The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-16
THE STORY

Ned kneeled beside her and took
her hands In HIS. gently taking them
away from her face.
Don't" Mary pleaded.
"Crying?"
NO, not yet" came In muffied
tones from behind the hands. which
she had snatched from him and
covered her face again. but
will be presently. II you are 50 un-
Kind. How can you expect me to
play alto flirt with you, when
am worried about M0ther?"
Il don't want you to fiirt. I'm
In deadly earnest"
Mary turned her head farther
away.
"Mary, take your hands away
and look ut me. never was more
serious in my life. Ii yOu'll listen
10 me. you'll see how hard I'm try
ing to keep you from spelling
Claudes romance. But for you.
YOUR mother and Claude might b.
happy
Mary's hands came away from
her face now. but for NE! Why,
I'm all that holds them together"
$50 you think, but you're quite
wrong. II you were safely removed
from their grasp. Polly would think
how lonely Claude was. and Claude
would think how sad it was for
Polly. Even at over forty, my
dear. grown-ups can't make love
before their children. But II you
should engage yourself to nice,
handy. lOvable young man. like my
self. then that let's father aud
mother off to attend to their own
affairs. while the responsibility for
making Mary happy falls OH the
young mans shoulders. know u
pair that fairly aches for that re-
sponsibility."
He took step nearer-and the
waiter entered with the tea. by
the time he had gone away, Polly
| and Claude had entered.
Even as Mary flew across the
room to kiss and cling to her moth
er, her mind paid homage to her fa-
Tiers greatness. TO bring Polly
Johnston into this situation. with
this prolnptness, was marvellous In
his daughters eyes. She longed
, to have been present to see 1t nc.
cOmplished. Mother, Of all people
! sitting calmly at Claude Dabbs' tes
table, drawing Off her gloves and
making conversation with Ned! 800
| Claude came toward his daugh
| ter, Il humorous question In hi
eyes. But it remained unspOken
for ut that moment Loren Rangele,
was announced and entered.
Ned, standing, beside Mrs. John
StOn- Dabbs, was the first to Mee
his fathers eyes. Mary saw I.orer
stiffen, and then come forward with
an easy: "Ah. Ned, this Is an unex
pected pleasure"
Quite" said Ned, without show
Ing that one OF his pet theories hat
gone to smash. Far frostt Dabb
being LOren's agent, L. was LOrel
who bore himself as srhough. he wa,
Claude's agent. Ned meant 10 &c
1t out Of Claude before the eve
, ming was much older. I'm stay
ing with Dabbs." he volunteered
He did not want to let his fathe
down, either.
Il didn't know" Loren was NAL
Ing his way to Mrs. Polly with
smile and OutStretched hand, bu
somehow or other Claude was Their
before him.
think I'll have to dntroduc
this lady to you, Mr.. Kangeley." h
) announced amiably. Mrs. Claud
Dabbs."
LOren's face was q study
mixed emotions, but Polly was cali
and smiling A. she lifted her eye
| to his.
III Mrs. Dabbs has been separate
| from me for some years. BY m,
; tual agreement she used he
maiden name, but we've nevt
been divorced" Claude explained.
LOren's brOws drew together, bl
before he could speak Claude ha
slipped his hand through Mary
arm and brought her forward
And my daughter, Mary Dabbs
Claude. continued. with pride. "YO
knew her, Of course, As Mary J0hl
StOn."
lust So" Loren Rahgeley's col
smile took In the whole party, .
he asked: And the reason for tn
little family party? You see, l OnI
expected to see you, Dabbs. III
talk business, SO ! am Y little su
prised."
Naturally" Claude agreed, "b'
as you were coming. We thought
Ned interrupted. Its rather Z
to me to explain. Father. You sc
I want to marry Claude Dabb
daughter"
Il telephoned you last night
Polly said quietly, ITO come at ono
You see, Loren, ! had never m
your son. and naturally l wishl
to be assured"
"Oh quite" LOren agreed hastil
his color coming back gradual
Then the red-headed beauty h,
not given him entirely away.
would have been awkward. esp
cially In view Of his relations wi
Claude" 1.-THE boys Of age. 80 n
consent IL hardly necessary. Leo
graduate you. Ned, on your choice
and he hent over the ahrinki,