Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-01-10

The Oyster
Expert
By JANE OSBORN

"TF YOU pass up Jim Crane-weli,
you needn't come to me for sym
patty II you never get as good q
chance again. That's ALL" Bruce Bor-
don spoke with the full authority Of
twenty-five years to his twenty-year-
old sister, Jane. They were sitting
together alone In the Borden diving
room. Bruce had noticed for the first
time that Jane was not wearing her
engagement ring. ~sa
Bruce demanded explanations with
brotherly exactltude, and Jane had In
a manner that Bruce considered much
too flip, announced that she had
broken with Jim and was glad she
had done So
isis, you're crazy" Bruce an
nounced. "You'd be darned lucky to
marry a man like Jim Crane. I guess
you don't realize what his standing Is.
Why, he's barely thirty, and it's gen.
orally acknowledged that he knows
more about oysters than any man In
this country. guess II you knew how
the fellows admire him at college
you'd be sorry for what you've done"
"He's a crusty old professor, and
az absent-minded as the worst Of
them" snapped Jane That's the
trouble. Wed only been engaged two
months, and three times in that space
Jim forgot to call for me when be
had promised to-
"Signs of genius, sis; signs OF gen.
ius," commented Bruce; but Jane was
not to be persuaded.
So matters stood between Prof.
James Crane and his erstwhlle fiancee,
Jane Borden. Meanwhile, the profess
sor perceptibly lost weight and be-
came more absent-mlnded than ever.
After two weeks Of the severed en-
gagement she had reached the point
where she admitted to herself that she
longed Cor the sight Of Jim Crane.
1t happened that week that there
was the ocean Front Exhibit" Some
interested protector Of the affair had
given a number of admission tickets
to the secretary of Bruce's fraternity,
Bruce gave one to Jane and one to
Jim. Jane went alone-but Jim took
his five-year-old niece, Lucille.
A bus ride, thrilling for Lucille
bought them to the door of the ex'
hlbition hall, and before many minutes
had passed Lucllle's eyes were agoG
with admiration of the gay lights and
gally decorated booths. What took heI
eye from the first was corner booth
set up to advertise newly opened
stretch of seashore. The booth con
sisted Of a space twenty feet square
filed with white sand from the beach
At the back was canvas drop paint
ed to resemble the far horizon o.
ocean and sky.
Professor James Crane spied moi
very far Off a booth set up by th'
State fisheries. There was specia
display showing work In oyster cul
ture.
Suppose you stay here few min
utes, Lucille" he suggested, "and III
go over to that booth and pretty sOor
I'll come back"
Meanwhile Jane Borden had ar
rived. She looked about but saw moth
ing that especially Interested her. She
approached the Orchard Beach exhibit
and spied Lucille. In second she had
crouched down beside her and was
asking her dozen questions.
uncle Jim's gone to look at some
thing and left me here" said Lucille.
TITS perfect shame" exclaimed
Jane. Hes probably forgotten all
about you. You come with me. I'll
take you home" And under her
breath she added, "rll teach Jim q
lesson"
Going home to the Crane house,
Jane had mlsgivings. She would, Of
course, be giving James Crane scare,
and she had no real right to walk of
with his niece. Still she would be
teaching him lesson, and the whole
thing gave her an excuse to go TO the
Crane house.
She found no one In but the cook,
40 she decided to spend the remainder
Of the afternoon on the grounds Of the
Crane place, playing with Lucille. But
she had only played about fifteen min
utes when she saw the long shadow
of Jim Crane speeding toward her on
the grass.
81 suppose you are perfectly furious
with me-" she defended, but really"
"Furiousi Why should ] be furi'
ousi" querled the professor.
For taking Lucille away. II must
have given you q dreadful fright, but
really yon ought to be ashamed for
leaving the child there all alone"
II knew where she had gone" said
Jim, beamlng. II had no reason for
alarm. I asked the young woman In
charge Of the booth where the child
had gone and she said with lady
whom Lucille seemed to know--a very
pretty lady"
"How could you tell from thatT
asked Jane, blushIng.
because you're the only very pref
ty lady that Lucille and know" said
the absent-mlnded professor, looking
lntently into James face. Her eyes
fell.
Then he took her two hands In his
and ha IonLad NJ Iana and lana