The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1912-10-19
The Girl and
The Davenport
And the Sequel to Her A.
tempt to Buy It
sy FANNIE HEAsliP LEA.

10 the twilight of q secondhand
shop on Royal street Van Holden saw
her tirst. She came toward him down
an aisle Of shadow between old nm
hogany sldeboards and dusty armOirea
and laid her gray gIoved hand upon
one end Of quaint davenport on
whose other end reposed the band Of
Van Holden.
'''rhis davenport" she said to the
sh0pkeeper. "is the one you reserved
for me. IL 1t uot7"
"Pard0n me-" said Van Holden 6rm-
ly-the davenport was genuine muhog-
any and Of a good shape-"l have Just
bought It."
The shopkeeper. little creole With
voluble eyes and fierce mustache.
looked from one to the other.
"AIais oui." be murmured politely.
cit Ia vnir good davenport
"You promised yesterday afternoon"
she said with Icy dignity. ITO reserve
1t for me. | must have 1t. ! wish 1t
upholstered In the green rep yon show
ed me. and l want It by Thursdny
morning."
Pardon me- Van Holden hogan
agnin.
She ignored bis existence and drew
card from her case Of snakeskin.
Here Is my address," she saId
scribbIing something thereon. land !
will give you a check on delivery Of
the davenport. Eighty dollars think
you saidT'
Van Holders sense of hnmor. as
sisted by the pleasing picture Of pale
hair and gray eyes In cool. pale face
against a background of cobwebbei
walls. hegan to riRe.
81 was To have had 1t for 6fty." he
suggested plnintively.
81 Will give you eighty for It." she
said to the xhopkeeper. And her face
war Doticeably iess pale.
ut pes vaIr goOd davenport" said
the shopkrpper. twisting his nerre
mustache II fay hnn'erd dollar 70 1t,
hut I luke eighty Vas. I take eighty"
'Oh. YOU dor said Van Holden sar
csst,cally What about the fifty I'm
giving yoni I suppose you take that
toof Now. see here. my man." He
smoOthed ont the check between his
fingers
"lf You have paid for it, said the
lady irily. 81 shall. Of course. not take
It. had not understo0d"-
'.rray do not consider me In the
matter" said Van Holden. with eQuni
promptneHx II shall not take II now"
He thrust the check Into bis vest pork.
ct as the shOpkeeper's dirty fingers
closed clawilke over the iady'a card
"UphoIstpr In green rep1 varnish?
Me. I lose SO. yes-but-you take IT.
keep my word"
NO" said the lady: 81 shall not tnke
II My card" She slipped 1t back In
10 the case. II do not care for the
davenport" She walked to the door.
holding her skirts away from con
Illumination. and turned into the hot.
narrow street. a slender figure In a
gray gown and a gray hat with pale
roxes on the wide brtm.
Van Holden lit a cigarette In the ln-
terval Of regarding the shopkeeper with
4 piercing interest "Overreachetl yonr-
self that time. SIR. Montague" he re-
marked pleasantly.
"Dose Yankees" said MIR. Montague
moroseiy.
~ dare say" said Van Holden. He
walked to the front Of the shop. the
creole at his heels. and humorous
smile twitched the corners OF his mouth
THAT was dirty trick Of yours And.
BY the way. you needn't send up that
chair I looked at ! don't care to deal
with you In future"
MIR Montague shrugged bis ahouIders
and lifted up his eyes. Van Holden
turned on his heel and walked ieisurely
down the street. bis annoyance lost In
q sense Of amusement
".Dose Yankees he echoed to him
self. Then his meditation look the
form Of manifest approval. "she would
have been picture on that davenpor'
after 1t WIS done In green. with her
colorinG- lnck of cotoring. rather. Hell
10. Rerden. Anything doing7 Come
over and have lunch ut the Cosmopoii
tan
THAT'S where I'm going now" said
Borden You. are just the man l
want. I'm taking the girls to lunch to
day Molly has a girl visiting her. you
know You'll Just round out the party
and make us happy foursome Oh
come on. And zee here. van-what
about that deal you made In cotton
yestprday7"
They sauntered down the street. deep
in discussion. until Rerdpn stopped
suddenly. ".IUve. I've got to go over
to some blamed store and meet those
gfriA You 80 ON and engage a table:
thnt's q R0od fellow Order the lunch.
II you want to- You do 1t better than
] do any how ahan't I've long"
He dnrted on like II distracted water
bug In linen clothes and a panama.
and Van Holden sei forth upon his
quest Of a table He found one In n
cool corner Of the dining room and