The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-03-01
THE GREAT
DRAGON AT
SEVEN
g
By WILLIAM L. GAYLORD
Mcclure syndicate-wNU ServiceJ

SCIdIlDlGQ eggs. not DulttkGu tOdSl,
fragrant amber coffee. all just as
Ned loved them But Ned, abom-
inable creature. buried his nose in
the Morning Telegram, gulped his
coffee, and pecked at her absently
when he left.
Ned dear, | subscribed to the
Jobless Students relief fund yester-
day Six dollars and seventy-fve
cents, as a matter of fact"
Absorbed now with the sporting
page, Ned poked his coffee cup at
her without glanclng up.
Gould use some relief ourselves,
should think - he grumbled.
My gosh, how much did you
say? Six seventy-fve?" Ned was
certainly looking at her now.
But Ned, you don't understand
The nice boy who was soliciting
needed help SO badly"
Should think you'd grow up some
day, Doris!"
Il think you're just terrible!"
We'll, my gosh, letting a slick
tongued crook Wangle you out of six
Seventy-fvep
He wasn't crook at ALL"
Ever hear of the fund before?"
well, no, but"
Got your money, didn't he?"
"Of course, but"
What else can you call the bird
then? Gee, kid, got to tear off.
Late already"
Ned grabbed his hat and coat,
pecked at her nose, and was gone
There! You see? Ned didn't love
her any more.
Suppose, just suppose, there was
something besides business behind
Ned's growing preoccupation? Sup
pose it wasn't just middle-age in
difference creeping on him at twen-
ty-four? SUPPOSE it was someone
else he cared for? Doris put in a
bad half hour on these supposings.
Then she heard the mailman on the
front porch.
Half a dozen bills, an invitation
from Janice to spend the weekend
IN the city, and plain, thin en-
velope addressed in a masculine
hand she didn't recognize. It's con-
tents made her plump down hard
on the davenport:
Dear Mrs. Wilton:
Perhaps you'll be interested
to know that your husband is
carrying on a rather serious af-
fair with pretty little chorus
girl in the city. He has dinner
date with her for Wednesday
evening at seven, at the Green
Dragon cafe.
Respectfully yours,
A Friend.
1t wasn't true, she told herself
over and over.
Some smart wisecracking friend
was just trying to be clever.
Ned wasn't that kind. And she
wouldn't under any circumstances
demean herself and Ned by going
TO the Green Dragon. Certainly not.
Just as she had reached this
chivalrous decision the telephone
rang.
Hello, dear. Everything K. or"
Ned's voice sounded anxious and
labored, exactly as though he want
ed 20 seem unconcerned but
couldn't.
"Of course. Why"
Listen, dear, I can't make it to-
night until late Got a business en-
gagement."
A business engagement! Doris
strove to keep her own voice I'm
ruffied
"oh, very we'll I suppose I can
manage"
"Bye!"
That settled it.
Precisely at six forty-fve Doris
entered the Green Dragon.
She was wearing her new hand
knitted frock and saucy suede
sport hat TO match.
Ned's pretty little chorus girl
would have to display lot of class
to outshine her.
Choosing a chummy, secluded
booth, but one where she could
watch the entrance, Doris gave a
few deft touches to her hair and
face
Almost immediately she saw Ned
come in, striding handsomely past
the head waiter.
How many times had he been
there before? Doris wondered, with
a savage leap of her heart.
Ned's eyes scanned the tables
with q quick businesslike sweep.
and came TO rest finally at her own
booth, without, however, trace of
the establishment she expected.
Am intruding?" he asked
striding toward her.
Not at all, Mr.. Wilton. Sit down.
won't your"
"You bet III SIT down." He fairly
shouted.
You might just explain, Doris,
what this means"
Hadn't you better do the explain
ing?"
You're in reverse, old grill I
can read writing, can't -"
II don't know what you mean.
Ned"