The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-30
VAN TASSEL SUTPHEN
cHAPTER v.
The Ninety and Nine Kisses


ERHE fair and bazaar of the United
Housesmiths' Benevolent asso-
citation was assuredIy a tremen-
dous success, and not the least
Of its attractions was the open market
where kisses might be purchased at
the ridiculously small price of 80 cents
each. But Cash before delivery" was
the motto, and on the counter in front
of each young woman stood a brass
bowl in which the purchaser deposited
his money = Free list entirely sus-
pended One could see that "The Fair
One with Golden Locks large, full
fed blond with extraordinary vivid
red cheeks, had been doing a rushing
business; her bowl was overfowing
with notes and coin. And the others
also had done well, all except Made
moiselle D., the girl at the far end;
she had not made a single sale. A
slight little thing, pale and somewhat
anxious-looking; no wonder that GUS
toners had passed her by. Then she
looked up and we both caught our
breath. What eyes! Eyes of the
purest, serenest gray-gray of that rare
green Or blue. Her eyes were her one
beauty indeed, but the superlative
miracle of lOYelineSS is best seen when
it stands alone. And these dolts Of
housesmiths had passed on to sample
the, pink and white confectionery at
the other end of the counter.
zone hundred, If you please and
Indiman laid $50 bill in the bowl Of
the girl with the gray eyes. The crowd
stopped and gaped, and "Mademoiselle
D." turned from white to red and then
to white again.
Bought up the whole stock, boss ?'
asked foolish looking youth whose
collar was slowly but surely choking
him to death.
Better take a couple on account, 4"
said the pert damsel attached to the
sour on you, Mister Man,
Give 'em away with pound of
tea put in third joker. .'Eh, Josie?'
Lets get away from here" whis-
pered Indiman to me. 1.-THE girl looks
as though she might faint"
We pushed on through the crowd
that continued to chaff us good-na-
turedly-"j "joshing" they called it. Then
we managed to struggle into a sort of
backwater at the side of the dais upon
which an alleged string band was try
ing to make good, as the scornful Miss
Josie remarked.
There's something wrong in this,
Thorp," said Indiman to me, in an un-
dertone. Did you notice the stout
man who stood Immediately behind
her?"
''The chap with one ear full size
larger than the other? Yes, L did"
He never takes his eyes from her,
and believe that the girl is here
against her will"
"Indimanl-" began. but he cut
me short.
'I know it. tell you, and I'm going
to take her away. Do you see that
electric light switch on the wall behind
your"
Back of the musicians platform was
a small wall cupboard holding the
usual apparatus for controlling the in
candescent lights with which the hall
was Illuminated.
Pull down both handles when give
the signal" he went on, imperturbably.
What 'signal?'
1ndiman considered. 'I'lI take one of
my Kisses" he said, smiling.
I'll do nothing of the kind
Oh, yes, you will. Remember now
the instant that I bend down to kiss
her.
He was gone, leaving me to curse
his folly. l tried to overtake him. but
the foolish youth and his Josie blocked
my way, Intentionally it seemed; that
"SNS POI VI CAC4I JOStiAlIS OI lu0 Strdu-
ger within the housesmiths' gates. I
stepped up on the platform, and looked
for Indiman. He had just reached the
counter covered with red-paper mus
lin; he pushed his way up to the girl
with the gray eyes and said something
to her. She seemed to shrink away.
1ndiman turned for an instant and
looked back at me, then he bent down
and kissed her.
Without houi71-r hos a.
tention of so doing, pulled down both
handles; the hall was in instant and
utter darkness. For moment the fol-
lowing silence persisted, menacing and
deadly; 1t was as though panic had
suddenly reared her frightful head,
wild beast ready to spring.
A girls light laugh turned the scale.