The Washington herald., 1921-06-05
By .LUCLAN CARY

W hf. huflput. 90 come 3nu nave eo
with me-" said Maisie Blaze.
I'd be delighted" william sid.
He was an hour late for dinner and Mar.
garet was inclined to be petuiant about II
I wish you had teiephoned." she said.
81 hadn't any idea it was 20 late VIII
liam protested.
:" But 1T isn't like you to forget" Margaret
countered- What were you doing. talking
to Mrs BlaisdeIl7"
William knew II was q chance shot. but Il
wasn't any easier to meet for being that. He
felt his faoe grow red. He felt that he must
look guilty.
why. yes." wiIftam said, Il vas'
He hoped his tone sounded matter OF fact-
well" Margaret said Il vAs one Of
those noneemmittaI -weii's- which promise
nothing except to be continued
After dinner Margaret reminded William
that she was going mp to Boston to visit her
mother for few days.
II hope, William" she said lightly. that
Mrs. Blaisdell won't occupy all Of your atten-
uon WINE m gone.
What nonsense!" william said
I'm perfectly serious" Margaret replied.
Mrs BlaisdeIl IL q dangerous wonan-and
you've been with her twice in the last week"
Just chance" William said II probably
shan't 80 much as meet her on the street
while you're away"
well" Margaret said. really think you
ought to be eircumspect in my absence. You
know what a gossipy place scarborough is"
My dear Margaret" said William testify,
ARE you seriously considering the possibility
that might be gossiped about!-
-very seriously" Margaret said slowly.
. think. for instance. that you oughtnt to
call on Mrs. BlaisdeIl while I'm away"
william rose to his feet and strode across
the noor.
Good God. Margaret he cried. have I
ever called on Mrs. Blaisden while you were
herer"
NO" Margaret admitted: that's why It
would be 30 pointed II you called while was
away
But who said was going to call on her
while you were away" William reared.
You needn't shout" Margaret said
sweetiy.
william opened his mouth TO speak,
thought better of IT. and stood staring at
Margaret
II must say you surprise me-" he said. II
feel as II didn't know you at all. Five min.
utes ago couldn't have imagined you say
ing such things"
-Five days ago" Margaret countered. II
couldn't have imagined you running around
with Mrs. Biaisden"
But I'm not running around with her"
william groaned. Il haven't the slightest
desire to run around with her. don't care
II never see her again"
william was instantly conscious that this
last statement was lie. He had not meant
to lie. But what he said was a lie He won
dered IL he ought to modify the statement.
He wished he had said, Il don't particularly
care II never see her again" That would
have been strong enough.
I'm awfuny glad to hear 1t, William
Margaret said.
William spent the first evening Of Mar.
sarets absence reading a new book on bust
ness management. II occurred TO him that It
would be pleasant to call on Maisie Blaze. He
caught the idea in the very act Of occurring
to him. He was shocked at himself for en-.
tertaining IT. He went so far as TO realize
that he might actually have called her up on
the telephone IL 1t had not been for what
Margaret had said. He might even have
gone to see her.
The next evening passed in a similar fash
ion. except that he was by now becoming
used to this astounding impulse Of his to see
Maisie Blaze. He rather enjoyed the impulse
as long as he refused to act on it. And he
could not act on it He resolutely put the
idea out Of his mind five evenings in success
SION and then on the sixth evening, the last
one before MarEarets return. Maisie Blaze
called him on the telephone.
20. Mr.. Huribut," Maisie said. I'm so
glad you're in. It's Phil Barkers birthday
and we've just discovered it. We're going TO
celebrate ana we want you to help. Can we
call for YOU in half an hour"
Why-why,' there was certainly no harm
In Joining birthday party OF which Maisie
happened to be a member: even Margaret
could not object to that. why'd be de.
lighted william concluded.
Good for you" said Maisie Blaze. wen
be round In twenty minutes. or half an hour
At most We're going to the club and dance"
William hastened into his dinner clothes.
He had no means of knowing what the others
were wearing. But dinner clothes could hard.
iy be out OF place at an informal party. He
was dressed in fifteen minutes. except for his
te- Margaret always tied his bow ties. But