Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-05-23
THE POOR IDIOTS
BY LOUIS RAY6oLD

say tnat the entlre FORCE OF Lester anu
Clark knew it-knew her name and
where she lived.
The divination had not been remark
able. During one Of Henry's trips to
the bank long distance call had come
through to him from Wrentham and
Jimmy, answering, had impudently i'm
personated the desired Mr. Jones to
the giggllng amusement Of Alicia.
you wanted Mr.. Jones? Well, Mr..
Jones is speaking"
Betty Oh, yes, it's Betty, is itr'
MY voice7 Strange? A cOld-very
severe cold"
"Oh, yes, will take good care of 1t.
A hot lemonade, did you sayY
But at this juncture Henry himself
had arrived, had been handed the re-
ceiver by a slightly-only slightly
sheepish Jimmy, and had ultimately
Strengthened out the hot lemonade
proposition But the harm had been
done. The bunch" had found one
more means of guying a youth.
Mercilessly they threw at him the
hot lemonade until he longed TO rend
them with bitter invective. Yet he
realized the utter futility of such an
act. Furthermore, he wished to con-
centrate every energy towards one
achievement-his marriage to Betty.
Nothing must occur to bring upon him
the displeasure Of the higher powers
and postpone the raise which was com
ing his way In due season.
Betty, with her piquant beauty and
patrlcian air, was the tremendous
heaven-sent blessing that had come
into Henry's life. Just why she should
care for him, homely fellow that he
was, he never fathomed. Enough that
such goddess-girl had consented to
be his wife at the very first minute his
salary reached the big-enough-for-twO
stage.
And it was at her photograph that
he was gazing one night, some time
after the telephone episode, when he
grew suddenly thoughtful. Was Betty
SO anxious to see him as he was to
see her? Should he meet her at the
station at an earlier stop and have that
much longer time to be with herr
For she was to go Immediately to her
aunt's until the actual wedding day
was decided upon and arrangements
made accordingly.
ITO think that in three weeks shall
actually see you" he apostrophlEed ex-
ultantly. IF only the others
Now 1t is difficult In a busy Office to
find a moment when one may put In a
ong-distance call and have 1t come
through unknown to the rest. Just be-
fore the date Of Betty's arrival, how
ever, Henry did manage to utter into
the transmltter a call for Wrentham
with only the red-haired Alicia in the
room.
But, whether by some agile mental
telepathy on her part or through sheer
destiny, when the call finally came,
Jimmy, the Office boy, was lounging in
the doorway and the rest Of the force
were ostentatiously busy at their desks
with ears almost vlsibly alert.
Apparently there was nothing for
Henry to do but go through with it.
Casting a calculating glance at Herb
Coleman, most inveterate practical
Joker Of them all, he settled down TO
conversation.
This you. Bettyf"
You'll reach here at 7:10 p. m.
Thursday, on the Boston trainf"
"Goodi"
''I'l be on hand, and listen, Betty ;
you'll know me by a carnetion in my
buttonhole. and--oh, yes, I'll carry an
umbrella"
Yes, dear. Good-by."
He hung up the receiver and gazed
about defiantly, as one who bade them
listen If they had the nerve, darn 'em
all.
The day that Betty was scheduled to
arrive was an excellent example Of
what real winter weather should be,
snappily crisp, with occasional powdery
flakes feckine the rosy cheeks Of hur-
rying bundle-laden shoppers. Even
the crowds in the covered station were
good-naturedly waiting for trains that
were invariably jammed and inevitably
late.
1t was from just such a train that
homely, er-set-the-world-aflr per-
son descended. turning as he reached
the platform TO assist the trimmest,
smartest little figure imaginable.
Slowly, absorbed in one another, the
two walked up the platform. Suddenly
Betty touched her escorts arm. Just
look, Henryl' she said. Aren't they
the funniest ever?"
Henry turned his head. Then he
grinned suddenly. He had all but for
gotten. There stood the entire bunch
from the Office, headed by Herb,
Haunting carnations in their button
holes and carrying umbrellasl Just
as he had fondly hoped, they had fallen
for the dope he had poured into tele-
phone whose receiver he had surrepti-
tlously depressed.
They do look silly" he said, quite
audibly. Probably being initiated in
TO some fool society, poor idiots %
Then proudly he ran the gauntlet,
with Betty the Beautiful at his side.