Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-17
PLAY THE GAME.
A Short story.
Nv Jessie DOUGLAS.
,r.,xr,sht 1872. By Mcclure Newspapss
Syn0tcatAA

sroovr,rht. 1917. by Mcclure Newsrapsi
SyndtcatAA
Zach lee never knew how heavy q
.uitcaee could be until abe, began TO
rug hers across the confused Stauon.
Che act II down breathlessly and won
dcred how long the train would wait.
May / help you? Going to st.
Louis?"
sarah Leo know better than TO an
.u-er any man who spoke TO her. but
something about the broad ehoulders
the bronzed face. the resonant voice
OF this stranger was different. She
could trust him.
"Yee. am going to st. Louis. 1t 10
Kind OF you."
She had to take very big steps to
keep up with him, and when he had
swung first her and then her suitcase
up the steps OF her compartment sne
said shyly, "Oh. thank you!"
She peered into the narrow strip OF
glass between the two seats, straight
ened her very new hat. saw that her
blue eyes were bright as flowers and
eat very demurely looking out into a
black world OF which she could see
nothing. She was really early. she
would have time to wait and-think'
1t was kind of brother Ted to oner
her home now that she was all alone.
But she wished with all her heart that
he had married some other Kind OF
wife, or at least that Jennie liked her
better. St. Louis was just pls'
strange city. She crowded back tear
by shutting her eyelids very tight ana
saw when she opened them that some
thing had happened.
The man with the bronze face and
the gray eyes and the unforgettaole
voice was In the compartment ahead!
Her heart began TO hammer very hard
She wondered -
She was still wondering when come
one came rustling down the aisle; a
girl with her arms full OF roses and
cheeks with that same rose flush. She
stumbled before the man in the com
partment ahead and gave a etifled ex-
clamation and dropped her armul
OF roses. 1t was very prettily done.
Sarah Lee saw him stoop and gather
them up, saw the interchange OF
thanks, saw the deepening of a dimple
sn the Rose Girls cheek and felt @
her.
From under her trim little sailor
she watched them go up the aisle to-
gether-the Rose Girl and the mar
with the armful of roses.
Sarah Lee slipped into her berth as
soon as it was made up, while ehe ad'
dressed scornful remarks to herself
that did not seem to take away the
little ache about her heart.
a But next morning she could laugh
at the whole thing. Just because &
man had a nice mouth and the klnC
of eyes that seemed to understand
and crisp dark hair was no reaeor
Sw'hY she should be a little idiot.
Sarah Lee was really surprised wher
he stopped beside her compartment t
say good morning, a privilege which
she permitted since ne had carried
her bag. He told her his name wa!
Jasper Waite. Sarah Lee did not tel
him hers; she knew at the ether enc
OF the car a girl with rose cheeks wa
waiting for him.
She was right.
She turned just once TO SEQ then
laughing together, Jasper Waite ant
out of her mind.
There are so many things to do OF
Q train. just as there are in life. TIL
old lady opposite had lost her glaese
and they must be found. And the II,
tie mother who had compartment NJ
was 80 tired after being awake wit
baby all night.
Sarah Lee may not have understoo
how to talk to young men, but she di
understand babies. She cuddled th
little downy thing. in her arms Will
the young mother nodded off into
nap.
BY mid-afterncon she had q who
circle of admirers. Not young me-
nor even q young man, the kir
whose laugh driftcd down TO her frol
the end of the car; but circle of II
tie girl admirers who demanded after
ton.
Sarah Lee had found a new, an el
trancIng game. All they needed wei
scissors and an old magazine.
Now you see this Will be oh
Kitchen" Sarah Lees voice was charm
ing. the old lady across the aisle deciC