Evening star., 1928-05-20

SCARED one before her. And it was
that smile that decided his fate!
For suddenly an idea came to Cherry
and she made daring plan.
You're not going to be entirely we'll,
she said, surveying the swollen ankle,
before the end of the week. Not
until Saturday or Sunday. at the
earliest"
"Oh. prophet Of cheer!" he groaned
They tried out his other leg then,
and. leaning heavily on Cherry. he
| managed to hobble out to the roadway
There luck was with them. One oi
the wagons that carried luggage be-
| tween the station and the hotels was
lust coming down the road. AT
Cherry's call the driver drew up,
Won't you please take us to the
Imperial?" Cherry pleaded.
You staying at the Imperial?" he
questioned. looking at the young man
Well. I don't know" replied the
latter, holding out his bandaged leg
Foot loose and fancy free as l am,
! should make a tour of the hotels to see
which would suit me best, I should
Hes coming to the Imperial,
Cherry cut in.
The driver helped them up to the
| back of the truck and made room
! aUlOnk TIC u utihs AVA ~hNAAS ohN AN'
battered partner.
perhaps you'd better know some
thing right Off" Cherry began impress
| sivelv. Its this: I'm kidnapping
YOU"
She waited for her words to take
effect, which they did not--appreci-
| ably. I'm taking advantage of your
helpless condition and bringing you 10
| the Imperial And you've got TO stay
| there until the end of the week"
"A couple of days. and this leg Will
be all right"
Doesn't make any difference. You've
| got to stay till the end Of the week. y
The end of the week! What's the
| end of the week got to do with me-"
This much" said Cherry solemnly
AT the end of the week. I'm leaving
Then you can do what you like"
/ She told him then. with an intensity
that even he took cognizance OF, about
| the vacation plans that had so griev-
| ously miScarried. Of how she was 10
meet the L.andays. two old ladies
| friends of her mother. who lived in
New York and came to the Imepr'al
every Summer, and who had written in
answer to her mothers letter that they
would look after Cherry during their
! stay there AT the last moment. just as
| she was about to board the train for
New York, they had sent q telegram.
Miss Angela was III and they were post
| poning their trip until later in the sea-
son. They would be glad 10 have
| Cherry with them then.
| Them AS IL young ladies who worked
| in law Offices could alter vacation plans
| at a moments notice.
n =
CHERRY'S mother never saw thai
~ telegram. Cherry crushed 1t in hel
hand. 1t had been too late TO turn
back then. Her mother must not.
could not be disappointed. All the new
| clothes had cost too much IN loving
labor The whole wild scheme OF her
vacation had been paid for too dearly
| in scrimping and saving and tremo-
lous planning on her mothers part. 80
she had come alone.
She neglected. however. to inform her
| companion of a certain other disap-
| uointment that lay in store for her
/ mother. For. when Cherry's protests
| had been loudest at the extravaganza
of her vacation plans, the mother had
pointed out firmly that every girl had
/ her future to take care of--meaning.
| of course, to marry; and Cherry recog-
nized this as the motif in the other
| wise wild plan of sending her to the
expensive resort. Her mother had once
| known a girl who went away for va
| cation and came back engaged. Many
| times since her arrival had Cherry
laughed at the prospect Of such thing
| happening to her at the Imperial
Her companion listened gravely, dur
| ing her recital When she had finished,
mock alarm spread over the visible por-
/ tions Of his face.
what will nv duties be in this new
| role?" he asked, adding. Il assume III
have duties. since I'm obviously dis
| ullalified to sit around and merely LOOK
| beautiful"
| And she told him. You've got To
| talk to me. TO sit with me on tne
| porch: since you're not able 10 dance.
| well sit Just outside the windows ana
| let the music come out TO us-Well De
waIlfowers together And I'll read 10
vou. IL your eye doesn't get better. ana
| I'll help YOU 10 walk while you're lame
| your foot isn't going TO be so bad, l
guess. But you can't go away ana leave
/ me alone again with all that MOB Oh
| strange people"
| Come. come. 1t can't be as bad as
| all that" he said. with surprising gem
| tleness. -,
| course It's all my own fault for coming
/! alone. but heaven knows I didn't "ani
| to come" Her tennis racket, she toic
| him. she had not unsheathed; she mao
not danced once--she almost mao, Snr
| told him. and related the incident.
"A man named Twining. Hostess
| introduced him just as waltz was pe.
ginning. / think he would have asked
me, but group OF girls came along
lust then. and one called. An, mere
| Twiny!' SO he went of with her. That
same girl and her mother came ihee
day did. and the hostess introduced
ius. A Mrs. and Miss Jardine.
Cherry showed him how they hal ac-
knowiedged the intToduction--the one
| with a cool nod. the other naughty
stare. Then they had abruptly gone
| away. 80" finished Cherry, i never
! went back 10 the ballroom and those
are the only people I've met"
Won't be somewhat OF broken
She shook her head. "Youll be some
one To talk to- she said.
why have you stuck 1t out 80 long?
II you went home and told your
/ mother
That's the one thing I wouldn't do,
she declared firmly 1T would break
her heart. She's set so much store by
this vacation"
THEY had turned In ~ the driyewa,
to the Imperial and now stopped
The eKprcssman and Cherry helped him
down. and, holding one leg very Stiffiy
ne was able to walk up the steps. as
sisted only by the gin. upon whom he
leaned heavily. There Was SLOW walk
t0 The desk. aud l0fgncttes aplenty were
turned upon them TO Cherry'S sur
prise. her companion was undlstufbed
seemed unaware 0f their scrutiny.
She supported the young man u the