The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-15
A SALON
DIALOGUE
BY WILLIAM CHANDLER

|
going to throw himself away Oh thai
Perkins girl!'
whats the matter with Ida Per
kinsT' asked.
| "Oh, nothing" replied Betty. only
she's not half good enough for Harry
/ "Why don't you interrupt the pro
| ceedings?'
"H0w could do that?'
Step In between them"
you fatterer! One would think to
hear you talk that could have any
man want for the asking"
$50 you could and not half try"
, Betty tried hard to conceal the pleas
/ ure my appreciation Of her powers
gave her. but failed.
There's one man I couldn't
"Who?"
''The first letter Of his first name
, is j."
That's because you never tricL s.
My first name Is James
perhaps / WILL"
"What would poor Harry do in the
meanwhile? He would be swallowe. |
up by Ida Perkins"
"Oh. that affair could wait"
when are you going to begin on
me?'
you? Oh. you can wait too. Cool
morning. Come and see me soon
have things to tell you"
very soon. Goodbye!
This scrap of conversation. which |
am free to admit was not concentrated
wisdom, occurred at the glove counter
Of Jones'. where l met Miss Chamber.
lin. The next time saw her was at
Mrs. Winters salon, so called from the
brilliant dialogues that take place
there. Betty was tied to Ashurst He
was graduate Of scientific school
and could drown her in a pool of ideas
seven feet deep. was sandwiched
between two girls directly behind them.
We cOnversed with one another, but
had our ears open for what Ashurst
and Betty were saying. One Of the
girls beside me was Ida Perkins. The
only remark that could be considered
to refer to the couple in front of us
was made by Ida. 1t was this:
"Why do you bright men get stuck
In the honey Of stupid girls?''
Leave out the YOU and I will an
swer the question:" replied.
But she wouldn't, and I confess I
would not have been pleased If she
had.
Betty made Judgment with Ash
urst at that salon, and this is the way
she did it.
Il have heard, Mr.. Ashurst," she was
saying, "that you are not one Of the
kind to feel certain Of anything and
that you never force your opinions on
any one"
"Confound those persons who know
everything!' grunted Ashurst.
$50 say THAT Is, I mean persons
who don't know as much as other per.
sons who know a great deal, but are
not constantly trying to show 1t or"
This was trifle mixed. but Ashurst
didn't seem to mind II.
"Some Of the women here make me
laugh" Betty went on. 'They think
they're quite wise. Don't they tire you.
Mr.. Ashurst?'
II don't know; some Of them do"
II heard one Of them Just now talk
ing about the big European war. She
said the allies had the best generals.
only they had been short Of ammuni
ton
(which allies?'
"Why, I suppose she meant-is there
more than one ally?"
l saw Ida Perkins and Belle Town.
send-Belle was the other side of the
sandwich that had me for middle
look ut each other. Fortunately for
Betty lady passed her. bidding her
good evening and making a remark
about the weather. So Bet was not
obliged to go any further into the mill.
tary problems OF the great war. In.
deed. 1t had not been her intention to
do so. She had become inadvertently
drawn into 1t by attempting to hold up
one Of her rivals in an unfavorable
light.
"Are you fond Of motoring, Mr..
Ashurst?" was her next remark. "I
don't suppose you are. At least 80
busy man as you is not likely to have
time to enjoy himself"
Ashurst was the scientific adviser OF
gigantic manufacturing corporation.
He looked relieved that Betty should
have spared him the trouble of an.
swering the question she had asked
him. Bet has beautiful eyes and
knows that they serve her better
purpose than her tongue, for unfortu-
nately the latter member cannot wag
without drawing on her brain.
The reason why l asked you IL you
were fond of motoring is that have
car. and II you could spare me some
afternoon about o'clock
II should be very happy" was the
reply.
Don't you think an ice would cool
us? These rooms are very warm"
They arose and went elsewhere. Bet
had caught sight of Ida in rather too
close proximity to suit her.
The next time saw Betty I congrat-
ulated her on her engagement to Ash
urst. Didn't tell your said. "that
you could IL you tried?"
whats this I hear about you and
Ida PerkinsT' she asked. looking at me
anxiously.
''Oh, we're engaged too"
have never since regained the place
l occupied In Betty's good graces. II
don't see why. Surely she could not
have 4shurSf md mn TOO ro~h,,S 10