The Washington times., 1924-01-26
Read This Entertaining Serial in Which
the Author Has Woven Thrilling
Romance Of the Problems of
Married Life.

ONA wa 40 ShAAShA AS oAO uAlSOAc
tainty about the future. had
to do something and mercifully I
found this. I'm going to have q
bureau for arranging entertain
nents for the boys who are well
enough to go about. And I'm
going to have my studio attractive
enough for the boys to drop in it,
too, and for folks with money to
come and to make purchases. Isn't
1t good idea2"
Even then + realized that Mabel
had put me off when 1t came to
telling me where she lived. But
! was SO moved by her big idea
and by the consciousness that Il,
together with most of the other
folks in our country, I fear, had
forgotten these boys who still, bear
the cross they took up for us, that
! couldn't bother about lesser de.
tails. =
You must let me write your
publicity!" I cried. ''And maybe
youth let me suggest the right per.
son to help apd to love helping the
boys-and that's Aunt May"
BLESS your heart. whose idea do
you think this is? It's Aunt
May's!'
Mabel laughed at my look Of
pleased astonishment. But her
laugh was cut short, for suddenly
the doorway framed Ralph, plus a
complete air Of being at home and
unexpected. And in a moment
Mabel's warmth changed to some
thing clouded and cold.
Am I intruding?" she asked
CURLY, everything in her manner
showing resentment and estrange-
ment.
waited for Ralph to handle
what, absurdly enough, had be-
come q situation.
What you two girls are about
to do is come to lunch with a
lone. lorn bachelor" said Ralph
Lacy. ignoring Mabel's suggestion
that she was intruding.
He strobe into my office as he
spoke, with something pleasantly
tyrannical in his manner. But
Mabel was in no frame Of mind
to respond gracefully.
IF you and Anne had an APP
pointment," she said caustically,
II don't see why the accident of
my strolling in just ut this min
ute need interfere with your
plans"
1--WE haven't a plan which
doesn't include you," persisted
Ralph saving me from the
need Of meeting the embarrass-
ment which Mabel was manag.
ing to cause me. II tell you I'll
enjoy marching into a restaurant
in lordly fashion with two such
charming women following meek
ly in my wake. Come on, girls,
I'm sure Anne's hat is on at just
the right angle now"
I turned from my mirror smil-
ing in appreciation Of Ralph's
way Of explaining my silence.
"This is a pleasant surprise,
isn't it, Mabel?" I said without
meaning to put her off the track
and referring in my own mind to
the surprise Of her visit.
But Mabel lifted her eyebrows
and shrugged her shoulders to
match as she said with cynical
smile:
I'm not being hoodwinked, mind
you. l know that / am the sur
prise. But If you insist on my
coming along to play pro.
priety -"
I'm sure she was sorry the min
ute she was committed to saying
anything so catty, but Ralph didn't
wait to let her gloss it over or
make amends Instead he strobe
up to her AMI said in low voice
that had the growl Of thunder
back Of it:
Mabel! If two such friends as
Anne and 1 couldn't lunch with.
out having a chaperone, I'd be Of
the opinion that, the world had a
bad case of yellow jaundice. And
If you make any more remarks
as unlike ynu as that, TIL be
thinking you'd better look up a
doctor to cure you of mental in.