Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-08-23
Penny

Have you seen the new floor
walker?"
Nowhere is Mr.. Freer?"
transferred to the upholstery. It's
a shame, too. He certainly is a gen.
tlercn!" Miss Cabin patted the
blond puffs Of her elaborate couture
and sighed audibly. HE certainly Is
a gentleman" she repeated.
"..le 49," returned Penny. She
turned back to her labors OF wrap
pig parcels.
, "You certainly are swift, Penny"
mrrmured the stout bundle gil.
ITS dull day." said Penny, yawn-
ing.
Ever since she had run away from
her home in the middle West to be.
9come an actress, Penelope had been
on the lookout for people from home.
True she had written back TO her
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. Il
cannot marry any one, Arthur" she
said, condescendingly. Il have a
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!"
Twill show you!" Penny had said,
wrathfully.
"Penny-Penny Muliigan." shriliet
Miss Cabin during another lull in the
business OF this rainy day.
What is it?" asked Penny langhid.
ly as she leaned over the railing.
z There he Isl"
Whom do you mean" Penny was
not interested but she stroye to be
polite
The new tloorwalker. He's stand,
ing there by the perfumery-his back
is this way. He's lovely looking"
Penny looked and saw a tall, mas
sively built young man CARRIED in the
conventional black of the store. stand
ing with his hands loosely claspec
behind his back. He looked-oh, Sc
much like Arthur. Preston, but Of
course that was absurd!
''Yes, isn't he?" she managed to sa,
carelessly 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 .fioorwalker. Hll
glance passed from her face to thai
Of the other bundle girl, and then h
passed on his leisurely way down tbs
store. 1t was Arthur Preston.
When she had an opportunity sh,
asked Miss Cabin the name OF tn,
new fioorwalker.
The most romantic name you eve
heard, Penny! Miss Clark from thu
Office told me-his name is Claud,
Reston."
4 Penny darted back to her work
conscious that Miss Cabin was hold
ing an animated conversation witt
Mr. Claude Reston.
How dare he come here under al
assumed name?" fumed Penny.
She snapped the string viciousI!
and the fat parcel few out OF he
hands and fell plump upon the sleek
black head Of the new fioorwalksr.
Miss Cabin shrieked becomingly a
Mr.. Reston gracefully disentangler
himself from the shower.
Amt you afraid you'll. get fired
| Penny" gasped the fat girl.
, Il don't care!" flared Penny recE
!essly. I'm going to leave anyway
tonight"
Some one was coming. up the. stee
, little stair Of the bundle counter.
ruffled black head. pair OF blacI
eyes. pair OF broad shoulders, a BIZ
hand holding forth the ragged bur
de Of false hair.
Here, Penelope" he said coolly
Please don't do that again"
Penny was speeches. with indign:
: ton, as she took the package iror
him and their hands touched. H
: disappeared at once. and Penny prC
u ceeded to wrap the bundle CAREFUL,
3 it required elaborate care. for gres
s tears were yelling in her blue eyei
e The tears splashed upon the packag,
e and she thrust it violently toward tn
e tube.
II To Penny's horror, It leaped owe
J. the rail and descended almost at th
d feet of the new foorwalker!
l. Gee" giggled the fat girl.
L. Penny was frozen with mortifie,
l. ton. as once more Mr.. Reston climbe
II the stairs and handed the package I
q the girl
m I'll. be waiting for you at 81
.r o'clock. Penelope" he whispered sof
If ". IF we hurry we can take til
train tomorrow morning and-I prou