Show The Lure of the Unexpected By II H. IRVING KING U i Copyright cc HE trouble with life Ute Is that it TilE J- J lacks s unexpectedness The same round day after da day the same people over and ond over o again said saW Gregory Matteson to his friend Jack Chappell In the latter's bachelor apartments In Inthe Inthe Inthe the Claypool Cheer up old top said Jack perhaps perhaps perhaps per per- haps you will wUl be arrested for violating violatIng violat violat- ing the traffic regulations and spend the night In a prison cell The Cla Claypool pool wa was wag on one ona of those side streets where you are allowed to leave Icae your our car for tor a brief specified time Gregorys Gregory's sedan was waiting at atthe atthe atthe the c curb rb Opposite the Ufe Cla Claypool pool was the exclusive dressmaking establishment establishment establish establish- ment meat of Madame Leonore The madame was of an Inquiring mind and possessed a fund of ot Interesting facts about the young men in the bachelor apartments across the street When Gregory alighted fr from m his car she looked over the thc low curtain of her window and remarked to a customer upon whom she was waiting There goes Gregory Matteson to see Jack Chappell Why WIlY perhaps you ou know him and liim and proceeded to give gl a brief briet biographical sketch When Gregory went to get into his hiscar hiscar hiscar car he sprang back in amazement Seated on the tle back seat was a most beautiful lady of ab about ut thirty In evening evenIng evening eve eve- ning dress Please Mr Matteson said she In a most winning voice drive me mc at once to No 36 Fitt Fifty So So and-So street He had been crying out for the unexpected une un un- un- un e expected here expected 1 here It was Madame I said he he you OU have the advantage of ot me but I should be delighted to be beof beof beof of service Oh yes replied the lady I HI am rs but Liscombe-but but dont don't tell As they approached the number the strange lady said I see that you ou are dressed for the evening Perhaps you OU had better go In with me as my escort Before Gregory knew it he was being beIng being be be- ing introduced to people whom he had never seen before He lIe caught a name here and nd there but not distinctly But on every side it was My I 1 dear Mrs Liscombe so gl glad ad to see y you OU again When did you return I When at last Gregory managed to I steer steer- her a n little apart he said Did I you enjoy your trip abroad Mrs 1 LIscombe Liscombe Lis- Lis combe comber 7 She started and stared at at him fora for fora a moment My trip abroad she said Why yes he lie replied I gathered from what your our friends said that you had recently arrived from Europe Sao So O you dont don't know me me then said Id she t No replied Gregory but I feel that I should like me- to We had better go now said she Drive me to the corner of Fifth avenue ave e nue an and and she named a street in the Fifties Leave me there It will be but a n fe few steps home And when you ou have deposited me at the corner you drive right off No No spying sp ing mind Gregory awoke the next morning with his head full of of ot his ael aelen en enI I ture Hang It all i he lie wanted to be especially headed clear-headed toda today He had for several years been in the law office of Judge Paxton the Judge had decried decided to give him a junior partnership partnership partnership partner partner- ship and this was the day The judge was a frigid old chap who kept his personal and business affairs as widely wIdely widely wide wIde- ly asunder as possible But today after the partnership papers were were signed he said to Gregory I should be glad of your our company compan at dinner to to- tonight night Eight Before dinner Gregory was presented presented presented pre pre- to Mrs l Paxton to Miss Eleanor Paxton Miss 1 Margerie 1 Paxton and to toMy toMy My ul daughter Mrs 1 Liscombe You see said Emily Liscombe when she got an opportunity to talk apart with Gregory I married an Englishman six years ears ago and went to live abroad My 1 husband lived only a year after finer our marriage But I 1 sta stayed ed edon on with my mother-in-law mother until her death Last week I returned to the theS S States 4 Last night I resolved to go to the Van Dykerman reception Mother 1 and Mrs 1 Van Dykerman dont don't speak spen To a avoid void a row I arranged to dress at my dressmakers and go from there I have a latchkey the family would all be he abed when I returned so that part woul would be all right I engaged a acar acar acar car from a public garage to meet meat meat me meat at Leonore's but It did not show up It was getting late and I was getting getting get get- ting desperate when you droye up to the Claypool Leonore told me who you were and that you were In fathers father's fa fa- fathers fa- fa ther's office I took It for granted that you ou would know who Mrs LIscombe Liscombe LIs- LIs combe was and antl commandeered you ou and your car I 11 am stupid said Greg Greg- Greggory pry gory of course I knew th the judge had hada a daughter who was married ard aLd lived abroad and and must have heard tl the tle e I name Liscombe as that of her hup- hup band But you ou see you rather rattled tue me by your er your er unexpectedness And I suppose the unexpected d rather rath rath- er shocks hocks you ou No It is what I have been lookIng lookIng looking look- look Ing for all m my life It was nearly nearl a year later that the widow Liscombe became Mrs Gregory Gregory Gregory Greg Greg- ory and Matteson Matteson and there was nothing unexpected about It at all People had known for a long time it was vas bound to happen Gilded wigs surmounting faces powdered powdered pow pow- I dered with gold to match are being In seen Paris I |