 the
Bereton Americana. Come ever with
me in the morning to the Mary Web
ster Memorial and tell me what you
think of the collection"
Ashley amiably agreed. and the con-
versation drifted to other channels.
vanderpyle, regarding the man oppo-
site, wondered how he had escaped the
matrimonial net. Surely 1t could not