Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-09-09

you"
Yes. I forgot ny watch. You
know I've got to have it repaired. I'll
get it now" He turned to the ladies
with new enthusiasm. I'm awfully
sorry I'm in such hurry, but I've got
a lot to do this afternoon"
Flodie appeared nervous. Miss
Gale is waiting for me to do her
proofs, you know" she said. I've fin
ished the others, Mr. BonisteIIe.
think the ladies viii excuse you; I can
attend to them, all right" She walked
slowly back to the stockroom, giving
him meaning glance as she left.
ooh, yes, don't wait, Mr. Bonistelle,"
said Mrs. Royalton.
well, I'll have to go then, I sup
pose. Make yourselves quite at home,
ladies'; I'll be back in a minute" He
left impatiently.
Carolyn thought a moment. Say,
we've got so much to talk over, we
can't discuss it here. Hall may be
back any moment. III tell you. Wait
moment!" She walked up to the
stockroom door and opened it. Miss
Ffsher!" she called
Flodie appeared, wondering what
she could be wanted for.
q say, Miss Fisher, couldn't we go
into the reception room for while?
We've got some things to talk over.
About the party tonight, you know"
why certainly" was Flodie's reply.
"The studios being decorated, but the
reception room is all ready, and no
body will disturb you. Go right in"
Come on!" said Carolyn, turning
to the other ladies. Wen have 1t
out right now, and decide on every
thing" She led the way in.
Hardly had they disappeared when
Flodie emerged again. She took a
step toward the door they had left
ajar, and listened Then she sat down
at her desk, smiling.
so far, so good" she thought Her
scheme had worked perfectly. 1t was
not for nothing that Flodie had
watched women, laughed at them, an
alyzed them and filed them away In
her mind. But now, what? Was she
any nearer to getting Hall for herself?
obviously she considered her pros
poets. She was as intensely concen-
trated on the effort as the tiger wait
ing to leap on her prey. All to be
seen of it, however, was little, quaint,
gray-eyed girl, pathetically bending
over her accounts.
= h0F II
came IN, thoughtfully winding a gold
watch. He looked about, surprised.
Where are they? Gomez"
"Oh, no." said Flodie. In there!"
She nodded toward the reception
room.
Hall walked toward the door and
looked in. Flodie watched him sharp
ly. Say" he said finally, turning to
her, there are three mighty nice
girls, did you know it,"
HIM" mumbled F1odie
They're all so sweet-by Jove, I
hardly know which one I like best!"
he went on. They're charming; don't
you think so?"
Flodie was very busy writing in
little book. YES" she said without
looking up.
No. but really. Flo!"
"Oh, yes; really"
"By Jove, l hardly know which one
l do like best!" Hall peeped into the
reception room again curiously,
through a narrow slit in the doorway
We'll. you can't marry thera all, can
you?" Flodie looked up now, biting
the end of her penholder viciously.
mo, that's the deuce of It. I almost
wish l could"
"Mr. Bonistelle!"
Well, then, I've got to jilt two of
them. I wonder which one will be
the lucky girl! OF course it all de-
ponds upon what they say to me to-
night"
He stopped suddenly and turned to
Flodie. Say, what are they talking
about in there, anyway"
"Oh, I don't know. Clothes, I guess.
Flodie held her breath.
by iove!" His face changed swift
ly. "Oh, pshaw, though, nice girls
don't go about telling their love af-
fairs, do they? What the deuce are
you laughing att"
"Oh, mol" said Flodie. Nice girls
never get as intimate as that. On
all subjects that concern the heart,
Mr.. Bonistelle, women are invariably
as silent as the gravel"
He looked hard at her. That's
evidently sarcasm. Say, I'm Worried"
He walked anxiously back to the door
and looked In again. by JoYe," he
exclaimed, this is getting on my
nerves. Lord, if they should find out!
See here, what were they talking
about while they were in here wait
ing? D'you know?"
She looked up ENORMOUSLY, and re-
piled, ooh, I was IN the stockroom,
printing proofs. They were all alone
here in the office.
We'll, I wish to goodness you had
listened. I'd hate to lose four mil
lions of dollars on account of them.
See here, Flo. can't stand this. 1
feel as If I were smoking a pipe on
top of barrel of gunpowder. There
may be an explosion any minute You
can't tell what may touch it off-why,
a single word, perhaps. I'm not going
TO leave until they're out of here.