Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1917 — TO BE CALLED FOR [ARTICLE]

TO BE CALLED FOR

By SYLVIA TURNER.

Berenice had given Hal the watch at Christmas time. Ever since their marriage, two years before, they had both religiously observed all anniversaries and special holidays. She had had a sneqlal photograph taken for the back oftahe hunting case. As she sat for itjfflie had tried to imagine Hal’s face beffire her and her*s smiling at him. The result was all she had hoped for. Hal said it was the dearest, sweetest picture of her he had ever seen. “And there isn’t another one like It in existence,” she said. “I made the man destroy the plate, so that yon would have the only one.” The watch had kept perfect time, and in the spring Hal mentioned one night at dinner that he had left It at the jeweler’s to be regulated, until called for. Then he went away on a two weeks’ trip up the state, establishing new agencies. Berenice promised him to get the watch before his return. The night before he came home she gave the little apartment a final survey, arranging everything just as he liked to see it The train arrived a little past eight the next morning and she was going down to meet him. Everything seemed to be exactly right, when all at once she remembered the watch. He would think that she had forgotten his little request and it meant so much to him, she knew. It had been left at a little jewelry store around the corner. She had often seen a curious-looking flttle old gentleman in a skull cap seated before a rack repairing watches. He examined the slip she handed him carefully. “That was Mr. Demorest’s watch, yes?” he asked pleasantly. “Is he away?” "He’s coming home in the morning, she answered with just a little touch of bride’s dignity, that still dung to her even after two years of married life. “He said that the watch was left to be called for. lam Mrs. Demorest I think it is the second one on that line.” “No, no. I have Mr. Demorest’s in the drawer.” He drew out a tray from a drawer filled with envelopes containing jewelry, and bent over them carefully. “Ah,” he said. “Here we have it •Mr. Demorest. To be called for.”* She glanced at it as he drew it from the case. The familiar monogram was on the case, and she hurried home with it

Later in the evening she took ft out of the envelope and handled it tenderly, sitting In Hal’s own big morris chair beside his desk that had been so horribly lonely without him. Half unconsciously she pressed the spring and opened the back case. In utter horror and surprise she stared at the face that looked back at her—not her own, but the face of a strange girl. It slipped out from under her thumb nah easily, and on the back she saw written, in a firm modish hand: “For dearest, from Estelle.” It was after four In the morning before she got any sleep. One impulse followed another. She had Intended meeting Hal at’the station the following morning, but she changed her mind. After looking for her In vain, Hal took a taxi uptown without even waiting to telephone her, and burst into the apartment just as Berenice hurried away from the front window, where she had been watching for him surreptitiously. “Why, darling,” he exclaimed, dropping his suitcase, "are you ill?” “Don’t come near me. Don’t dare touch me.” Her voice sounded a little faint and hollow, and one hand pressed her throat. She looked adorable. “Berenice!” he cried. “What do you mean? What has happened since Tve been gone?” , She answered cryptically. ‘“To be left until called for.’ Oh, you brute.” The tears forced themselves between her lashes. She pointed to the watch on the desk. "Would you mind returning my picture, since you have hers in there now.” “Hers!” he repeated. “Whom do you

mean?” “Estelle!” She hurled the name at him expecting him to wilt, but instead his expression changed to one of solicitude. “Hadn’t you better He down, dear? I don’t think you’re quite well.” “I won’t He down,” she retorted indignantly, crossing to the desk. “You needn’t think, Hal Demorest, that just because I’ve loved you I’m going to stand any such thing as that.” She snatched up the watch and, opening the back case, thrust it toward him, adding scornfully, “ ‘For Dearest from Estelle.’” . “I swear to you—” began Hall solemnly, when all at once the telephone bell rang. It was the old watch repairer. and his tone was anxious as Berenice answered it. 4 “Hello, is that Mrs. Demorest? This is the jeweler where you got Mr. Demorest's watch last night. I made a mistake." “You little duffer ” said Hal tenderly. “I don’t mind. If you didn’t love me so much you would never have been jealous of me.” (Copyright, »17. by the McClure Newsp*-, per Syndicate.)