The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-10
Continued from last issue.)
CHAPTER VII.
FRIENDS OR WHAT?

CHAPTER VII
FRIENDS OR WHAT?
Mel Rimple was again at his old
! joying life with a newness in 1t that
he never realized before.
Often and often he met Floss Henry,
and their acquaintance so indifferent
ly begun r1pened and refined into a
friendship that never was absolutely
free from guarded reserve.
One Sunday evening when he called
he took her a rich bouquet Of fresh
flowers, and she accepted them, Offer
ing as he thought sort Of mock pro-
fusion Of thanks In return. For a
moment he did not know whether to
be glad he had brought them or not.
She could be the most entertaining
when she wished, and knowing why
the thick doubt was on his face she
soon removed it by her graciousness.
He sometimes thought, when alone.
that she WAS holding him on and of
for the pure fun of 1t.
The holidays came, and the flowers
led up to an exchange Of nice presents
between them. She sent him valu-
able set of cuff buttons and he sent
her a small diamond charm Tor her
gold watch. A diamond is usually
charmed avenue to girls heart-a
fact Mel was not aware of at the
| time. This explanation is offered,
friendly reader, that you may not
think Mel had unworthy designs In
his gift.
BY this time they had progressed SO
far that Floss sent him a note to the
effect that she would be pleased to
see him the evening after Christmas.
This note was Joy to him, new
sun in his sky, a brightness In his
| armament. He answered 1t promptly
in person.
Il want to thank you for my beau
! tiful present." she said more warmly
| than was her wont. Quick to observe
this he responded carelessly:
THAT trifle! It's hardly worth
| thanks"
| II differ from you." looking hardly
at him and moving restlessly In her
arm chair.
|
| welcome or you would not have got
it," correcting himself at once.
| "Of course I supposed so," she re-
| turned.
mot to be doubted a single moment.
| But my present. value It at train
load Of stuff, and thank you-thank
you beyond the power Of words to ex-
| press. See?' And he held up white
| cuff in which were the gold buttons.
II prize them very highly" he added.
"Glad you like them," she respond
ed simply enough for the occasion.
! After this for a few moments the
conversation dragged somewhat, and
t both were conscious Of it. Mel rallied
fhis tagging energies and strove ia
throw off the dull moments that would
not suggest a free, running talk, and
he finally succeeded in bringing back
life to the occasion. He could talk q
blue streak" when he wanted to do
so.
In some unaccountable way Finney
Davis became the eubject of discus
sion, and it was not with pleasant feel
ings that Mel noted the obtrusion OF
F'inney when he last desired to dis
cuss him.
"Finney's nose disfigures him con-
siderably," Floss said cunningly.
Its not so prominent as it was," he
replied, O. conscious Jest in his remark
Finney. before It was flattcned out in
the wreck, had a very prominent nose
la real hook-bill nose; but now 1t
was crooked and without humback
"As much of it as before, but more
spread out" Mel approved this ex-
| preston.
"The hill on it reduced to plane
mo one knows by the nose what
type Of man is behind it." she said
suppressing laugh. She detested the
discussion of noses above all things
and why she permitted this foolish
talk she could not tell. Mel thought
he detected a sheer in the whole tone
Of her remarks, and he took it as an
encouragement of his own feelings to-
| ward her.
Some one has said," he observed
that the nose shows the kind of
friendship the owner Of the nose has
for Others"
And for himself too" she added.
"Just so. Most persons think more
Of themselves than others think OF
them.''
"Now you're going too desperately
deep into the subject to be interest
Ing she said with a slight laugh.
THAT depends" he responded.
mot at ALL
Don't it,"
mo. Don't you see? If talk about
a thing I know nothing about I ex-
pose my ignorance. And that ISM
interesting."
do you know nothing about friend.
ship?'
| Never had friend in my life,"
II won't contradict you, but I don't
believe a word Of that" He noted
that she emphasized the wore
friend"
You'd better not"
(which? contradict you, or doub
your word?"
"Either-neither-bo
why, I'm your FRIEND" emphasizing
the word as an experiment and to Sc,