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  The Plan That Did not Fail
By Buford Jenne

"No, my dear, you won't do anything like that!" Margery
said, smiling tenderly into the flushed face above hers.

"But I am going to marry you though --"

"Stanley boy, I'm just as determined to have you, but it
is better if when we are married  we leave no
unhappiness behind us. I know just how your mother feels
about your marrying the daughter of an ordinary factory
worker, and she has a right to feel that I am somewhat
crude and --"

He swung her from her feet and kissed her.  "No more of
that.  Mother is obstinate as a -- a --"

Margery freed herself.  "Don't you be the same.  Listen,
my dear, let's think it over; then if we fail, well --
we'll just do it."

He smiled with relief -- "All right then, honey, but
you'll have to do the thinkking. But I'll give you just
two weeks --and then I'm going to grab you and run away
with you -- family or no family."

The plan that had popped into Margery's head while they
were talking over the situation looked a bit desperate,
but as she told herself, "Desperate cases call for
desperate remedies." She talked the plan over, with her
father.  He laughed adn then looked serious.

"Little girl, your second name, as I've told you, is
Mischief, but go ahead.  I have faith in you. If it
doesn't work, nothing will be lost," he agreed.

>From that moment Margery worked with speed.
Stanley had said in passing that his mother's companion,
Miss Knapp, was getting through; so Margery hastened to
see her. The older woman looked aghast, then her eyes
twinkled.

"I'll help you.  The old lady is a fearful aristocrat. I
had enough of her, and I doubt your luck, but, anyway,
I'll recommend you for my position," Miss Knapp agreed.

So it came about that Margery, late that week, walked in
the fine Landon mansion and was interviewed and hired.
She then phoned to tell Stanley what she had done, but
found that he had left a hurried word for her that he
had been rushed south by his firm on an emergency trip.

Margery's sense of humor came readily to her aid those
first days of her service as "companion" to Mrs. Landon.
The old lady was exacting but Margery ....... She let
the thought that she was deceiving Mrs. Landon disturb
her only now and then.

She liked to read herself, so her duty of reading to
Mrs. Landon for two hours each day was not a task. She
____ nice dishes and she found herself, instead of the
cook, preparing pet dishes that Mrs. Landon liked. She
anticipated her employer's needs as much as she could,
and that she was successful for indicated by Mrs.
Landon's brief statement, one afternoon:

"Miss Elder, you are proving very satisfactory, and I
should like to make your engagement permanent."

Margery smiled outwardly although she said, "Thanks be!"
inwardly. "I am glad to have it permanent," she answered
demurely.

She wrote to Stanley in care of his firm, and she was
sure he knew what was going on; but on that fatal
afternoon she discovered otherwise.

She came from the back of the house and stepped into the
l9ibrary where he was talking to his mother. He glanced
up and saw her, and his eyes opened with astonishment.

Margery, back of Mrs. Landon, put her finger on her
lips, and she saw that he had "tumbled."

Later, he cornered her in the kitchen.  "You witch, this
was your game. Gosh! It's a good one," he chuckled.
"Mother was praising you just as you came in. But when
she finds out--, Oh, golly!" he grinned. "It'll be worth
it just to have you around here."

Then began a time of doubt for Margery.
She discovered that Mrs. Landon's fear about the girl
her son wished to marry rose, after all, from her great
love for her son. Actually, beneath her cold
aristocratic exterior was a warm heart.

Margery began to be worried.
The truth must come out some time, and the plan she had
entered upon began to look a little childish.

The bottom fell out of the plan suddenly.
She was going along the upper corridor when Stanley,
stepping from his room, caught her, and gathered her,
"bag and baggage" in his arms. She gave him a kiss in
return for his, then tried to pull away and saw Mrs.
Landon looking at them down the hall. Stanley saw her at
the same time, and Margery felt his arms tighten.

"Gosh, mother saw us.
Now for an earthquake! he whispered in her ear.

His mother approached and to Margery's astonishment, she
was smiling.

"So I am losing a companion.
My dear, forgive me for deceiving you, but Miss Knapp
felt she ougth to tell me; so I have known from the
beginning. I have enjoyed having you here, and I hope
you and Stanley will want to stay with me right along"
she said a bit wistfully.

Stanley reached out a long arm and drew his mother to
him, with the other he encircled Margery's waist. "We
accept the invitation and a kiss all around seals the
bargain!" he announced with joyful quality.

----