Middletown transcript., 1922-11-11
The Riddle of the
Sphinx
By II. IRVING KING

*Se:*<H~sses$%-:.:::.::..::..:..:..:.:-:-.::..:
&C by Mcclure Nswspaper synd.cate.j
Folly Andrews and Clarence Jud-
son were to be married in the fall.
Polly thought the world of Clarence
and Clarence thought the world of
ROXY, and the match was most suit
able one In every respect. Polly was
now In Europe with her mother, but
would be back later in the summer.
Meantime Clarence took his vacation
at Luxport-by-the-Sea Now, If there
was one thing that Clarence Judson
especially prided himself on 1t was
his knowledge of women.
clarence was an athlete of no mean
caliber. had been on the football team
at college and could box as well as
some OF your so-called professionals.
Willie Carpenter, who was always
tagging about with Clarence, locked
particularly Insignificant beside this
favorite of the gods and girls. But
no one paid any attention to Willie,
anyway. But don't imagine for min
ute that there were none who dis
puted the sway of conquering Clar-
ence. There was George Taylor,
young farmer living five miles away
up the Ashville road, modern farm
er. with 500 acres under cultivation, n
graduate Of an agricultural college. n
man of means who drove a high
powered car and had made a trip to
Europe. GeOr e was n huge fellow
physically; mentally he was norose
and dictatorial. In his ordinary dress
he was an imposing young man, but
In evening clothes he was hobblehoy.
About three miles away from LUX
port, on the Ashville road, stood n
large, old-fashioned country place, oc-
cupied during the summer months by
Mr.. and Mrs. Parkman and ruled
over by their daughter. Ruth was no
sort of a name for Miss Parkman-
she should have been called Diana.
She was tall, stately, classic of fea-
ture, could ride, shoot, run car and
sail boat. When you saw Clarence
Judson and Ruth Parkman together
you saw a couple worth looking at
and both Ruth and Clarence were
fully aware of the fact.
Ruth mingled great deal with the
hotel people; George Taylor mingled
sparingly with them and that, appar-
emily, only that he might not leave
Ruth entirely to the monopolizing ten
denotes of Clarence Judson. In other
words, the two youths were rivals and
fierce ones at that. Polly Andrews
did you say? Oh. well. Polly was in
Europe, Ruth in Luxport. Whether
George or Clarence was on duty with
Ruth there was always little Willie
Carpenter, whose function seemed tc
be to carry wraps and other impedi
menta and to serve as butt for more
or less good-natured jokes. Ruth
treated him as she would a cat oil
poodle-kindly but not seriously.
II really believe that little sawed
off Carpenter is in love with Ruth
Parkman." said a lounger on the hote
piazza one day-whereat all his hear
ers laughed at the manifest absurd
ity. Whenever George and Clarence
met on the piazza of Ruth's home, as
they often did Clarence exerted him
self to be particularly brilliant ant
treated his rival with n punctiliou
courtesy which had in it an exasper
ating SAVIOR of superiority; Will,
George only growled and gloweret
boorishly. That she would marry on,
of them was a foregone conclusion
with the hotel folk, and she distribut
ed her marks of favor so evenly tha
the summer boarders felt they coulc
make wagers upon the result withou
danger of being accused of betting OF
a sure thing.
Clarence bore with Taylor's boorish
ness as long as he could; then, on
day. decided that the time had cor
for a showdown. Ruth, who had beel
making call at the hotel, proposes
to walk home and Clarence propose,
to accompany her.
"Come along with u.s." said Rutl
to Willie Carpenter, "the walk will d
you good"
Half way to the Parkman hous
they met George Taylor booming alon
in his big machine. He held up a
sight of them and said gruffiy to Ruth
Thought you said you would driv
over to Ashville with me. I was a
the house the time you said. VIII
weren't you theref"
Ruth's color rose. Are not yo
rather forgetting yourself, Mr.. Tay
IorY' she said with dignity.
mo-" replied George, I'm Just r,
membering." And he muttered some
thing about dudes and "city fe
lows"
Carpenter" said Clarence calml!
II see yAu are headed for Luxpor
I'll ride with you part of the way,
YOU don't mind. Willie, will you Sc
Miss Parkman homer" Clarence wa
in the car before the others realize
what had happened, and George afte
moments hesitation, touched tn
starter.
AS soon as they were around ben