Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-08
GREATEST DAYe@A Short Story By Arthur Cabb

Did you hear what Mr.. Lyle was
saying about me?" she asked.
Paul nodded.
Am like that?"
Paul nodded and then Paul smiled.
isn't he funny old man." said
Polly.
Polly. I can't talk to you way
down there; come up" He offered
her his hand to help her, and she took
| it.
HE told me dinner was at seven
and not to keep him waiting" she
said.
He told me dinner was at quarter
| after seven and not keep him wait
ing"
Il wonder what he meant?"
81 wonder"
| DOLLY, not quite realizing what
she was doing, held out her other
hand, too, and Paul, drawing her up
| " ara, held them both.
| POLLY"
| "Au right, Paul, I'll be good" She
| was very good, and during the half
hour that followed she admitted that
she would have been good to Paul
long before il he hadn't made her
furious by thinking that she could
even like George Farson. when Paul
ought to have been sure that she
had loved him ever since she was
little girl. She said that she hoped
! the lesson would do him good. but
| Paul wasn't worrying about lessons
or anything else.
! A little before eight a voice came
from the doorway: We'll. we'll, WELL
! Bless my SOUL" They spun around
and saw Mr. Lyle beaming upon them.
| There was great joy in his voice.
! ''Hm-m,'' he muttered. $50! Now
let me see, what did l do with 1t,
what did l do with it? Oh, yes, l
remember. Paul, Will you please look
| in the dictionary. that large book on
the table, and tell me the meaning Of
'mastership'? Quickly. please"
Paul, laughing and wondering what
joke Samuel Lyle was playing now.
reached for the book. 1t opened at
place marked by folded paper.
Paul read: "Mastership the state or
office of a master, mastery; dominion;
superior skill; superiority. An 'front.'
cal title of respect"
! IAN ironical title of respect" Mr.
Lyle unused. "A dangerous word.
Miss Polly Now, on the opposite
page. what word catches your eye,
Paul?"
| Match"
| Match, to be sure. Most appro-
pirate. And between 'mastership' and
match what have your"
| Neutrality-suspicious.
! blind. There in your hand. Sup
| pose you present that paper to Miss
Wesson, and while she reads 1t tell
me what word comes before master
ship in the dictionary"
| Masterpiece"
! "I take that word unto myself.
Didn't tell you that today would be
the greatest day of my life? I've
never had such a thrill before. You've
i been trying to do for years what I've
| done for you in He stopped and
laughed at Paul; he was as happy as
q boy.
Polly interrupted them. She had
been trying to decipher the document
that had lain between the leaves of
the dictionary.
What is this?" she asked. ST don't
understand" =
My dear young lady," Mr.. Lyle
said. that is the deed of the very
pretty little brick house in Stockton
which you have admired for SO long.
4 =
could live happily with almost any
man il he wasn't too homely. The
house is yours. Is the man too home
ly?"
Polly Wesson. bewildered. looked
from Paul to Samuel Lyle.
"Oh. no." she. cried. Tilt can't
] be-it-
"The lease of the present tenant
expires June first" Mr.. Lyle said.
June is a good month for weddings"
Paul. what shall do?"
| paul. what shall ! do?' So soon
and in this day Of the equality and
independence of women! What can
you do? Let me tell you something.
When you are married and living in
the little red house with vines and
flowers all about, recall today to Paul
and see if he remembers the little
business transaction he and l had.
think he will, and then you whisper
into his ear that your nest cost exact
ly sixteen thousand three hundred
and seventy-five dollars and thirty.
two cents, and then perhaps the truth
will burst upon him. II it doesn't,
tell him how one day you were in the
safe-deposit vaults of the Peoples
Trust Company and saw a woman
there who, when she saw you, flushed
and behaved in a most embarrassed
and guilty manner, though you
couldn't imagine s.ny reason for II.
And then tell him how, when you
heard of a certain robbery. you had .
sudden inspiration. and how finally
you told me about 1t and asked me
whether what you had seen could by
any possible chance help Paul, and
how I pooh poohed the idea and then
went and got all the credit for my
! self. I think he'll understand every
thing then, except. of course, that
after you had told what you had seen a
certain old rascal brought out, by
cross-examination, that"
stop" Polly rushed toward him.
that you were really very much
in"
stop! Stop! You promised"
mo. no. didn't promise. but
I'm cupid" said Mr.. Lyle. blessed
IL don't like the job. It's a heap
better and lots easier than uncover