El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-18
Bought and Paid For
The Great New York and London
Successes.
George BrOadhurst.
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.


Robert Stafford, a New York mil
llonaire, meets Virginia Blaine, a tel
ephone operator and stenographer.
While taking dictatiOn in his apart
ments, Virginia is treated as a social
7 equal Before she leaves she realizes
THAT Mr.. Stafford means more to her
| than mere employer. When she
reaches her home, she confides in her
sister, and between them they discuss
the possibility of marriage. But Vir-
GINA is not sure that she loves him.
CHAPTER ".
Y TIRGINIA was at her desk earlier
" than usual the following morn
ing. The walk from her home
had brought the color to her cheeks
and she presented an unusually at
tractive appearance as she sat before
her little switchboard. She appeared
not to notice anything about her.
A morning newspaper attracted her
attention. On the front page was a
headline reading: Prominent New
York Millionaire a Selfmade Man" It
told how Robert Stafford had started
his career practically in the gutter,
but by sheer force of grit and determ-
nation had worked his way. step by
step, until he was now a captain in
rallrOading and finance From Maine
10 California the name of Robert Stat
ford was household word, the article
said
Virginia was fascinated
The story told of his beautiful apart
ments on Riverside drive, of the mag
nlflcent paintings and bricabrac the
tapestries, the works of art collected
from all over the world. To Virginia
II seemed like fairy tale
mus engrOssed II was little wonder
that the pretty telephone girl die not
observe a tall, handsome man stand
ing beside her desk He had seen
the article she was reading, and
a seemingly self satisfied smile was
playing around the corners of his firm
expressive lips.
Virginia looked up from the paper.
she had finished
Good morning, Miss Blaine
" ny, good-gOod morning" she
stammered-
And now may ask what you think
of me?"
1t is wonderful, Mr.. Stafford" was
all that she could say.
quickly alert to rescue her from her
embarrassment, Mr.. Stafford inquired
after Fanny and her fiance, Mr. GilIey.
There was just suspicion of coquetry
IN Nlrglnia's smiles as she assured him
deed"
Then have a little surprise for all
Of YOU" he replied Now, 1 want you
to go home 2 little earlier than usual
this evening, tell Fanny and her friend
TO come along with you to my home
ana have dinner with me. Then we
will chat VIII you do that7'
Just for second Virginia was dunn
founded.
But, Mr.. Stat"
No, my little lady, Just you say yes
do There, 1 hear my name be-
ing PACED Here is the address. You
can't miss the house. I'll look for you
at o'clock Don't disappoint me, will
And with that he was off down the
corridor to catch the bell boy.
Every hour OF that day seemed to
asked that she might go home at 5,
and when the hour really came, she
was almost weak from waiting.
What would Fanny say And how
could they get in touch with James,
for James must be a member of the
party by all means. What an adTen-
ture! Where would it all end?
Fanny, Fanny! Virginia could not
wait until she reached the house. I'VE
are going to dine Nth Mr., Stafford to
night Hurry, get on your things. And
phone to James quickly. He's to be /
Why, what" u
Don't stop to ask questions. I'VE |
must be there by Z. I wouldn't keep /
him waiting for anything in the world /
Please do hurry Fanny
It was an interesting trio that /
walked up Riverside drive at just five \
minutes before o'clock that evening /
4 amy was tAC4leu 10 the point o. 4
bursting; James, sullen and quite self /
possessed. could see no reason in the /
world to think it at all strange that he 4
should be asked to dine with Robert !
Stafford After all, he could be Just
as rich as Stafford if he had only had
the chance. Virginia was nervous, half |
afraid. It was not the dinner that in
terested her; il was that chat he had |
spoken of. Virginia would have given
anything in the world just at that mo-
ment to know all that he might have J
to say to her.
(To be continued)