Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-12-05

r. n ravlng beauty. Maurie. Funny
that | should have taken that dislike
TO her. but it's gone now She's all
that you say she is
And that isn't much" was the re-
ply In cold contempt Funny should
have raved about her She looks like
chorus girl. II was shock when
( saw her this morning"
Are you crazy stormed Ned.
"Why. she's the daintlest little woman
the world can show. Shes better look
Ing and sweeter than ] thought she
was ut first"
shes 4 tricky sort Of young per
son." observed Maurer calmly. One
day she looks like the real thing. and
then ar ln she looks utterly common
place Funny you can only rave about
her on one Of her unlnteresting days.
| suppose that from now on you'll be
drawing brunette dwarfs. no matter
what sort OF heroines the author likes.
You'll lose your pull with the publish
ers II you keep that sort Of thing up.
Better see a doctor about IT,"
you'd better see an oculist yourself
II your eyes are so dull To real lowell
ness" retorted Ned. When you have
finished your breakfast let me know.
and I'll come and get mine The lease
here runs out at the end of this month.
| guess | won't renew my share, Mau-
rcr. Better get some one else
Think I'll move, too" assentcd
Maurer 81 don't want to stay here
with female freak like that living
across the way. I'll stop at the Office
on the way out and tell them 10 look
for another tenant"
He went out TO Il lonely breakfast,
and when he had gone Bellington
came out To play with the cold chops
and the lukewarm coffee. He did not
! go to the drawing board IN spite OF
the splendid inspiration Of the girl
across the way.
| He was tremendously fond Of Maui
rer. and this abrupt termination Of
their friendship. coming as II had, I'M
settled him for work lie could only
pun ut his pipe and wonder what il
would be like to set up housekeeping
alone in smaller apartment He
would take an apartment In the same
house TO be near the girl. but he would
need only one room
Maurer paid the larger share OF the
Joint rental. He was making more
money and insisted that he would pay
as much were he alone. Ned had APP
preciated his kindness, and when he
did not look at the girl he Reproduced
himself for his new ingratitude
But when he saw the little brown
head and the delicate profile through
the window opposite he told himself
that an unseclng brute like Maurer did
not deserve sympathy
The luncheon came NJ and was sent
back untasted and the afternoon shad
ows grew into dusk. and still Ned sat
and smoked and thought.
The girl was gone now. but he could
still fancy that she was there. and he
was SO absorbed with his thoughts
that he did not hear the key turn IN
the lock. and not until Maurer burst
IN with whoop that ratified the
shades on the electric globes did he
rouse himself
Were both right old man" shouted
Maurer as he dragged Ned from his
| chair and forced him TO participate In
an impromptu war dance about the
tiny parlor. The prettieSt girl in the
world lives across the way. but your
prettiest girl Is not my prettieSt girl.
thank heaven There are two Of 'em.
old man. yours and mine AT least
they're going to be yours and mine !
hope"
He sank into a chair
I'm taking care OF Gore ms clients
while he's in Europe. and Mrs. Fos-
ter sent for me today 10 consult about
some real estate deal That's where
my prettiest girl went. They're twins,
Alice aud Phoebe Bayard, and they're
Mrs. Fosters nieceS. She's an invalid
and they take turns living with her
She says it's too much Of Il strain 10
have them both there nj once and 10
try To tell which is which. That's why
sometimes it was my pretticst girl
and sometimes 1t was the one you
liked We made the mistake Of think
ing that there was only one The old
lady's going 10 Europe with a trained
nurse for keeps Its Il good thing that
we gave up this apartment. Wei
need two. and they won't be IN bache-
lor halls either"
Ned grasped his friends hand in his
own. There's only one prcttiest girl. -
he declar !. but yours isn't common
place" And with that concession Maui
rer was content