The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-08-13
. CHAPTER Vi.-continued.

Flodie stared at him fascinated, as
a bird by snake. Try as she could,
it was impossible to deny his accusa-
tion.
Hold on q minute, now!" He shook
his finger impressively. I'D give a
good deal If l was satisfied he wouldn' t
be married before midnight"
Flodie could stand it no longer. It
was useless to attempt to hide her
feelings from this man. Her heart
was bursting. "Oh, so would I, if
had the money!" she cried, woebe-
gone.
Jonas leaned back, with smile of
victory on his face. wall, 1 guess
l got to the woman of it at last" he
gloated. "All women is just alike.
when you come right down to it. One
man among a thousand have l found !;
but woman among all those have
not found'-that is, different. But
that's neither here nor there. / sus-
pected you was sweet on Hall; your
face give you dead away. Wall, then,
miss" he brought it out deliberately,
seems to me our interests ought to
be identical"
What d'you meant" Something in
Flodie's subconsciousness was awak-
ened.
"You. bein' woman, don't want him
to marry anybody else. Wall, neither
do l." He watched her closely, heart
lessly
81 see," said Flodie frisidly, ~
cause you'd lose fortune"
ooh. it amt the money, miss, don't
you misinterpret my motives. I don't
want cent of it for myself. It's what
I can do with it. See here; IL Hall
gets that money, he's bound to throw
it away on all sorts of foolishness. If
he marries tonight, some sheep-head-
ed, extravagant woman will have the
spendin' of it." He watched the shaft
strike Flodie, and went on. WHARF
as, If l inherit it-why, got my plans
all laid out Already" He leaned for
ward earnestly. why, do you know,
miss, they's heather in the tropics
what don't know what clothes be, let
alone the Bible. They tell me they
amt toothbrush nor pair o. corsets
in all Polynesia. And all of them mis-
erable niggers got to be damned ever
lasting. Then they's hospitals I in
tend to endow, and tracts ought to be
printed" But Flodie's eyes were cast
down. He saw that he had lost his
audience. and came back to his best
argument. Think O. Halls wife
throwin' that cash round on parties,
and low-necked dresses-to say nothin
o. balls and concerts and theaters!"
Well" Flodie said, with a pathetic
look in her face, Il don't see what we
can do about it. He's made up his
mind to marry tonight, and he's al,
ready proposed to three women"
Jonas whistled long and low.
Looks like we got to get to work in
a hurry. don't it? See here, MISS" he
spoke slowly and emphatically. You
can do it. Why, women is born for
tricks like this. What's that jeremiah
says? A woman shall compass a
nan That's right. too. You'll find
a way, and depend on me to help all
can. What dye say?"
Flodie's mind had already jumped
to the task Why not try to save Hall
that was the excuse she gave her
self. To be disloyal to him was un.
thinkable, but to prevent a lifelong
70 hi
one of the three women he had pro
posed to-ah, that was another thing
What If she could accomplish it, and
get the best of this scheming hypo
critic into the bargain? There was a
magnificent chance for a woman's
strategy! Suddenly the thought came
beautiful, complete. She jumped uI
excitedly 81 know!" she cried.
What? Got an idee a'ready?" 10
mas grinned.
get those three women together in this
room-and then-I'll just let nature
take it's course! II something doesn't
happen, then | don't know anything
about women"
Jonas chuckled. delighted. Wall
that will be q picnic, won't it! By
Jimmy, I'd like to see the fun!"
No" said Flodie, you'll have te
leave. I've got lots to do, if I'm tc
manage this thing. and I've got to de
1t alone Now. let's see! Wait min
ute-Hall's giving q party tonight
Suppose I tell him that I invited you
ind you come round at about clever
o'clock. Then I'll tell you how mat
ta-s are going"