Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-01-26
THE CAPTURE.
BY CLAUDE MAY FERRlN

you need not deny it! You
are proving yourself hirt by allowing
Bentley to drive you home day after
day. You know his people disapproye."
Hear me!' Dess stamped her foot,
at the risk OF attracting attention.
Gle is but an acquaintance, like every
other. When it is rainy, or there's
a deep snow-really, l am in the seat
beside him before / know it,
"Well, can't yod wait till he has
gone? There are several who drive in
that direction. He was to call for me
last night to attend a rehearsal. But
when | learned he had taken you in
his car out of sheer pity-that was
enoughI'
He did not stop longer than to
dump me at the gate," coptended Dess.
"He dashed off at a speed that might
have brought fine against him. But he
escaped; at least, he is here this morn
ing-jolly as ever"
The clang Of the bell sent them
promptly to their places. A school of
the elective order, where the coming
men Of affairs and their competitors
were being trained ia business mys-
teries, yet an institution where, out
Of hours, the Indispensable social hilar-
ity swung as free as their superiors
would allow
DesS scraWled off her allotment Of
penmanship sheets, her mind roaming
MEANWHILE up and down the streets
leading to her home in the suburbs.
Later-with Wall street mathematics
to keep her in touch with earth-she
attempted to figure out a way by which
she might more easily accomplish the
trip without squandering funds on car
fare. The close of the day found her
on the spot where she had stood "a
hours previously.
Nina Halter tripped toward the troll
ley stop, snug in the shelter of UNI
brella, macintosh and rubbers. From
the other wing Of the building, Dess
could see the young men departing
in scores. She discerned Conrad Bent
ley, the impossible, scurrying off to-
ward toe garage. His comrades were
sons Of the city's best. Dess watched
them until a trolley came rumbling by;
her Indignation rose to a high mark
when she noted Nina Halter had let
1t pass.
''She's spying on me! I've a mind
to go ask Con Bentley to let me ride.
Spying-the idea"
Inf naCC tbO1,Uht Of annthn1. WOW
She knew, by woman's intuitive sense,
that Bentley must be careful. She
imagined he liked Nina-unless it was
the presuppoSed arrangement that de-
luded the two. AS for herself, she
was not sure if she cared for any one
Of her male friends above any other.
Fun, lots Of it-that was the principal
thing. With a laugh that set her fea
lures in dimples, she started down the
steps. The ranks were thinning rap
idly; she must not loiter longer.
The rainfall was interchangeable
with snow and sleet, with mischievous
gusts sweeping along to lend life to the
pedestrian. The umbrella problem was
a serious one. She heard heavy foot
fall back of her and drew aside to
let the individual pass. A smile Of
recognition and word Of greeting,
then a daring idea possessed her.
"Carey, would you please help me
across the flats? 1 cannot possibly
manage this wind"
Surely! Well be all right so long
hi Ia oly "a
my arm-you'll slip. Now"
She was too busily chatting to note
when Nina should board the car, or
Bentley glide past in his roadster.
Carey Lavell, declared to be bashful
and by prediction a bachelor, proved
a safeguard against the two.
Nina complained no more-with Dess
RICHES miSdemeanorS as her plea.
She contrived to secure the attentions
of the disputed Bentley few times
more than any other. But the close Of
the term found Carey Lavell waiting
for DeSS.
81 am to take a desk in my fathers
Office, permanently. \ mean, when
school closes next year."
"And | cannot finish till a year lat
err Somehow, / envy Nina. She
seems to master everything so quick
ly."
Easily seen. You know, / have to
laugh when she promenades with Con
Bentley Both families borrow heav-
lily of my father-thousands."