Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-13

pears with her within the coy parIor.
''How long has Mrs. McLane been
packing?" asks Mrs. Parry, presently,
of the maid.
SLOW long. mum? Oh, two or three
days only, though we got down the
trunks. mum. on Wednesday last" is
Annette's reply.
-Four trunks and four days packing
to spend week or so at frontier
post" SAYS Mrs. Parry to herself, with
| increasing wrath. Then turning, she
sweeps through the hallway with the
mien of an offended queen, passes the
parlor door with barely a glance at
! the bright, CHEEKY interior, lets herself
out with a snap and a slam, and stands
angrily tapping her daintily booted
foot on the rug in front of the cage I'M
] til the elevator noiselessly answers her
signal and then lowers her to the mo-
sale pavement of the ground floor. ITO
Mr.. Parry's Office" she says to the
coachman, as she enters the waiting
carriage, and is whirled rapidly away
down the avenue, past the dancing
waters of the lake.
! ''Ned," she cries, 20 minutes later, as
she precipitates herself into Mr.. Par
rvs ground-glass citadel at the rear
of the big office, what am to do? Fan
is actually packed and ready to start
| for Fort edgewick-where Mr.. Mer-
rian is stationed!"
| Ned turns slowly toward her, trying
not to show in his deep-brown eyes how
pleased he is at the sight of his hand
some helpmeet. ''The first thing you
have to do, Mrs. Parry, when you come
t. this Office for advice is to pay the
customary retaining fee," he responds.
as he takes her carefully-gloved hand
| in his and bends forward for a kiss.
She recoils, pleased, yet provoked. He
| should have been startled at her reve-
lation, even though he did wish for her
kiss.
| SIS that the customary retaining fee,
sir?" she asks, demurely, forgetful for
| the moment of the portentous news
she brings. ST heard you had quite
number of feminine clients"
$50 many that my partners find it
difficult to straighten out their ac-
counts as do their stories. Pardon me,
Mrs. Parry, did you say was retained?
| If So,'' and the junior member of the
distinguished firm of Greene, Ray burn
& Parry again bends downward toward
the glowing face.
You're absurd, Ned. if that's what
you mean," replied Mrs. Parry. secretly
delighted at the lover-like ways of her
lord. eve a mind not to pay-any
thing. You shouldn't charge members
of the family
81 don't" he answers, refectively, I'm
all cases. There's Aunt Mildred, for in
stance, and Aunt Charlotte and grand
ma, but you and Fan now"
"Fan! Why should she k-consult
you?"
"Why, do you know, Lot, I've never
once asked her. She might select some
other fellow in the firm and l-consult
him."
Ned, you're simply horrid now. 1
never did like you when you tried to be
funny. You know 1 never interrupt
you here unless I'm troubled about
something, and you're just laughing at
me instead of sympathizing," and Mrs.
Ned pretends to pull away her hands,
but conspicuously fails.
"One of the first principles of my
large and successful practice, Mrs.
Parry, is to secure prepayment of the.
retaining fee in all cases where / have
reason to believe the client will sub
sequently act contrary to my advice.
When you have All, that Will have to
do, 1 presume. though it came with a
bad grace. And now you say Fan is
going to Sedgwick?"
eyes, and Randy Merriam's hardly
been married month longer than Mr..
McLane's been dead"
Astounding coincidence! But Bran
dy is married. isn't hep
Randy, Ned, not Brandy-how your
mind runs to such things!"
"Well, toward five p. m the firm does
feel like running to such things, my
| best beloved, and is only deferred from
doing so by the fact that touch of the
button makes it do the running. What
shall order for you?" And Mr.. Parry
transfers her left hand to its mate re-
posing in his left, and stretches forth
the right toward his desk.
SCI want nothing" she answered. "but
advice, and no more nonsense. Ned -
appealing,y, what ought to do? What
can do?''
Are you sure you can do just what
tellyou, Lot?" he asks. fond light play
, ing in his eyes. despite the half-teas-
ing smile.
s-Of course I can. Don't always? %
"Well-ahemI have known in
stances-But you will do Just what
5 say?''
"Yes, Ned, viii"
'Then, your ladyship. let her go and
f don't worry. don't. I haven't, bit"
3 "Why, then you have known she wa.
i going-she has told you?''
"She hasn't. I learned it from Swim
D burne."
r ''When?s
e three days ago."