Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-08-19
CHAPTER vI.-contlnued.

F1odie stared at hiUl fascinated, as
a bird by a snake. Try as she could
It was impossible to deny his accusa-
ton.
Hold on a minute, now" He shook
his finger impressiVeIy. I'D give a
good deal If 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. ooh, so would I, if I
had the money!" she cried, woebe-
gone.
Jonas leaned back, with a smile of
victory on his face. Wall guess
/ 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 a woman among all those have /
not found'-that is, different. But
that's neither here nor there. I sus-
pected you was sweet on Hall; your
face give you dead away. Wall, then,
miss" he brought 1t out deliberately,
Seems to me our interests ought to
be Identical"
What d'you mean?" Something in
Flodie's subconsciousness was awak-
ened.
You, bein' a woman, don't want him
to marry anybody else. Wall, neither
do L" He watched her closely, heart
Iessly
4 see" said FIodie frigidly, "be-
cause you'd lose a fortune"
"Oh. it amt the money, miss, don't
you misinterpret my motives. I don't
want a cent of it for myself. It's what
I can do with it. See here; if Hall
gets that money, he's bound to throw
1t 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 / inherit it-why, I 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 a pair O. corsets
in all Polynesia. And all Of them mis-
cradle niggers got to be damned ever
lasting. Then theys hospitals 1 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
THROWN that cash round on parties.
and lOw-necked dresses-to say nothin'
O. balls aud 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
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
man That's right, too. You'll find
way and depend on me to help all
can. What dye say?"
Flodie's mind had already jumped
20 the task. Why not try to save Hall?
that was the excuse she gave her
self To be disloyal to him was I'M
thinkable, but to prevent a lifelong
unhappiness due tc his marrying any
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 up
excitedly. Il know" she cried.
What? Got an idee a'ready?" Jo-
mas grinned.
Yes! I'll tell you. I'm going to
get those three women together in this
room-and then-Tll just let nature
take its course! If something doesn't
happen, then I don't know anything
about women"
Jonas chuckled, delighted. Wall.
that Will be a picnic. won't it! By
jimmy. I'd like to see the fun"
No" said Flodie, you'll have to
leave. I've got lots to do, if I'm to
manage this thing. and I've got to DO
it alone. Now, let's see! Wait a min
ute-Halrs giving q party tonight
Suppose I tell him that invited you,
s,S y-Cy, pou0a round at shOl1t eleven
o'clock. Then I'll tell you how mat
tiers are going"