Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-10


enjoyed taking her by her pretty shoulders and
giving her a good shaking. Why it that
girls of Kitties sort never realized the value of
fellows time?
Kitte appeared to think that he. John, was
in New York for the sole purpose of entertain
ing any friend of hers who suddenly decided to
spend few days in the metropolis. Whereas,
what he was really here for to wrest from
the reluctant city an annual income which would
send his sister comfortably through college,
r provide her with pretty gowns and silk stock
.ngs and matinee tickets and leave enough to
support his brave front as a young and success
full captain Of industry.
To meet their combined expenses and to be
Il little ahead of the game kept John hustling.
Both he and kittie were natural spenders and
their easeful life before their father died bank
rupt had not given them a training which helped
them now. Their strongest emotion next to
their grief over his death immense and
Mortified surprise at the situation of penury in
which they found themselves surprise their
mother shared to such an extent that the shock
ofsit killed her. She died, indeed, with some
thing of the effect Of fastening into the next
world to ask her husband how it had happened.
The fve years following these caamities had
been hard years for John but he had made them
as easy as he could for kittie. Then he had got
his real start and had dug into his work and had
begun to make money, which kittie spent as
joyousIy and as irresponsby as she had spent
her fathers money. John didn't mind that Kit
d
derful time. Even now, recalling this. his brow
cleared and he picked up Kitties letter and re-
read its last paragraph with forgiving grin.
Kittie could not realize how busy he was. That
was Kitties only fault
"You will like Mary immensely" Kittie had
written. shes the dearest thing in the world
and pretty and her name is Smith, you
know, so perhaps she's our cousin or something.
won't ask you to meet her at the train, for tha,
might not be convenient" 60, thoughtful little
sah sR,,tr ho'l riobt m fha
when she arrives at 4 Thursday, and 1 want you
to be at the hotel at and take her somewhere
for tea. Then you can make some more plans.
for she'll be in town three days She's going to
be bridesmaid next month at the Knapp-Dar-
roy wedding. Do be good to her, Jackie. darling.
She's one of my dearest friends, and want you
TO live up to all I've told her about you"
Johns handsome young face wore a recon-
ciled but thoughtful expression as he folded the
letter and put it in his pocket His mind worked
briskly on its little problem Thursday! That
was today. At s! 1t was 4:3O. and he was
in his downtown office, at least good half hour
from the Beresford. Kittie's letter had just
come to him in the last afternoon mail. She
hadn't allowed him much time to turn around;
but that was Kitties way. She was like happy
child in her gay assumption that everything and
everybody could be shaped to her wishes John
grinned again. He had business appointment
at quarter to five, and it was too late to warn
the party Of the second part, who was doubt
to Johns office.
John closed the drawer of his desk with
emphasis that worked off the last trace Of his
irritation, left with his stenographer message
intended to calm the irate caller, and hurried to
the nearest subway station. He would take the
girl at the Beresford to tea at some good place
where good food and good music were provided.
he resolved, and before she left town he would
take her to dinner and the theater. That would
represent all the time and money he could spend
I.nx tN epixy
tie hint about sending. him anyone else for
while.
He entered the lobby Of the Beresford at
exactly s o'clock, and approaching an aloof
youth at the hotel desk, asked that his name be
telephoned up to Miss Mary Smith. The rather
wooden countenance of the youth suddenly took
on an expression that made it almost human.
He turned upon young Smith a quick glance that
held interest, appraisal, and envy. Then. as a
light in the window vanishes when the shade Is
drawn his countenance resumed its professional
mask. But he answered Smith more fully than
hs had answered anyone else that day.
''Miss Smith was just here at the desk" he
said. 'der train got in an hour late. She can't
have gone up in the elevator yet No-there she
IL near the second car, with two pages carrying
her bags"
John Smith did not catch the last words He
was on his way to the elevator, and as he flew
he understood the clerks expression and the
presence Of the two pages. He had pictured
dsY duffy, rather giggly-the type, in short. of
Klttie and most of Kittie's friends. What he saw
was q girl 50 arrestingly lovely that. he actually
caught his breath at the first glimpse OF her.
She was young and slender, he had ex-
pooted, but here all resemblance to his mental
vision ended. Her youth and slenderness were
the youth and slenderness of Diana Her hair
and wonderful eyes were SO dark as 70 be almost
black. She carried herself with a proud, sweet
dignity. and with the poise Of a woman Of the
xras pXQlliSitely dressed
every article she wore being designed to set OF
her amazing beauty and succeeding admirably in
d it's mission. Hat in hand and still a little breath
less John faced her.
eNIiss Smith? 2" he asked.
She turned looked at him gravely, and then
quite suddenly smiled The smile made John
a trife dizzy. And this was the girl Kittie had
called $50 pretty" Women were like that. They
simply could not appreciate one another's beau
ty but they would rave over some barbered
Adonis. His reflection was checked by the dis
covery that Miss Mary Smith was holding out
her hand He took it with a daze with a tremor
running through it. Talk of Helen of Troy
And now she was speaking, in voice that per-
fectly expressed her personality-a voice softly
contralto and musical
my train was late. I hope l haven't KEPT
you waiting"
"NoI just got here"
He was still holding her hand. She with
drew it gently. 1t was clear that she was ac-
customed to putting dazed young men at tneil
ease. She went on with the graclousness sc
much older than her years:
IT wonder If you would mind waiting for me
for few moments-not more than Is. I'd like
to look at my rooms and brush off some dust
But won't stop to change my gown
He backed away as she spoke his eyes or
her face.
"Youli find me waiting here in the lobby,
he was able to bring out please don't hurry
An my time is yours"