The Coolidge examiner., 1934-01-26

vIncing, was almost beyond belief.
1t was only when one looked at her
mouth that one fell with a crash
from confidence to a queer uncer-
tainty. "How-dO-you-doE she said.
Il answer in every particular to
the requirements set forth. VIII
you explain just what you mean by
weekend companion, please?"
Yes, l will" said John, ''in the
strictest confidence. Five years ago
| fell in love and won the girl OF
my choice. She was and is the most
charming, teautiful and sterling girl
in the world. I'm an idealist, IA
matte, in fact, an old-fashioned man.
That is, l detest divorce and regard
marriage as the most beautiful
thing in life. / have invented this
scheme because my wife has been
bitten by a microbe which is doing
more TO undermine marriage than
any other bugs which attack the
modern home. She has taken up
the latest craze of adopting young
man who dances to perfection, ut
ters words of fatuous flattery at all
times of day, carries little parcels
and takes the dog for a run. 1t Is
the new profession for every man
with curly hair who simply refuses
to work. / detest the little beast. y
"Why don't you kick him outT'
81 can only do that If / go in for
a frightful row with my wife, and
I'm too much in love with her to
do anything like that"
II see," said Percy Piercy. "Ev-
erything's quite clear. I'm to be the
female Dodo and shock your wife
into realization that the poor old
worm has turned The role OF the
weekend girl is right down my
street"
John clasped her outstretched
hand. YES" he said. You are to
do for me, only twice as well and
twice as horribly, what this wretch
ed Dodo does for my demented wife.
You are to drive home with me to-
day and commence proceedings at
once, be wholly at my disposal, fol-
low me about, treat me as your pet
whenever my wife is present,
snuggle and adore and say all the
sweet idiotic things that will make
even Lallah squirm."
1t would be too rash to ~eport
exactly what happened during those
dreadful days. 1t must be stated
simply and carefully that John and
Percy ran about hand In hand. al
lowed themselves to be caught in
petting postures, and cooed all over
the house; sat cheek TO cheek In
| public places and sighed when the
moon came out. II was a desperate
and horrible business played TO per-
fection by both. II almost went TO
prove that John was better actor
than he was a dramatist. BY
twelve o'clock on Sunday John was
"Sqoosalums" to Percy and Percy
, was "Woozy" to John. Oh, lady,
think Of that!
But when on Monday morning
Johns car was brought to the door
and Lallah stood framed In the
archway, there TO say good-by,
where was WooZy"-where? Echo
answered the word Did II mat
ter In any case? The experiment
had failed. John had worked for
nothing. He had provided his wife
with a weekend of ceaseless laugh
ter and fun. She had said at the
end of breakfast, DO it again, dear
boy. Repeat it all next Friday. It's
all too gorgeous for words"
"Smithson. where's Miss PiercyT'
Failure or not. 1t was Johns Job
to drive that lady back.
Miss Piercy left in a station
taxi. sir. while you were up in your
ROOM" To which was added a per
ceptible sigh of relief.
You must be wrong" said Lal-
lah, showing her beautiful teeth.
"No, madam. Mr.. Lulworth
phoned for the taxi before going In
to breakfast and then drove off with
Miss Piercy, sir. l put all his bag
gage in. Miss Piercy left a note for
madam. Would you like me to fetch
it, sir?"
Lallah took the letter from SlmD-
sons soft, plump hand. Your little
companion tells me-" she said
briefly and rather well, that she
and dear old Dodo had a confer.
! ence last night. He has a friend
it appears. who's been trying to cast
play, and Dodo came to the con.
clusion. having watched her work
with you. that she was born for the
part and he's going to take her to
the manager and ask for the part of
the boy. I'll read these lines to you
/ 'DodO and l are soulmates and this
engagement will lead to wedding
BELLS" There was a ripple OF
laughter as the letter fiuttered
down.
"Camouflage," thought John
| .sDOor oIIoh'c daanly hprt w; n