The Bozeman courier., 1927-11-25
DeliCateSSen Love

thoroughly kissed, as thoroughly kissed
as a technically nice girl could be.
Calhoun was aware of her schedule.
But for few minutes after passing Peg
he fell into a silence which he had not
contemplated. He had not exactly for
gotten Peg. She had been right in her
diagnosis of his intention to call her up
and see her again. But Calhoun had a
simple rule for himself, which was not to
handle inf1ammable material, and when )
he found that he was thinking a little
too much about Peg, he diverted his
find elsewhere. Also he had asked about
her and the whole O'Brien history had
been reviewed for his benefit, including
the stories of Jeronimus O'Brien's worth
less mines, and his Scapegrace son who
had died, and julie who had married so
unfortunately, and Peg who was study
ing to be a stenographer. And with all
those things in mind Calhoun had let
the situation ride.
He knew that in the natural course Of
events ne would meet Peg again and 1T
was, on the whole better not to have the
occasion Of his own seeking. Better not
to be involved.
The married who were not getting on
in years or unhappy at home did not
come too often to the club. That in
itself showed how tied they were.
The club itself, excellent structure OF
early Georgian architecture, built to last !
lifetime and on property that apprect-
ated every year, was exceedingly COM |
! Portable. It was, as an institution, some !
! thing of a social mentor to the city. The
Country club, far out and suburban, was
| recluse of a club as far as the general
public was concerned, but the Town
! club, little to the left of the heart Of
the city, in the proper position Of vital
organ, was well known to the very Ia
borers who rode by it on the street cars
on their way to work at six o'clock in
the morning. 1t was, at that time, in
dignif1ed repose.
At seven-thirty it began to stir mildly
as the boy sweeping its walks indicated,
and at eight-thirty the breakfast room
was pleasantly full Of the residents. They
were all gentlemen of income who took
! their breakfasts seriously and ate with
care, especially if they were doing gas
tronomic penance for any libations Of the
night before.
Peg O'Brien passed the club every
morning. She had to do it if she walked
to school and while Mr.. O'Brien talked
enthusiastically Of the automobiles he
meant to buy in the near future, as soon
as he had his strength back. Peg was
Just as glad that street cars still ran.
She disliked street cars, though she ap-
} preciated their necessity, not because Of
, their noise or crowds, but because OF
their eternal jerking to stops and jerking
to starts So she got up half an hour
earlier and walked, which helped to &C
count for the fact that she could eat
: four slices Of bacon and dish OF cooked
cereal before she started and yet have a
chin with the sweetest of shadowed hol-
5 lows and legs which were so firm and
/ charming that filters always urged her
to have her skirts even shorter.
2 She had long ago discovered, from see
ing a good many Of them, that men of
Y wealth and high position differed hardly
] at all from other kinds Of men and so to
see a gentleman emerge from the Town
t club dio not even make her look twice.
j That was why Calhoun Hastings caught
g up with her without her recognizing him
"This is luck" he said. Can I walk
j along with you?"
She glanced quickly at him. Again
:, he gave her an emotional start That
S eager, personal look, that smile which
d seemed never to have been used before
d must have taken any number of girls in
h she thought in secret anger. And with
b that thought, she smiled, and all Peg:
n smiles were early morning ones, gay anc
d delightful.
n 'Of course. But don't you Limousine
to your Officer"
e mo. I always walk"
ie "Just like me. But from so different ;
IS Ireason!" She looked at him again, close
" ly There's some egg on your face"
le He put up quick hand and rubbed
n his mouth, then pulled out handker
ID chief. For minute he didn't seem tt
r know the answer. Possibly no one hat
lg ever remarked on traces Of breakfas
g. about him before.
IS ct guess I was wrong" said Peg re
ly garding his mouth intently. "No, it
* not egg"
le He was disconnected and kept rubbing
ye "It's nothing" she encouraged hin
t. don't bother. You look all right"
p He tried to pick up the easy gallan
It, swing Of his usual conversation but foun
IN it hard. How could one talk to a gil
who saw egg on mans face?
il Where are you going so early?" b
ay asked.
a That was a blunder, for he must hav
he known, and he brought some frang rev
elationS about his head.
0u I'm going to business college. I'm o
the forty-third lesson. My speed tes
be are improving, too. don't suppose 70
or know of any jobs? I'm going to
as through with my course in week or
ct, and want to go right to work"
it what you want"
es ct want a check" she said. 'That
a my simple and direct object. A recu,
ut rent check on a good bank. Otherwi
he I'm not particular. Keep me in min
lst will you?"
90 She spoke exactly as a girl should WI
wanted job badly, and it embarrassE
ate Calhoun. He appreciated her difficu
asst ties, but he expected her to do what mo
to people did when talking Of their final
me cial worries to people in their own soci
'ur groups, either minimize them or humo
en-. ize them little. Peg didn't.
he Things cost so much" she went o
ne. 'You wouldn't believe what we have
ly, pay for rent for that house we live in.
have an idea that if one could afford
her it would be cheaper to buy the place al
'ed rent one side Of it out. It's really qui
nd a good house. The old Monroe house
is, you know"
l "I imagine that must be very W.
built house."
r." "Needs a new bathroom" sighed Pc
''It has tin tub. They've enameled
The but it flakes on you. You know"
e." He didn't know. Bathtubs and sho'
lch ers at the Town club did not flake. B
ade he did know that at that moment P
in left him again with no answer. The
was nothing his repertoire that met
ob- remark about taking bathtub. He Ike
his silence and walked along beside her VIII
she talked on, every now and then Ii.
in ing that pivid face under her bla'
'en, broad hat to him and then turning
ary away again. It was an old trick Of Pc
ate own. She knew how eager a man col
ing get If she delayed very long in lifting
Who The things she talked about; were cIl