The Coolidge examiner., 1934-03-23
SOMEONE'S
DEAREST CARY
81
e. ~ Meg1z4- Ssasss prs BgrIai aEs-
bEEEf Hsfsfes
M cigarette case With vhie
By COsMo HAMILTON

THE cigarette case wiih which
he had been playing vas n
II gold one. battered and none
too clean. Il might hare been used
as a missile in moments of bore
dom during such a tea party as this
one. FOR instance. but undoubtedly
Il was gold. Apart from the de1is
which gave lf a history % careless
ness or temper Il vas dedicated In
a mans handwriting 20 Dearest
Cary-wlth everlasting love. IL
was this engraved inscription. 50
amazingly indiscreei. which made
Ralfour turn 90 the glrl on his
left Balfour was given 10 playing
hermit 10 bis stronghold on the
hnl: his somewhat infrequeni nov
els were numbered among events
Tall. thin. Eray!sh. immaculate. IN
married. he was as aloof as a
cuckoo. but when he came forth.
bland. patient and heroic. he played
the social game with ability. and
hoped. In spite of cyniclsm. for n
little FUN. Il was bis hobby TO
laugh
"Are you CaryT be asked.
Yes. worse luck" she said
she vas pretty. with splendid
shoulders. thoroughbred. OF. as u
amused him 10 put II. gold some
what battered. however he was
hound 70 confess. like the case
She. too. had the appearance - one
who had been used. or had used
herself as a missile. because her
edges had been dcnted and there
vas irony round her mouth. II vas
a pity and be was sorry. His psy-
Geological ere read quite easily 10
stained fingers and slightly oui-of.
date frock q history as denied as
the cigarette case which bad been
pushed beneath his hand
why worse lnekT- be asked.
she would lie as all girls lied. and
every woman. according 90 her
creed
Because hate myself she
said simply. However. would you
like 10 buy q cigarette ease1 us
gold. You can have the dents
pushed out"
Buy it7 Bot what would The
man say who wrote Dearest Cary
with everlasting lover"
"He wouldn't know" she said
He works In Shanghai. you see.
/ intended to 20 10 town TO hook
the poor little thing. can raise
enough money on Il TO buy the only
things which keep me from taking
"a; polson--eiEarettes. ] mean"
You're lying. my child" he said.
I never lie" she answered.
That's why rot a single soul be-
lle.es q word ! xay. I've pushed
this thing under your hand so that
yon might ask me about Il and hav-
ing heard the truth play the gal.
LIANT person and save me going 10
town
lie considered that some ones
dearest Cary vas dramatiElnx her
self. was using her cigarette case
for the purpose OF achieving lime
light However. there were the pos
xibllliies Of amusement In all this
lie might add another laugh 10 bis
collection. which was good. How
much do you wantf~ be asked
Five dollars is the usual sum.
she said.
If ron will throw In the dents
and tell me shat put them there
I'll double the price-though
shant believe q word
Upon which. quite briefly. she
told him that she was engaged 10
be married to n Harvard man who
worked In Shanghai for his nrrn.
There was everlasting love on both
sides. but abe was twenty seven.
and there was no hope OF their
marriage because his salary was
low. Her father and mother were
dead and for several years abe had
been living with a distan; aunt.
Like Mlcawber | am hanging
about waiting for something 10 turn
up. afraid 20 take the bull BY the
horns and strike ont for myself
which answers the unpleasant CUES
tons I can see In the back of your
eyes. II you would rather
that a poor but honest girl who Is
badly up against II continues TO
grace this world why not give me a
jobf In faet-aDd this Is a brain
wave. +.
i thought thar was coming. said
Balfour. ~Bui have n secretary,
as IL happens. very capable girl. =
How long has she been with
your
"FTve years next Christmas" he
said.
"Ah. Then I should think she's
about fed up. II mnSf be terribly
monotonous to have been with you
so long. I think that lets me in
Put me next on your list. will
take up stenography and typewrit.
ing tomorrow and work Ike n little
dog and report at the turn of the
year. know the name ~ your
house here. It's very nice. I'm
told"