The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-06-27
1T WAS
IN A GOOD
CAUSE
By JANE OSBORN
;sSssxssxssxsss sssxssssasIss;

Blain reached home that memorable
night. After hurriedly greeting his
mother sitting in the downstairs iv-
ing room he took long strides toward
the stairs. won't have time for any
dinner, DEAR" he told her. 'rll have
to be at the Bertrasns' by half-past
seven at the latest. That gives me
half-hour to shave and dress and
half-hour to motor out there"
1T isn't the night Of the Bertram
wedding, it is, dear" asked Mrs.
Blain. She had heard her son say
that he was going to act as one Of
the ushers at this wedding, but as
she had never met any Of the Bert
rams 1t didn't interest her especially.
"Tll get a bite out there" Tom told
his mother and vanished upstairs.
Mrs. Blain sat, perplexed and uncer-
tain, then shuffied the cards for an
other bout at solitaire, determined to
say nothing Of what troubled her. The
cards were barely laid on the table
when she heard Toms voice on the
stairs.
"You didn't send my evening things
to the tailor's, did you?" he was ask
ing, and then Mrs. Blain had to con-
TESS. A girl, yer pretty girl she
was. had come owe with her friend,
Alice Drury, from next door. This
girl-Mrs. Blain thought her name
was Crawford though it might have
been Baldwin-was one Of the alumnae
of the Walnut Hill school for girls.
Well, she was to take part in play
to be given out at the Walnut Hill
school by the alumnae and this girl
was taking mans part. She was
from out of town somewhere and was
spending the night with Alice and
to weax> had been needed by some one
else and Alice's brother was so thin
she couldn't get into his and-well,
the girls had gone upstairs and had
taken Toms. Mrs. Blair knew Tom
wouldn't mind letting Alice get the
things-shirt and collar and all-Alice
being just like sister to Tom, and
besides. the play they were giving was
in a good cause-hungry children in
Japan or somewhere-and-. ss1
Tom wasted no time in protests.
He went to the telephone and made
Inquiries of several of his friends
from whom he might borrow evening
suits. but in vain.
'srhe only thing left to do said
Tom good temperedly to- his mother.
sis to go to the Walnut Hill school
and get my things and then motor
back to the Bertrams and dress
there"
In ten minutes Tom had left the
house and was presently speeding out
toward the girls boarding school.
The school comprised several build
,ings, one Of which was brightly light
ed. Tom presented himself at the
door. which was guarded on the In
side by two young girls in white-ob-
viously ushers.
"Men are not admitted" said one.
''They never are when some of the
girls take mems parts"
Tom explained that he didn't want
to see the show, but that he did want
to see a young woman by the name
Of Crawford or Baldwin who was to
take one of the male parts. The ush-
ers wondered If he could mean
Daphne Crawford. SIS she very
pretty and has she naturally wavy
light bobbed hair. and does she speak
with just little BIT of an English
accent? She was brought up there.
you know"
II don't know" was Toms rather
impatient rejoinder. "What do know
Is that she's got my evening clothes
and I want them-rye got to have
them"
The ushers looked shocked and
amused at once and finally carried
Toms message to the other end of
the building where members of the
cast were dressing. After five or six
long minutes Tom was ushered into
a little room at one side of the build
ing where Daphne waited him-for, of
course, it was Daphne, hidden decor
ously within a rose velvet evening
cape.
The girl seemed to think that she
was entirely in the right in wanting
to keep the clothes, but that 1t would
be more tactful to use little cajol-
cry. Really, you don't know how
grateful I am to you-and they fit
almost perfectly. You see, Alice said
you were just like brother and when
Ned's were too small she knew you'd
be dear and let me have yours"
Tom explained that he had to go
to a wedding-that he was usher.
"But 1t isn't as If you were best
man or bridegroom" cooed Daphne.
"You see. I'm leading man in this
show, and it's in such a good cause.
Couldn't you go just as you are"
"No, couldn't" said Tom, smil-
ing in spite of himself and feeling
that the young man before him was
indeed very charming girl ."But I'll
telephone I can't come at all. They
have about twice as many ushers as