Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-05-27
Happy Fools I
BY M. MecULLocH WILLIAMS

20 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
twNU servicel

&c By Mcclure Newspaper Syndieate.)
twNu servicel
tsU on don't say" Miss Lexy ex-
4 ploded, rising so quickly she
literally rained scissors, thread and
emery bag upon the carpet. "Did you
ever in all your lifef shorely new.
er did,
mo, sir,n said the Widow Lane,
chuckllng "That Copley boy has run.
away with Damaris, one Of the dane
in Reeves twins, shore enough. I
Just stopped by to tell his mother
The Reeves girls stepfather is that
cut up he cried In the telling. Said
he got the blame, same as for the
stage dancing, and him as innocent
as babe unborn"
Lying, as usual" Miss Lexy com-'
mented. "The twins would be
quietly at home If he hadn't fooled
away the nice money Tom Reeves,
poor fellow, left his widow. She's
one Of those smart fools-I tried to
warn her against Jack Ross, being
church-sister, but she paid no at
tention. So she married him and he
used all her money, and 1t was sin
full hard on Damaris and Doris
Course they took to dancln'. They
had to do something for their living"
"Ain't heard tell-ylt. Let you
know when I do" Widow Lane said
grumplly, whereat Miss Lexy coun-
tered. Needn't trouble, I'll see that
child in about half jify-"
Ana
Miss Lexy, already bonneted,
nodded toward the door, with a
"Come on" But outside, she slid
through the side gate, almost run
ming towards the short cut leading
to the Ross home.
Sliding in ghost-lil1e, instinct guild
ed her to Doris-who had found sane
tuary in the playroom, where In
front of big clouded mirror, she was
essaying new step.
''I'm glad you-know," Doris told
her. Danny wanted to tell you
but they had to hurry so, Mr.. Ross
was simply dreadful-talked about
won't be for a year. We've been
paying him to leave us alone since we
went to work. Says now he means to
keep me here and save the cooks
wages"
"He cain't!" Miss Lexy exclaimed.
Doris smiled wanly, gulped and re-
piled: "But he can. Mother made
him our GUARDIAN can't get work
without his consent. Besides-I can't
get away-he has locked up my dane
ing, my jewels-three silver dollars
is all the money 1 have in the world.
Sid had so little l couldn't let Dam
my go to him empty-handed. So-Pll
grit my teeth and bear 1t for the
year, rather than give him three parts
of what l earn-if I were free"
you're goin' to be free in short
order" Miss Lexy interrupted "Come
with me right now. Time somebody
took Mr.. Jack Ross in hand-and I'm
the person to do it-with a little help
from the good Lord, and Tommy
Woodley," the last under her breath.
"Come just as you are-fetch moth
ing but your music" Miss Lexy or
dered very low, setting her back
against the door. She heard from
the front Jack Ross laying down the
law furlOusly to his weeping wife. In
stantly she set her black hat upon
Doris golden head, huddled the girl
into her own prim Jacket, and, walk
ing in front of her, went to the back
door undiscovered. There she whis-
pered: run your best to my house.
You know the way. Here's the key.
Lock up-tight--and open to nobody"
Five minutes later she had gained
the highway. The first passing mo-
torist was glad to take her straight
to the country town. There she d.
vlded an hour between the bank, the
courthouse and the law office of
Bryce & Woodley, whence she rode
home in a rather extravagant car,
with Tommy himself at the wheel
Tommy talked but little and
chuckled a lot on the way home.
"Thinking over the case" he ex-
planned to Aunt Lexy. Puzzle? Nj
n bit. There's several ways to win
it--question is-which is bestT"
Tommy was sudden-after the man
ner of youth But he had the grace
to wait until after a late but lovely
dinner was out Of the way before
saying anything startling. Then, in
the warmth, glow and perfume Of
June afternoon, he stepped behind
Doris chair, leaned over her, and
said, with the least touch Of tremor:
"Honey, I've loved you nineteen years
at least-slnce l saw you first, you
know-so II only you can tolerate me
1t will be Joy to look after you all
the rest of our lives"
"But-Mr. Ross-my guardianf
Doris stammered.
mfr. Ross knows his danger-prls-
on If It were proved in court how he
had looted your fathers estate, OF
which your mother had llfe.use, but
which he assumed to be hers in fee
But we don't want to send him there
no blots on the family record If we
can sldestep It."
us that really how It stanGs7' said
Doris wonderingly
He smiled down at her, saying:
"Say you'll marry me, darllng-say
II right now, do It right now. We can
go get the license and find Il parson
in an hour at the longest. Aunt Lexy
shall be our bridesmaid and Judge
Bryce our best man. First thing after
that, Wen serve notice to vacate to
Mr. Ross-tell him to go quickly
while the going is good That viii
leave nice quarters for Dummy and
Sld-they love country living as we
love town atmosphere. You'll go with
us, OF course, Aunt Lexy"
"Tor lad you do talk right dow
sensible Miss Lexy said with
chuckle.