Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1915 — Needed a Keeper [ARTICLE]

Needed a Keeper

8h« tu a very pretty girl. Blake bad noticed this tact before he electad to alt at that particular table at the lanch dab, and ahe was sitting with her elbows on the table and her alender white fingers Joined. On the graceful structure rested a delicate tinted chin. Her blue-gray eyes, heavily lashed, were gating dreamily off into space. She made a charming picture. Nevertheless, Blake gave a startled jump when jhe remarked suddenly. but with extreme earnestness: "1 believe I'll use alcohol:” It must be confessed that this seemed a rather cryptic beginning for a conversation with a total stranger, but, aa I have said, she was a very pretty girl and after his first start of surprise Blake recovered himself with commendable promptness. "I beg your pardon,” he said, "but

were you speaking to me?” The girl glanced up. then unclasped her dainty hands and dropped thorn into her lap. After a short preliminary struggle she leaned hack in her chair and broke into a laugh. "There,” she said, "I knew I'd do it Talking to myself, I suppose. Perfectly craiy. Would you mind telling me what I said?” "Not in the least” responded Blake gallantly. "I think It was something about alcohol.” She laughed again and Blake smiled In sympathy. "It's my skirt,” she explained. '1 got an awful spot on it, and I’ve been wondering how I could get It out. I never have any luck with gasoline," she concluded mournfully.

"As a steady diet I think I prefer alcohol myself,” agreed Blake. Even Blake didn’t think this was ao very funny, so he felt flattered and cheered when his vis-a-vis broke into a really amused little giggle. It encouraged him to make a further sally: "You’ll have to consider carefully, though," he said, "before you risk making an inebriate of that young and innocent garment.” She dimpled charmingly. Then she frowned. "There’s really nothing young about it,” she explained. "It’s an old thing, and I hate ft, but I can’t afford to get another one now, ao I suppose I’ve got to get that spot out." She began to put on her gloves, and In a moment rose from the table. "I wish I knew more of first aids to the injured,” said Blake. "I wish so, too,” she agreed "It's certainly a most terrible spot and I’m worried to pieces about it.” She nodded in a bright and friendly way as ahe tripped off. For days Blake haunted that particular lunch club without again encountering the young woman of the spotted skirt and dancing eyes, and be had about given ap hope of seeing ber again when one evening as he was wabbling toward the door of the suburban train, which nightly carried him to his suburban home, he was unceremoniously brushed aside and temporarily unbalanced by a large, haughty, irate person, dressed in many expensive and expansive garments. Blake recovered his balance in time to see her tap angrily upon the shoulder of a young woman Just ahead of him. "My umbrella, please,” she boomed eommandingly. The eyes which the girl turned upon her assailant were the very eyes that Blake had been looking for. The owner of them looked at the other woman In momentary blankness, then down at the umbrella she held in her band. "My goodness! Oh, my goodness!" ahe cried, the hot color flooding her ■oft cheeks. "I never knew it! I beg your pardon! I didn’t know —re&llv I aont-minded! I know I’ll be arrested some day. It was so stupid of me— ” Giving a very fair representation of the goddess of war rampant* the owner of the umbrella snatched her prop arty and prepared to retreat with it. *Tv known such cases of stupidity before,” she said, emphasizing the final word strongly. She stalked back to her seat and at this Juncture the girl’s eyes met Blake’s amused ones. With a little squeal of mingled mirth and embarrassment she turned and fled down the steps of the car and away Into the darkness. Several mornings after this Blake, having taken a train somewhat later ttmn usual, was roused from his absorption in his paper by a distressed voice from across the aisle. "I don’t know what to do,” it was saying. "I Just perfectly crazily picked this thing up instead of my purse, and I haven’t any money or any ticket —or —or —anything." | The voice somnded familiar, the tale ilfce one he had heard before. Blake posted shamelessly around the conductor's back. It was, as he nad suspected, the girt of the two previous adventures. Once more their eyes mat. Once more she blushed a lovely, embarrassed blush. Then she collapsed in a little giggling heap. "Look!” she said. "This is what I brought instead of my purse.” It was a very dainty, fluffy, pink and white bedroom slipper! *1 suppose,” she said, when the conductor had been settled with and gone bis way, and Blake had boldly moved across the aisle and seated himself beside her, and they bad brought to light a number of mutual acquaintan-1 o#s, "that you think I need t. keeper.” *T do.” said Blaka ntf • ...... A