The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-02-22
He Said He Under
stood Women
b. FRANK II. WILLIAMS


Observation-Disclosures
g ls33. By Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Ben Underwood realized that all the
seighborhood was interested In his
eourtship Of pretty Alice Menefee. He
knew that the folks near Alice's home
and, In fact, all the folks in the Lake.
dde section Of Brampton. where Alice
resided, were wondering whether he
would win Alice's hand or whether she
would bestow It on his rival, Howard
Brahm.
And Ben. realizing all this, tilted his
chair still farther back and smiled at
his good friend. old Mrs. Ferguson,
through the smoke from his cigarette.
Mrs.. Ferguson had been Ben's nurse
when he was q baby. Now that her
husband had become wealthy. she. too,
resided In the Lakeside section Of
{Brampton. but she had not outgrown
her affection for Ben, and still moth
Jared him, having NO children Of her
spwn.
"You ought to be up and doing" de-
clared Mrs. Ferguson. with asperity,
Evidently irritated by Ben's composure.
Brahm will be running away with
Ithe girl you ought to marry, before
you know It, II you don't look out"
"She'll never marry him." declared
Ben positively.
Again he pulled contentedly on his
cigarette. he could see, too, that in
spite Of Mrs. Ferguson's irritation his
calm assertion had made quite an i'm
precision on her.
"Now, Why do you say that7" she
demanded.
Because I understand women" de-
clared Ben easily.
because you understand women I"
Mrs.. Ferguson exploded. "A lot you
know about women. You'll see, you'll
0eer
"Well, I understand this one woman
Alice. In particular" asserted Ben,
bringing his chair down on all tours.
"And I tell you she'll never marry
Brahm. I'm as sure Of It as-as-as
anything at ALL"
"But look at what he's doing for
her." Ben's old nurse cried.
Hes always taking her out in that
big automobile Of his. And then look
at that big house he's putting up. Ny.
but its Q big onel And all the folks
are saying he's putting It up for her.
You ought to be putting up an even
bsttef one. You can afford It"
VI know I can afford It," said Ben,
but I'm not going to do 1t. tell you
understand women and I know what
they want. Now. don't you worry"
He stood up and patted Mrs. Fer
guson reassuringiy on her ample shoul-
der.
Ars. Ferguson smiled a bit at this
and caught his big, brown hand In
hers.
II hope you're right. do hope you're
right. Ben" she said. II want you to
have everything you want. And I
know you want Alice"
Yea" said Ben, AZ q wistful look
came into his eyes. n want Alice
bad"
For q moment he said nothing, his
glance distracted. Then he patted
4rs. Ferguson's shoulder once again.
'But I've got to work things out in
my own way" he said. "rm sure I'm
right I'm not going to ut BY quietly
and let Brahm walk right over me.
I'm going to do something. all right.
But I'm afraid you'd not approve Of
T."
"what 10 itr' demanded Mira. Fer.
Euson.
that's . secret" Ben smiled. "rn
tell you later"
That night Ben went to see Alice
and he knew that all the neighbors
were watching closely as he drove up
before her home In his last years car
and sauntered casually up the steps
to the front door. Ben didn't care
what the neighbors thought or said or
did. II 1t afforded them entertain.
ment to know he was calling on Alice,
and II they enjoyed specializing about
the outcome Of the contest between
Brahm and himself, let them keep on
speculating. He didn't mind In the
least.
Alice herself came to the door and
greeted Ben with a cherry smile that
made his heart pound loudly against
his ribs and that brought home to him
more forcefully than ever the fact that
he wanted her very much, indeed.
Alice was a mighty pretty girl,
though somewhat frail looking. She
was the private secretary to the head
OF q big manufacturing company and
worked hard all day. So Ben never
stayed very late ut night when he
called on her. He knew she needed
the rest and he felt It would be more
considerate to her togo at a reason
able hour than to keep her up to all
times Of the night. And. surely. In
this particular at least Ben demon.
strated that he understood women.
"Tm going to big party tomorrow
night" said Alice. with Howard. I
suppose 1t will be fearfully late and
fhoro will he lots NJ De0n1o thoro~