The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-23

s The Girl and
, the Davenport
BY FANNIE HEASLIP LEA

e Ia the twilight OF a secondhand
. shop on Royal street Van Holden saw
her hrst. She came toward him down
an aisle OF shadow between old ma.
hogany sideboards and dusty armoires
ana laid her gray gloyed hand upon
one end OF quaint davenport on
,, whose other end reposed the hand of
Van Holden
This davenport" she said to the
shopkeeper, is the one you reserved
for me, is II not"
Pardon me-" said Van Holden firm
ly-the davenport was genuine mahog-
any and of a good shape-'I have Just
bought it,"
Inc shopkeeper, little creole with
voluble eyes ana fierce mustache.
looked from one to- the other.
Mats oui," he murmured politely,
III Is vair good davenport
You promised yesterday afternoon"
she said with icy dignity, TO reserve
II for me. | must have 1t. | wish 1t
upholstered in the green rep you show
ed me. and | want it by Thursday
morning"
Pardon me- Van Holden began
again.
She ignored his existence and drew a
card from her case of snakeskin.
Here is my address" she said,
| scrlbbling something thereon, "and
| VIII give you check on delivery Of
the davenport. Eighty dollars / think
| you said?"
van Holden's sense of humor, as
sisted by the pleasing picture Of pale
hair and gray eyes ina cool pale face
against Il background of cobwebbed
walls. began to rise.
Il was to have had it for fifty" he
suggested plaintively.
Il will give you eighty for IT," she
said to the shopkeeper. And her face
was noticeably less pale
1T ees vair good davenport" said
the shopkeeper, twisting his fierce
mustache. Il pay hun erd dollar TO 1t. |
but take eighty. Vas, take eighty"
"Oh, you do:" said Van Holden sar-
castically what about the fifty I'm |
giving you? l suppose you take that
tooE Now, see here, my man" He |
smoothed out the check between his |
fingers.
IF you have paid forr it," said the
lady icily Il shall of course not take
1t. | had not UNDERSTOOD
Pray do not consider me in the
matter" said Van Holden, with equal
nrpDTAfnnCg I'm .nI- a. - |
He thrust the check into ibis vest pock-
ct as the shopkeeper's dirty fingers
closed clawlike over the, lady's card.
"Upholster in green rep? varnish?
Me- lose $50, yes-DuI-you take IT.
keep my word
No" said the lady; Il shall not take
it. My card" She slipped it back in
to the case. Il do not care for the
davenport" She walked to the door.
holding her skirts away from CON
tamination, and turned into the hot
narrow street. a slender figure In
gray gown and gray hat with pale
roses on the wide brim.
van Holden lii a cigarette in the in
ierval of regarding the shopkeeper with
piercing interest. "Oyerreached
yourself that time. Mr. Montague" he
enarked pleasantly.
Dose Yankees" said Mr.. Montague ,
Il dare say" said Van Holden. He {
walked TO the front of the shop, the
reole at his heels, and a humorous
mile twitched the corners Of his mouth. [
That was dirty trick OF yours. And.
" the way, you needn't send up that a
hair looked at. | don't care to deal
With you In future" o
Mr.. Montague shrugged his shoulders y
nd lifted up his eyes. Van Holden
urned on his heel and walked leisurely 81
own the street. his annoyance lost In II
sense of amusement
"'Dose Yankees" he echoed TO him. G
elf Then his meditation took the <,
Drm OF manifest approval. 'SShe would
ave been picture on that davenport n
rter 1t was done in green. with her
)loring-lack of coloring. rather. Hell
}. Borden. Anything doing? Come
yer and have lunch at the Cosmopon- in
IN" II.
AH''N " hhNtt III EpAlS NOW, Sdlu W
nrden. You are just the man want. ca
IN taking the girls TO lunch to an
~. Molly has n girl visiting her. you ca
low. You'll just round out the party ho
I'd make MS happy foursome Oh. dc
me on. And see here, Van-what ST
'out that deal you made I'm cotton TIA
Sterday!" ro
They sauntered down the street. deep no
discussion. until Borden stopped tr,
ddenly. 'Jove. I've got to go over ca
some blamed store and meet those loo
'ls. You go on and engage a table; as
ats good fellow. Order the lunch. his
you want To: you do 1t better than bis
DO anyhow. | shan't be long" ha'
he darted off. like distracted sor
tier bug In linen clothes and pana- les
/, and Van Holden set forth upon
quest of table. He found one ID
cool corner of the dining room and
assumed some time in the ordering o. II
luncheon that should combine deli ma
" and good deal of ice. AM
When the walter had left him. he lle'
TO drumming o. the table and eal
a a