Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-11-25
Polly Drake Made
a Mistake
By CLARISSA MACKIE

Va
people, and of this twenty-five hun
dred. five belonged to James brakes
family. Their two sons were abroad,
Ronald studying music In Parls-Ben-
Jamln at Oxford.
At home was the only daughter,
Polly, nineteen, Just recovering from
q sprained ankle.
Polly, looking dlstractingly pretty In
a filmy pink frock, suddenly heard a
step on the veranda, and looking up
discovered the handsomest young man
she had ever seen, bowling very for
mally.
One quick glance at the dust upon
his brown shoes, the bundle Of black
covered books under one arm, placed
him for Polly Drake. He was a book
agent, perhaps.
"Ye-es?" drawled Polly little snob-
bishly.
"Ah," he hesltated, and he had the
incest voice, too, 81 must apologize
for this intrusion, but"
"Ye-esr interrupted Polly. us 1t
a book subscription
For an instant he stared at her In
an amazed way, then he laughed
gently, and said: II am afraid not,
Miss Drake"
MISUNDERSTANDING" murmured
Polly.
"Not even magazines he said re-
gretfully, and then, all at once, Polly
knew all about him, for his pictured
face was staring back at her from
the page of the newspaper she had
pocked upl
It was "Little King" the notorious
robber, who stood before her The
young man, who had achieved a cheap
notoriety through his daring robberles
"a society daylight burglar And
here was James brakes only daugh-
ter, with a beautiful pearl necklace
around her throat and wearing a dla-
mond ring-Polly gasped, even as she
so rapidly placed him. She did not
ask him to sit down, but she rose to
her slim height, leaning on her crutch.
She did not want a disturbance that
would wake her mother.
"Ah, you have had an accldentT
sympathized the young man politely.
Polly nodded, mute with hidden
fear.
"Of course you know who I am"
he went on. "Mr. Drake suggested
that l might come up here and walt
until his return" He offered her his
card, but Polly waved 1t away.
~ recognized you" she said CURLY.
Recognized me?" he repeated.
"Yes-your picture is In the paper"
"What paperr he asked bruskly.
For answer she handed him the
newspaper she had been looking at.
II do not see my picture here, Miss
Drake"
"The picture on the right column"
she said steadily, and all the time
she was watching his dark face
$50 you believe that l am Little
King the theft" he asked, and when
Polly sat down In her chair, he, too,
sat down In chair opposite.
at Is hard to believe It," said Polly
Drake seriously, looking her loveliest
as sudden color flooded her cheeks,
but you look just like the picture"
Gravely he leaned over and extend
ed the paper. "Please read the de-
scription, Miss Drake" he said coolly,
and Polly read 1t aloud, In a falterlng
voice.
"About FIVE feet. four lnches-stout
red hair-mole on chln-brown eyes
OIL am so sorry, l don't know
what / was thinking about"
He had leaned down and, picking
up the card she had dropped, present
ed 1t with mirthful blue eyes.
"Neale Rutherfordr' Polly was on
her feet now, holding out both hands,
her face radiant. "How can you ever
forgive mef"
Easily" laughed Rutherford. "YOu
see, I stopped In the bank and saw
your father, and he said to come up
here and get acquainted with you.
He asked me to bring this package
Of books or something, and said II was
to go onto his desk in the library"
Now, Polly was busy ringing for
cooling drinks, and hoping that he
would stay the night there, and he
hastily told her that Mr.. Drake was
bringing up his bag in the car. Then,
after refreshments, they slowly walked
down to the garden and sat down
near the pool and he told Polly about
the loss Of his father, and the failure
Of his fathers business that followed.
$50 your father has offered me
vacant position In his bank here, ard
| am beginning at the bottom" said
Neale. my mother Is coming a lit
tie later, and l will establish home
for us here. Your father is a won
derful man. Miss Polly"
Polly nodded thoughtfully, and It
was just then that Mr.. Drake came
home and told Polly Neale was to be
their guest for a week or two until
he found house in which to make
home for his mother and sister.
That night Mr.. Drake smiled at his
wife.
"Alice," he said, "Neale Ruther-
ford's boy is here-and l very much
fear that he and Polly have fallen in
love with each otherw
Mrs. Drake smiled. "That would
make me very happy, James, for you
know his people are Of the very best
and as for money James, how
much did you have when l fell in
love with you"
"FIfteen dollars, believe" he said,
kneellng beside her, and together they