Smyrna times., 1927-08-24
Bets and Short
Hair
By JANE OSBORN

prim and the boys would like you a
lot better" said Mrs. Westerman.
Mrs. Westerman's niece, Nancy
Gray, across the hotel luncheon table,
pouted her lips prettily. "You know
dad likes my hair long. After you've
gone to all the trouble and expense to
bring me to the city 1 hate to be con-
trary."
Il knew you'd consent" beamed her
aunt. You'll just have time for it
this afternoon. We leave for home at
eight tomorrow morning-so you'll
have to have it done this afternoon.
I'll go right after luncheon to make
an appointment"
Like good many recently bobbed
middle-aged women, Mrs. Westerman
was bent on having every other wom-
an-especially the younger ones-fol-
low suit. But that was not all. Be
fore she left Denniston for a weeks
sojourn in the city with her pretty
niece, she had laid a substantial
wager with her husband that she'd
bring Nancy back with short hair, and
Mrs. Westerman didn't intend to lose
her bet.
Nancy, always a little afraid of her
domineering aunt, hardly dared to
come out with a fiat refusal, but,
though she appeared to yield, she had
no intention of parting with her lovely
golden brown curls. She looked around
the hotel dining room as If she half
expected someone to appear to cham
pion her. If she only knew someone
in the city who might make some 9th
er plans for the afternoon. After that
it would be too late. It was then
that she recognized at a table not far
from her own young Brutus Smith
a decidedly presentable young eligible
whom she had met number of times
in Denniston. She wasn't at all sure
that he would remember her-Or that
he could rescue her from her aunt and
the barber, but Nancy was desperate.
Fortunately Brutus was alone. Nancy
looked over to him and smiled invit-
ingly. Brutus smiled back, rose from
his table and hurried to her side.
Nancy introduced him to her aunt.
She told Brutus that she thought pos
sibly he had forgotten her.
"No, indeed" said Brutus IF
you'd been bobbed like the rest,
probably shouldn't have remembered
right away-not expecting to see you
here-but a long-haired girl nowadays
is like a blue-eyed Chinaman."
There, didn't l tell you" eagerly
put in Mrs. Westerman. You see
I've been telling Nancy that she was
making a spectacle of herself with her
hair still long. But suppose you get
the waiter to bring your things over
here with Nancy. I've got to go out
to do some telephoning." She beamed
approvingly at Nancy and hustled off.
Il suppose you are busy this after
noon," began Nancy, blushing.
Brutus came to her rescue. 'I had
several tentative plans" he said. "But'
il. just occurred to me that if you'd
care to go to play with me I'd be
tickled to death"
"But / didn't mean to suggest II"
said Nancy much confused. "My
aunt was trying to get me to do some
thing I didn't want to this afternoon,
and If / could tell her that had ac-
cepted an invitation from you-why,
you could just leave me at a public
library or museum or somewhere"
Swell chance a girl like you would
have of spending an afternoon alone
In a museum or a library-while I'm
able to toddle. .WeTl get your aunt's
permission and go right on. But don't
fiatter yourself that you started this"
Brutus went on as they saw Mrs.
Westerman approaching. 81 was just
about to make some such suggestion
myself. Moreover 1 was going to ask
you to go to a little dance with me
this evening. Nice refined little club
Of mine Your aunt couldn't object
plenty of chaperons will be there.
Mrs. Westerman really didn't have
an opportunity to object, so insistent
were both Nancy and Brutus.
"But, DEAR" said her aunt, I've
jus. made an appointment for you.
Oh, well. I'll go ask them to take you
at FIVE"
young Nancy, ''but Mr.. Smith was just
saying that he~wanted to take me 10
afternoon tea after the matinee"
The next morning Brutus met Mrs.
Westerman and her niece at the hotel
at breakfast. He brought with him
orchids and chocolates. At the sta
ton he kissed Nancy good-by. you
mustn't object" he told Mrs Wester-
man, because I'm in love with your
niece I'm coming out to Denniston
day after tomorrow to talk things
over"
Brutus Smith kept his word. He
came two days later, proposed to
Nancy and was accepted. Later Mrs.
Westerman had minute TO speak to
Brutus alone. II am perfectly de-
lighted" she said. seven If 1t did cost
me fifty dollars. You see bet my
husband that I'd bring Nancy home
with her hair bobbed."