The Washington herald., 1921-05-01

There was. for the nrst time. an Mt,
His face seemed pale in the moonlight.
and his teeth chewed nervously on the
end OF his big cigar The girls were in
terested-
What Is it?- asked Ma;y.
Heavens, don't know. He didn't even
look at me But Mr.. Brown thinks he's
worried about something. think so,
too"
Mr. Herbert Alton Smith seemed to think
himself. A deep sigh broke from him.
Then he muttered something under his
breath. and finally. throwing away the
cigar he turned his back upon the
beauty of the night and abruptly depart
ed for his room. He did not reappear
though for several hours afterwards the
sound of dance music in the ballroom
and breaking waves upon the beach
vainly sought to draw him forth.
At breakfast the next morning he
seemed more cheerful and the irrepressi-
BILE Mr.. Brown succeeded In Turing him
into speech.
New to the Cover" he asked cordially.
Yes"
Mr.. Smiths tnonosyllable was not over
cordial; but he took the sting OF this by
adding q wide, tentative grin:
Guess you'll like it," submitted the
encouraged Brown Good golf good
fishing. good bathing. And" he added
expansively. several mighty pretty girls
here"
The wide smile froze on Mr.. Smiths
boyish face. He stiffened. nodded. and
concealed his features behind a hurried
ly raised coffee cup. Then, seiZing
newspaper he had brought to the table.
he lost himself in its contents Mr.. Brown
stared at him in resentful astonishment,
and turned to Miss Lester with uplifted
brows.
We'll. what DO you know about that?'
he seemed to ask.
Elsie Lester resentfully spent the day
the water. When she came in to
dinner an hour late and with a showily
red face whose brillIance much talcum
powder had failed to subdue, her mother
was already at the table, deep in con-
versation with the new young man. Mr..
Smith seemed pleased by the lady's at
tention. Indeed, he wore his widest and
most ingratiating smile. But the in
slant Miss Lester appeared this vanished.
He bolted the remainder Of his dinner
like a hungry school boy and inconti-
nently fed.
Later that evening Elsie. solemnly
hoAaSS oiAp sAS NtSoS, VIZ ~ ~
Mary Selden.
I'm out Of it." she said tersely. He
doesn't like me. 1 don't know why. /
haven't done anything-he hasn't given
me chance. Perhaps. he doesn't like
blonds. Anyway, he'll have none Of. me,
so 1 turn him over to us. He's going to
stay two weeks. Go in and win. Come
to our table for breakfast. Mrs. Brown
never comes down."
form, but obeyed with secret Joy. Life
was very dull Floating into the dining
room the next morning in fresh white
linen and with her black hair arranged
in its most becoming fashion. she found
her victim already seated at the table.
answering in jerky monosyllables the
conversational advances of Mrs. Lester
and Mr.. Brown. No, he hadn't yet tried
the links. Yes, he bad .ished yesterday
not much luck.
His wide. singuiarly appealing grin
showed itself. only to be instantly sup
, pressed when Miss selden dropped into
the vacant seat at the table. He glanced
at her casually. then at Elsie Lester, who
was warmly greeting her, and a look Of
actual CONSERVATION filled his eyes. For
the rest of the meal he kept them on his
plate. and long before the other guests
had finished their breakfast he had pushed
back his chair and departed. Mr.. Brown
watched his progress through the dining
room door, and then, turned to the two
girls with . nod Of deep conviction.
'Ph tell you what's the matter with
that chap" he announced positively.
Hes shy" .....
The girls glanced at each other incred-
ulously. but before they could speak Mrs
Lester upheld her neighbor's point
I think so. too" she told Miss selden.
The poor young man! He talks SO nicely
to Mr., Brown: and me when we're alone.
But I've always noticed that the moment
Elsie appears he stops"
Turns red. too" corroborated Mr..
Brown. That's his trouble, believe me
shyress, Why he looked scared to death
when Miss Lester came to the table,
and yet I bet he'd given $40. for the
nerve to talk to you young, ladies'"
: There really seemed to be something In