From the Car Behind

triumph and the salt wind, her gray eyes lifted in challenging coquetry, was a sufficiently pleasant sight to dispel me

de home with Corrie," she confided, when the las

se the light play to which she invited him, nor anchorite enough to be insensible to

telling! You know,

t y

e together, he-he asked me to see if the oil wa

d t

he dash, turning her vivid-hued, consciously alluring face across her shoulder to the companion so close

like this when-gues

hat the enamoured Corrie had done. But Gerar

sibly, Miss Rose.

would you

h eyes and recalled St. Fr

lf, leaning back and fold

" she stated. "So I will not ri

e found the tast

O

guesse

you were dull

ss is wrong.

her shoulders

great deal

iends," Gerard

to realize that such bars are not crossed by such men. If Gerard had loved her or believed she might love him, he must have left his friend's house; as Corrie would have left Gerard's in like case

d supplied a new sub

," Isabel directe

erard checke

come that wa

e long route, past the Goodwin

tte

the vista of slippery, ru

sure I don't care-go the long way if you wish. The s

ed into the wretche

dered if you were quite certai

e little car slipped and wallowed th

drive here, yoursel

nk I should

There is a deep ditch on either side, whi

e anywhere.

e. But I should not have believ

knew you would not mind any road and could

elle," Gerard smiled. "There is going to be a splash when we st

nd her and shrank nearer to her compan

ddle. Uh, what a mudd

len brook had overflowed the road. As Gerard turned to the girl, she lifted

stioned. "Please loo

he handsome countenance offere

mud, still,

re?

eft. Beneath the

s pl

qui

ed Isabel's questing handkerchief, and the futility of Ger

not so much. Ther

espair, she gave him the

or all over Long Island with a dirty face. There is n

clumsy,"

can't be

ed the handkerchief and deftly, if with inward embarras

be off, Mr

, it is

touched it,"

--" he began in d

once

impersonall

indeed," h

gh her long lashes, and flu

u. Shall

ESTED RESIGNEDLY, "WIPE

t the yacht club's pier. The brief interval of comparative clearness had given place to dark skies across which the caprici

ting up with renewed anima

ng on this road," Gerard regretted. "She hasn't

ht miles. We haven't pass

drove over

this was not the best way, after all. But it wou

do except force the skidding, panting

te a low brick building set amidst rolling green slopes a

just make it. This is the country club-

another assumed charge of the automobile, and Isabel's escort found himself standing bes

," she informed him. "We have all th

y and steadily, a gray downpour from a gra

going to have a long wait. Koma will get us the best lu

himself for it or to fix any actual fault upon Isabel. She had already turned away to enter the h

, it was good sport. We're having luncheon together, here, and then I suppose we will play billiards until the rain stops. Tell Flavia not to worry; we'll ge

She had removed her hood and veils, shaken her ruddy ha

yourself, aren't y

ard responded, w

heon--Blue Points or little clams? Corrie and I quarrel over that

e recollection of seeing Corrie dismiss oyste

ed Isabel winningly.

nse one's hostess. The luncheon was sufficiently gay. The rain fell incessantly,

Isabel declared. "I am sure there is enough w

the table, and dropped it into her finger-bowl, watching the agitation

ion?" Gera

yes, pouting pre

and wager a box of bon-bons on how long they last. If it is still

play that g

e mud to avoid treading on a cricket. Do you suppose I never play wit

bug is alive five minutes from n

e your watch. You'll lo

eetle upon his finger-tip, and restored it to

live some time," he

red, frowned

! That's not the

will send th

cola

ll be cho

ut back the

nt; I have r

ake refuge in billiards for the next game. Cor

tch his game when his

h?" she wondered, arching her

ow," Gerard dryly responded, and he

olled her sleeves above her el

ed, indicating a flexible platinum and turquois

mpanion inferred. "It is a b

locks, and after Corrie put it on my arm he kept the key. He says

?" he qu

ied. Will you

, Miss Rose. How many points

's stare of surp

s should I allow you," s

ed. "Suppose, in that case,

teady drumming of the downpour accompanied the click of meeting ivory balls and the occasio

the girl rang out, after an in

y, you'

edged her antagonist

chiefly intent upon her own accomplishment, and Gerard's

ke in that last run?

seve

't do it

ver can

" she

pelessly at the s

ing late,"

ut in that weather with an open automo

ions would this tête-à-tête afternoon convey to Corrie? And what would Flavia think of

en a long blast from an electric horn

y cross. She was losing again, and she did not like the experience.

y the Japanese steward and a figure in gleaming rain-proof attire

Isabel e

uffeur

moiselle and Mr. Gerard," he informed them,

cle is

e city, mademoiselle, before he telephon

le, recklessly scattering the b

Koma," she bade. "

ted Lenoir with

Isabel from the room, and passed into the chauffeur's

said Lenoi

veranda of the Rose villa Corrie was waiting to m

, this is the limit," he greeted them deris

ve had a fine time," Isabel re

ed, myself. It was father who did it, when he ca

der man with a hearty desire to shake Isabel Rose. She could watch her young lover's emotions with the same diverted

ith us, Corrie," was a

ated together; busied in pleasant comradeship at the table whose polished surface was littered with letters, books of household accounts, and all those dainty metal and crystal trinkets the jeweller conceives necessary to the wr

to view them more easily. "When I heard where you were marooned, I guessed it was about time

Isabel alleged, with perfect assur

stening and Flavia a witness. Gerard's chivalry momentarily lapsed

anted to get Miss Rose safely at home as soon as possible, and sin

Corrie echoed, a

hotly; the glance she darted at her late escort was not doveli

n, rising with a smiling gesture of excuse to her father. "Isa and I often lose ou

sullenly. "It's time to ma

relief. All the household understood Isabel's propensity for flirtation-and its utter lack of significa

" he commented

ienced," supplemented

ht on the letter open bef

in," he imparted. "Come sit down for half an hour before we dress-we not n

ately through Gerard's arm. "Oh, no-I don't smoke them, but I like to carry them. And when you w