Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-06-01
Exit "The Crows
Nest"
By ROBERTA GRAY

20. 1923. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.) |
New shook off the last clinging bits
Of confetti and, refusing a ride with
Larry Searles, swung into stride up
the avenue alone. Larry had pretty
Dorcas Lee with him, and Ned had
seen enough Of that sort Of thing for
one day-good old Bill married and
Sam haunting that bridesmaid with the
corn-colored hair. Times surely were
changingl
Ned was suddenly seized by lone
some presentment that the days Of
the Crows Nest were numbered.
They had rented the Crows Nest,
he and Bill and Sam, when they had
graduated from college together two
years before. Bill had so named 1t,
loosely, the first night they occupied
it, partly in concession to It's holiness,
and partly in ridicule of the former
occupants, honeymooning artist and
his wife, whose placard, "The Love
Nest" was still hanging sentimentally
over the hall entrance.
"Oh, love birds, what come-downW
Bill Knocked the sign. From now on
you're out Of your natural element"
"Well, it's blamed good attic" was
Sans contented comment, with plenty
Of sociable roofs in sight, and bit Of
sky and sea-"
So they had unpacked their BAN
ners, their sheepskins and the rest Of
it, and turned the blamed good attic"
into a convivial bachelors hangout.
And now Bill was the first defaulter.
He had announced his detection casual
ly enough a short month ago. Ned
was buried in a book, and Sam and
Larry were twanglng their banjos in
doubtful harmony with their 1usty
voices.
"In the cleaning oh, my darling"
they bawled.
Bill vented his disgust "Wow, what
a squawk," he exploded, aiming a pill
low in the general direction Of the
hubbub. ut makes chap glad he's
getting out Of here for little peace
and quietI"
Ned looked up, in quick dread Of
whit WIS cunning.
ITS so, boys" Bill acknowledged
amiably. Congratulations are in Or
der, but make them short, for the
little lady is expecting me at seven
thirty"
Pandemonium reigned then, but
when, little later, Ned and Bill
were alone, the prospective bridegroom
had allowed the first touch of feeling
| to show through his mask Of cheerful
| banter.
Its the greatest thing in the world
Ned, old Sox," he conhded, sheepish
ly. And Ned, who had never had time
to bother with girls, wondered as he
climbed the stairs to the "blamed good
attic" If 1t weren't just possible that
he was missing something. He opened
the door with an unexpected dread OF
the emptiness within. opened II
upon the most adorable surprise Of his
| life!
She must have been very small, fol-
as she peered at him over the back OF
her chair she was curiously like q
mischievous little gamin.
Ned stared his establishment, COM
pletely at loss as to what the etiquette
Of the occasion demanded Of him. But
the girl apparently did not notice.
you've been very long about com
ing" she reproached him. "Pve had
to amuse myself by kidnapping while
waited"
No suitable reJoinder occurred to
Ned, so he continued to stare, all the
while beratlng himself for being a
tongue-tied idiot Oh, for the ever
ready wit of a Bill or a Saml He
had always told himself that he hadn't
had time for girls. Now he knew that
he had been afraid Of them
T-I'm afraid there's some mistake"
he managed to stammer lamely when
the silence had grown embarrassing.
The girl took immediate alarm.
"You mean that you didn't expect
me? Aren't you Billy Lawson" she
demanded.
Ned was tempted to assume the
name and any responsibility that 1t
might entail, for he was beginning to
enjoy the situation. There was a GER
tain piquancy in finding a strange.
extraordinarily pretty girl ensconced
in ones den, with all the manner Of
having been invited.
But she was gathering her wraps
together In confused apology.
~ thought | followed directions 50
carefully" she faltered, "and-ard
the key was under the mat |"
They both laughed at that, and the
sound of their voices relieved the con-
stralnt Of the moment before. Ned
noted, fascinated, that her voice was
full, trihe husky; she noticed that
his eyes warmed to n twinkle with his
laugh.
AT any rate, you may have Billy
Lawson's lunch"
She nodded toward corner, and
Ned noticed for the first time that his
study table had been Invested Of Its
usual clutter Of books and papers, and
was sci with what conglomerate china
the apartment boosted set for two,
with generous bowl of Strawberries
as centerpiece.
"Oh. | say" he protested, "lts a
shame TO dlsappoInt you after you've
planned this little party Give me
this BilIy's address and I'll have him
here 'prOnto.'
The girl shook her hend. at doesn't
matter, truly. He'll simply think I
changed my mind Hes only cousin
and an unknown one. at that %