Evening star., 1939-02-19

She did not hold Harvey responsible. any
more than she blamed Helen Adams That
was why she did not understand What had
happened. A little older than either she or
Peter Barring. and far more experienced,
Harvey FaWCett had not attempted to come
between them by entering into open rivalry.
1t was much simpler to make each one doubt
the others love. Since they we're both sens-
tive and proud, and he was skillful enough to
make mountain out of every molehill, it
had been absurdly easy The game was won,
he felt. if Pete failed to call for her this after
noon 1t would be more than merely breaking
adate. When a young couple 60 together every
Saturday for whole summer, people begin
to think of them as being engaged. If Pete
failed to call for her he would be more than
breaking date; he would be breaking their
unannounced but recognized engagement.
The whole crowd would look at it that way.
Mary. too, would look at it that way =.
Harvey was we'll content with the world as
he watched Tod set off at run down the
street.
When Tod reached the Barings' house he
found that Spike was no place IN sight. but
that Pete's roadster was parked at the curb;
so. of course he climbed into the car and
hOnked the horn few times. The first person
to answer the summons was not Spike but
Pete. He came out of the house with an air of
haste He was a tall young man with
friendly grin, who managed to be rather
good looking although he did not have any
perfect features.
Spikes in the back yard " he said, settling
himself behind the wheel. Unless YOU want to
ride back to your house" he added. you'd
better hop out.
Tod had better idea why on'tCha
drive me an Spike over by the railroad tracks
where we en- watch EN- play ball back of the
lumber yard. huh Boy, they play swell
an ="
NO can do I'm late enough as it is.
'Aw. yuh don't have to take Mary to
the tennis club" Tod assured him She's
got Harvey to take her" He shook his head.
1T sure takes her lot longer to get pretty
for him than it ever did for you, he said
without malice, simply giving his impression
of the situation. Why. she's been 6essin
hours and hours for him.
Yes" Pete's voice sounded to Tod like
the voices he had heard in his room that time
. he had been real sick. We'll Mary's
waiting for me. isn't she?"
Nav! She didn't say thing about waitin
for you Why, she an Harvey must be al
ready gone by now Will yuh take Spike an
me over by the railroad tracks. huh?"
Pete did not at once reply, but sat staring
straight ahead for such time that Tod re-
peated the question. Pete turned his head
then and looked at him like he had forgotten
he was there NO" he said in an odd. quiet
voice. Not today, Tod :. Hop OUT he
fared 1--WE got an engagement
Tod climbed out of the car and dismissed
the ball game and Pete from his mind. He
did not even notice that. instead of proceed
ing down. Maple Street toward Tod's home.
the roadster turned left at the first corner.
He could not guess nor would it have signi-
fled anything to him if he. had guessed. that
in few moments Mary was to turn from her
bedroom window and. pausing at the head
of the stairs to blink back the acid tears,
compose her face into the bright, gay smile
with which she must face the waiting Harvey
- and her world.
The thing that did interest Tod was that
Spike was waiting for him at corner OF the
house That was what Spike was dong,
although an adult eye might not have guessed