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Show Self-Reliant HfcTom $i I "Yea, we bad a delightful time, of j course," 'said young Mrs. 'Clifton the morning alter she and her husband returned from a few,, day' visit in the country. "Th Thornton's wore Just as hospitable as they could be, but I doubt If Tom and 1 are ever ' Invited to Rose Lodge again. I don't think we were a success as guests." I "Why not?" asked her sister. "Why, you see, Tom Insisted on going go-ing out In our car. Ho was sure be know the way and ho simply wouldn't ask directions of any one. Wo wont about forty miles out of our road and arrived at Roso Lodge late tor an evening dinner, when wo should bnvo been there for a noon luncheon." "That wasn't bo bad," consoled her . sister. "Almost anything Is forgiven automobillBts." "Not quite everything. Still, If that had been tho only exhibition of Tom's perversity In not asking about roads, tho bad Impression made by our tardy arrival might have worn off Hut we accentuated It. "Tho Hanscombs, you know, have a summer homo a few miles' distant from Roso Lodge, and when they hoard wo were there they phoned an invitation for us to dino with them Monday evening. I begged Tom when wo accepted the invitation to find out exactly how to go. And I spoke of It again as we were dressing Monday afternoon. "Don't you worry t" snld Tom. Tvo looked It up on tho neighborhood mnp and I could find my way there in the dark.' , " 'But you know these country roads arc so confusing,' I persisted. 'Don't you think It would bo wlso to ask Mr. Thornton T "'All right,' agreed Tom, nonchal nntly, as wo went to got tho car out of the garage. i "In a moment or two I beard the horn tooting for me. When I climbed Into my scat I remarked that I hoped Mr, Thornton had given him minute directions., " 'He wasn't around,' answered Tom. "'Why didn't you ask tho chauffeur?" chauf-feur?" " 'I do wish, Alice,' was Tom'o crisp reply, 'that you wouldn't fuss about anticipated difficulties. If this little buzz wngon loses Its way to tho Hanscombs I'll oat tho carburetor.' "Naturally after that I dropped the subject. Still, after a whllo I ventured ven-tured to ask, 'Are you sure this Is tho right way?' when wo turned on a very rough road. '"Of courso, I'm suro,' returned Tom. 'We 50 on hero for a rallo and then turn south.' "That sounded all right, but wo traveled on and on without coming to n south turn and I began to bo nervous. Do nsk that man whoro wo aro,' I Implored Tom. as we passed a farmer. "'Nonscnso!' ho said. 'I know whero wo are. Hero is the turn now.' He aimed tho car Into a narrow wood road. "'That doesn't look like a highway to mo,' I remarked. '"No, It's Just a cut-off.' replied Tom. "I began to think that he might really know whero bo was, but vhen tho road lost itself In a largo pasture my doubts returned. " 'Perhaps wa did pass tho real cutoff,' cut-off,' mused Tom, casually. 'We can run back and pick It up, all right.' "By that tlmo It was growing dark,, and Tom got out and lit the lamps, and then wo went back to the main road and I moekly suggested that we Inqulro nt a farmhouse which wo saw In the dlBtanco. "'What's tho use of going so far out of our way?' demanded Tom. 'Don't you see that I have my bearings bear-ings now?' I didn't see, but I re-' re-' fralned from telling him so." "I should bavo thought that you would havo told him so very pointedly," pointed-ly," declared her slater. "Oh, my dear girl, you aren't mar-rled mar-rled to Tom Ho'a tho bust man In the world, but ho well, ho thinks he's omnipotent when It comes to knowing rands. "At Inst Tom turned triumphantly Into the drlvowny of a country houso. " 'Wo may be a trifle nte, but we're here all right,' ho snld. Then ho added: add-ed: "'Oreat Scott! It's Roso Lodge!" And Roso I.odgo It was. "'Get Into any tumble?' aslcod Mr. Thornton, rushing out onto tho porch. " 'Oh. no. we Just thought your dinners din-ners were good enough for us,' said Tom, with u weak effort at a Joko. ".Mrs . Thornton's sharo of tho laughter was rather mirthless, 1 thought, nnd when wo went into tho dining room a rno.i,Uiit later I saw that our places woro filled by two dinner guests Whllo Tom phoned Bomo oxcuso to tho Hanscombs, Mrs. Thornton and tho maid crowded two moro places In at tho tnblo." "You poor girl, what did you do?" asked Allco's slstor, sympathetically. "I certainly hopo you gavo Mr. Tom a good scolding when you got a chance," "I fully Intended to. but when we got to our room thnt night, ho Bald, 'Well, we ramo protty near having to, dine off that carburetor after all, didn't we?' 1 Just laughed." |