Show IT tt Short Story of j tb Day W WI I TURNING POINT OF JACKS JACK'S CAREER J My dear Jack exclaimed Percy you are just just- the just the man I 1 wanted to se see Will wm you you come down and spend pend the week end Wit with us uS I should s be delighted replied Jack Alston Iston but but There is no but abo about t it it i interrupted d Percy Milly S id I va to bring you and so you'll have to come ome That settled the question Sti h so o far fal as Ja Jack Als Alston Alston on was concerned rr if If pr pretty tty Milly Kilminster Percy's sister Had exp expressed e e a desir desire for hir him togo o. o go to the north pole he w would uld have started within the week rr j na Hastily tily throwing few things into his port ant n-ant nt au he in t at atU atthe the tle U e station whence t they ey traveled down to co e w where Ere rcy ti- ti p. p was awaiting his return On their way to the Kilminster house which was some miles mUes from the s station station sta sta- a- a tion Jack Fack was congratulating himself on being about to spend d two whole days in sweet Milly's society when Percy observed By the way I forgot forgo to mention that young Greyson is staying with us You dont don't you j jOt I Ot course couse Jack rack knew hh him for tor he was t the e one and only r rival val In m n Milly's affections affections af at af- af whom he really feared for though he was J s s vacuous vacuous' and frivolous lous as ra Jack k was sensible and sincere he was ne nevertheless extremely ing in a feminine sort of ot way and girls are too apt to choose hoose their swe sweethearts as they do their food and prefer the light and uns unsubstantial jam tart to th the more some and solid cut fro from the j joint int j I When Vohen they reached the house afternoon tea was in full luU swing and Cecil Greyson ensconced in hi a a. comfortable arm chair was master of ot the he situation Milly Hilly certainly seemed pleased to see Jack rack and welcomed h heartily but ut 1 the next moment sl she e t turn rn to Greyson and ana had riot finished fin fin- the anecdote he was relating when they were interrupted interrupted appeared to be quite absorbed In his conversation So matters continued all that evening If she ga gave Jack a she gave Gr Greyson twp if she sang a favorite song for the one she he played playe a couple of pieces for the Other and when they parted for the night Alston could have sworn that he saw a slight pressure of the hands pass between them It was a miserable night for poor Jack rack and a times dozen as he tossed and turned he wished that ho he had not accepted lila his friends friend's invitation but alas there was worse In store for him hin When neat handed him hot wafer water in the Phyllis brought his the morning and he prepared as usual to shave himself he could not find r zor In vain he searched his portmanteau and shook everything ing in in It h until he h was v. v i. i o obliged ll to confess that in his haste and hurry to pack he ve left If It behind l This w Was was wasa s a fix ind indeed ed for the had hot riot a man mart man servant servant-in in the house while his friend Percy was bearded like the pard and as h he looked Jn n the glass and beheld hl his stubbly unshorn chin he groaned in th the bitterness of his heart There was was as only one thing for it an and l tho though gh extremely loth loth- to do so Jack rack resolved to throw himself on the mercy of ot his his' Hval the Ringing the bell he sent Greyson a ay polite apolite message explaining explaining the the the ment meat he was in and begging the loan of a razor t. t i In due course the maid returned Mr Greyson waS sorry put Jut h he he had only one ne razor with him and nd he was he-was was using that hl himself tance in t that at quarter quane was evidently out of the question and as the tb nearest barber in the nearest town was was' was some some live Jive miles miles away away away Jack pad bad had to to tomake tomake make up his mind t to tb present himself at th the pr breakfast tab table e unshaven ven i ing Jb o thed lay rack Jack was was late in coming down 1 they had nac a all l ass assembled assem bled bl before fore he entered the room For or a moment h ted with his nis ls hand oil on the handle of the door and queried whether h would not return ItO tobed bed and and- pleading illness remain there until a artist could uld be obtained Ultimately Ultimately Ulti- Ulti matey however to face the music and feeling conscious and t ing lag horribly red and miserable rable he took his seat at the table i He noted noted- that Milly looked d at it t him with with evident evident astonishment nt and then Pervy discovered that something was wrong and md like like the great bo booby y he hev v was s burst out l f 1 t 1 Hallo J Jack CK what's the h matter old man 1 j Finally Finaly as th the last straw on t the e camels camel's back Greyson put up his Is eyeglass and after inspecting Jack with a contemptuous grin for a aj short time ex- ex 1 claimed witha with f fIt a simper jo j jIt It looks as though Mr Alston Alston he he he he had he-had had forgotten to shave himself this morning morning he he h he he lie That was the turning moment moment of Jack rack Alston Alston's c career reer If It i lie he had iad id failed then his life after-life would have been a different one Asit was instigated by a sudden inspiration he replied No Ko I haven't forgotten but I a am going to grow grow a be id looks so so well in his s that I Iam am in going to tr try one e tC too For a a short period there was silence impetuously and exclaimed ex ax- x- x claimed f TOh T- T I T 1 j I Oh I Tarn Iam am so glad Ii L think a man looks so much nicer with a beard bearl than thap r clean clean shaven I IThen IThen Then as s she Bhe realized what she had said alc she she checked check d herself rs suddenly as a Ho burning bl blush Ih suffused her face and neck I But she had said sufficient In sporting parlance Jack rack had g t- t th tip and h he was not long in ta taking ing advantage of it with such rat s-rat gratifying results that before belore he went vent back to town on the Monday th the day for tor the wedding was fixed Globe Democrat Globe Democrat rat i |