Evening star., 1922-08-20

THAT evening after supper Homer
Dean went over to see Annie. He
did not telephone to ask If he might
come, for Annie was always glad to
see him or to see Will whether she
knew they were coming or not.
Homer got there early. so early that
the Cools were still at supper, and he
went into the dining room and sat
by the door. refusing Mrs. Coors hos.
pitable urgings that he eat a second
supper with them. He did surrender
to a piece of pumpkin pie, but 1t fail
ed to raise his spirits. He was not
yet able to face with composure the
fact that Will had beaten him. VIII
| was his friend: there was no malice
| in Homer. Nevertheless. he was dis
appointed and discouraged and Sick
| at heart.
This was not apparent to Mr.. Cool,
nor to Annie's mother. nor to her
younger sister and brother. They all
liked Homer and they talked to him.
all at once, but Annie said very, little.
She watched him with a curiously
| wistful questioning in her eyes, but
| ton into words.
After supper Mr.. Cool and Homer
went into the sitting room and
smoked together while Mrs. Cool and
the two girls cleaned up the supper
dishes. Annie's brother had gone
downtown Immediately after supper,
and soon after they came in from the
kitchen Annie's sister was borne away
by one of the boys of the neighbor-
hood Then Annie drew a scarf
across her shoulders and suggested to
Homer that they sit on the porch.
Its warm tonight" she told him.
I'VE shan't be cold"
So they went outside and sat down
little to one side Of the front steps,
where they were shadowed and hid
den by some wistaria vines from
which the leaves were just beginning
to fall And Annie asked at once:
What is it, Homer? What Is
wrong?"
He did not ask her how she knew
anything was wrong. In a boyish
fashion he had rather enjoyed the
mien he wore and knew
she had noticed it.
"Oh, nothing" he said.
Annie shook her head In slow re-
proof, her eyes softly shining in the
shadows.
"Yes, there is, too, Homer" she in
sisted. "Piease tell me what it Is"
why, I haven't any right to
growl," he told her. Il didn't mean
you to see. Didn't mean any one to
see."
81 could see," she insisted gently.
He and Will had already explained
| to her the significance of the death of
Steve Randall, the salesman. 1t was
not necessary for Homer to repeat
these things. He simply said: wills
got that job" 1919.
She did not speak for a moment,
then asked softly, "Mr. Randalrs job?"
yes. Charlie Hopkins told US to-
night his father had decided" He
added with careful sportsmanship:
"of course. Will deserves 1t. He's
better man. But sort Of hoped I'd
oh, you know"
II know, Homer" she agreed, in
voice that was scarce more than
whisper, and laid her hand ever so
lightly upon the hand of Homer Dean.
| Now, Annie Cool had kissed and
been kissed many time by VIII and
by Homer and by others in the cheer
full frolicking of youth; and she had
held hands on hay rides, or beneath
the table at supper parties. or even
on more public occasions. Thus that
she should touch Homer's hand had
=, in itself no great significance.
But she had never touched his hand,
nor he hers. before this night save
| when there were others all about them;
and always before this night there
had been laughter back of the ges-
ture. This night there was not
laughter; there were tears. :.
| A conspicuously different matter.
ETEN minutes later they drew their
eyes one from another for long
enough to see that man had come
across the lawn from the street to the
steps; that he stood there. looking at
them. A man-wnl Matthews.
'.'"Will!" cried Anne; and Homer
came to his feet, laughing in nervous
texhilaration. will, old man." he ex-
claimed.
| Will stepped up on the porch and
they saw that he was smiling. He
held out his hand. I'm sorry
butted in" he apologized. But I'm
glad I was the first to know. You'll
never be sorry, Annie. Homer
Homer had gripped his hand; ea9h
held the other fast. as good friends
will.
He stayed only q minute, then left
sthsmaalone together; and he left no