Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-04-17

Elaine moved into the drawing room,
Jennings sprinsiag forward to part the
portiercs fer her and passing through
the room quickly whore Flirty Florrie
sat waiting. Flirty Florrie rose and
stood gazing at Elaine. apparently
very much embarrassed, even after
Jennings had gone.
1T is embarrassing" she said final
ly. but. Miss Dodge. have come to
you to beg for my love-
Elaine locked at her ncnplused.
Yes" she continued, "ycu do not
know it, but Craig Kennedy is infatu-
ated with you" She paused again,
then added, But he is engaged to me-"
Elaine stared at the woman. She
was dazcd. She could not believe it
There is the rins," Flirty Florrie
added, indicating a very impressive
paste diamond.
Quickly she reached into her bag
and drew out two photographs, with.
out a word, handing them to Elaine
There's the proof" tIorrie said
simply. choking a sob.
Elaine looked with a start. Sure
enough. there was the neat living room
in the house On Prospect avenue. In
one picture F7Orrie had her arms over
Kennedy's shoulders. In the other,
apparently, they were passionately
kissing.
Elaine slowly laid the photographs
on the table.
"PlCase-please, Miss Dodge-give
me back my lost love. You are rich
and beautiful am poor ! have only
my good locks. But-I-I love him
and he-lOves me-and has promised
to marry me-"
Flcrrie had broken down completely
and was weeping softly into a lace
handkerchief
She moved toward the door. Elaine
followed her
"Jernings-please see the lady to
tho door"
Back in the drawing-room, Elaine
seized the photographs and hurried
into the library where she could be
alone.
Just then she heard the bell and
/ Kennedy's voice iii the hall.
How are you this afternoon" Ken
nedy greeted Elaine gayly.
Elaine had been too overcome by
what had just happened to throw it
of so easily, and received him with
studied GOODNESS.
Still, Craig, manlike, did not notice
1t at once. In fact, he was too busy
gazing about to see that neither Jen-
nings, Marie nor the duenna Aunt Jo-
sephine were visible. They were not
and he quickly took the ring from
his pocket. Without waiting, he
showed it to Elaine.
Elaine very coolly admired the ring,
as Craig might have eyed a specimen
on microscope slide Still, he did
not notice.
He took the ring, about to put it
on her finger Elaine drew away.
/ CorceGlment was not in her frank ma
ture
She picked up the two photographs.
What have you to say about
those?" she asked cuttingly.
Kennedy, quite surprised, took them
and looked at them. Then he let them
fell carelessly on the table and
dropped into a chair, his head back in
a burst of laughter.
"Why-that was what they put over
on Walter" he said. HE called me
up early this afternoon-told me he
/ had discovered one of these poisoned
kiss cases you have read about in the
papers. Think of it-all that to pull
a concealed camera! Such an elabo-
rate business-just to get me where
they could fake this thing. i sup
pose they've put someone up to say
ing she's engaged?"
Elaine was not so lightly affected
But" she said severely, depressing
her emotion, 81 don't understand, Mr.
Kennedy, how scientific inquiry into
the poisoned kiss could necessitate
this sort Of thing"
She pointed at the photographs ac-
cusingly.
But" he began, trying to explain.
mo butts" she interrupted.
"Then you believe that I"
How can you, as a scientist, ask me
to doubt the camera?" she insinuated,
very coldly turning away.
Kennedy rapidly began to see that
It was far more serious than he had at
! first thought
Very WE'LL" he said with a touch of
impatience, IF my woId is not to be
! taken-I-Ill-"
He had seized his hat and stick.
Elaine did not deign to answer.
Then, without a word, he stalked
out of the door,
Kennedy was moping in the labora-
tory the next day when | came in.
Say, Craig" began, trying to over