The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-04
Penny

the bundle counter overhead.
"We!lo" she replied crisply.
Have YOU seen the new floor
walker?"
Nowhere is Mr.. Freer?'
transferred to the upholstery. It's
a shame, too. lie certainly is gen.
tleman." Miss Cabin patted the
blond puffs of her elaborate couture
and sighed audibly. lie certainly is
a gentleman" she repeated.
"IIe is" returned Penny. She
turned back to her labors OF wrap
ping parcels
you certainly are swift. Penny"
murmured the stout bundle girl.
ITS a dull day" said Penny. yawn.
ing.
Ever since she had run away from
her home in the middle West to be-
come an actress. Penelope had been
on the lookout for people from home
uncle and aunt, telling them that she
was earning her living and when she
said that she was acting" how could
that unsophisticated couple suspect
that the part she was playing was the
very practical one of bundle counter
girl In department store.
She had given her name as Penny
Mulligan, when In fact she bore the
charming title of Penelope Marston.
Arthur Preston had asked her to
marry him and had been haughtily
dismissed by the stage-struck girl. II
cannot marry any one, Arthur" she
said, condescendingy. II have
career before me, you know"
'Pooh!" the practical Arthur had
said-he was real estate agent and
very live and up-to-date in his native
town-'pooh, honey. you can't act"
II will show you" Penny had said,
wrathfully.
''Penny-Penny Mulligan" shrillec
Miss Cabin during another lull in the
business Of this rainy day.
What Is it," asked Penny languid-
ly as she leaned over the railing.
There he Isl"
whom DO you mean" Penny was
not Interested, but she strove to be
polite,
The new iloorwalker. He's stand
ing there by the pcriumery-his back
10, In',. InnEi-ufv
Penny looked and saw tall. mas.
sivcly built young man CARRIED In the
conventional black of the store stand
ing with his hands loosely clasped
behind his back. lie looked-oh. so
much like Arthur Preston. but OF
course that was absurd!
Yes, isn't he?" she managed to say
Carclessly in response to Miss Cabins
last remark.
Later she happened to glance down
ward. and her blue eyes met the calm,
cool gaze of the new floorwalker. His
glance passed from her face to that
of the other bundle girl. and then he
passed on his leisurely way down the
store. It was Arthur Preston
When she had an opportunity she
asked Miss Cabin the name OF the
new hoorwalker.
The most romantic name you ever
heard. Penny. Miss Clark from the
Office told me-his name l., Claude
Reston."
Penny darted back to her work,
conscious that Miss Cabin was hold.
ing an animated conversation with
Mr.. Claude Reston
"lIow dare he come here under an
assumed Nance" fumed Penny.
She snapped the string vieiously
and the fat parcel flew out OF her
hands and fell plump upon the sleek.
black head OF the new floorwalker.
Miss Cabin shrieked becomingly as
Mr.. Reston gracefully disentangled
himself from the shower.
"Aint you afraid you'll get fired,
Penny" gasped the fat girl.
Il don't care" Jared Penny reck.
lessly. I'm going to leave anyway.
tonight"
Some one was coming up the steep
little stair Of the bundle counter. A
ruined black head. a pair of black
eyes. q pair Of broad shoulders, a big
hand holding forth the ragged bum.
die Of false hair.
Here. Penelope" he said coolly.
Please don't do that again"
Penny was speechless with indigna.
ton. 40 she took the package from
him and their hands touched. lie
disappeared at once. and Penny pro-
ceeded to wrap the bundle carefully.
II required elaborate care. for great
tears we're yelling in her blue ewes.
The tears splashed upon the package.
and she thrust it violently toward the
tube.
To Penny's horror. it leaped over
the rail and descended almost at the
feet Of the new fioorwalker,
Gee" gisgled the fat girl.
| Penny was frozen VIA mortirca.
ton. as once more Mr. Res.on climbed
the stairs and handed tie packasa IN
the girl
I'll be waiting .o- YOU at six
O'Clock. Penelope" he whispered soft.
ly. IF We hurry W. can take Tho
train tomorrow morning and prom.
ised your Aunt san that If she
would make the welding prerarations
Id bring the bride Va, ro,,,sr,