Middletown transcript., 1915-06-19
CHAPTER 1.

At nine o'clock in the morning.
punctual to the second, Flodie Fisher
unlocked the door marked Hall Boni-
stelle, Artist-Photographer," and
walked into the office.
The large light room was vacant.
Flodie shook her head in sorrowful dis
appointment at her employers tardi-
ness, and shrugged her shoulders. "Oh,
dear!" she muttered impatiently, lust
what expected" Then, with shake
Of her head as one who says, "It must
be donel" she walked in and listened
outside Hall Bonistelle's bedroom door.
For moment she stood poised, awk-
wardly graceful-or rather gracefully
awkward, perhaps, so quaint, so orig
inal was her attitude. She knocked
with f1rmness. The summons was per-
emptory, yet 1t had the secret indul-
gence of doting mother for her only
child. The only answer was a not un-
musical baritone growl.
She banged on the door again. This
time she really meant it. "Mr. Boni-
stelle! You must get up Immediately
come on now!"
A wait-then the unwilling reply,
'All right"
Flodie walked back to the office,
frowning, and sat down at her desk. A
leaf from the calendar pad was ripped
on, the desk top was busted with
cloth; then she stopped suddenly. The
elevator door had banged.
Almost Immediately there entered
to her the sad young janitor, Mr.. AL
fred Smallish. He gave a pathetic
hopeless look at Flodie and hung at
anchor in the doorway, meekly.
Morning, Miss Fisher" he said, and
grinned.
Flodie gave a glance at him, casual
ly, then gazed with more interest.
Pale blue eyes, a large Roman nose,
wideopen ears and a quivering mouth
had Alfred. His chin was that of a
lizard, sloping back weakly to prom
inent Adams apple.
She fumbled over the photographs
On the table behind her.
Alfred" she said in the voice of a
school ma'am. did you see picture
of me had here on the table the other
day?"
He turned f1re-red. "You-you didn't
want that picture, did you, Miss Fish
err" His eyes implored her wildly,
vainly. We'll, I'll bring it back, if you
say so; only, thought, maybe"
well, Alfred Smallish! like that"
Flodie calculated.
"0h, Miss Fisher-you see, well,
didn't quite dare to ask you, and-well,
you know, l thought-its just grand
of you, Miss Fisher! I'd think the
world of it, and-couldn't you pos
sibly-"
That's enough, Alfred! 1 don't
dare to discuss 1t. You Just walk that
picture back immediately" Flodie's
voice was sharp, but well,
Flodie couldn't help plying him. She,
weakened. Perhaps, I'll give you one,
sometime. I'll see."
Mr.. Smallish beamed with pleasure,
but he had a talent for blunders.
Some folks mightn't think you was
pretty, Miss Fisher. but think"
Flodie whipped out her watch.
Gracious sakes" she cried. where's
Mr.. Bonistelle's eggs?"
"Ill go down and see if they're
ready, Miss Fisher" He turned heav-
fly.
well, hurry up, then! If his break
fast isn't here when he comes, he's
liable to eat the tablecloth and go
right back to bed. Quick now!"
"Yes'm!" Mr.. Smallish left in de-
lection. Flodie walked swiftly into the
studio and knocked again at her en-
ployer's door. "Mr. Bonistelle! Are
you ready for breakfast" she called.
FIoddie's tone had changed; decided
as it was, it had softened; it was al
most musical. Her face had changed,
also. She stood as If awaiting a
vision.
Footsteps we're heard in Halls bed
room. Now, there are two kinds of
men: those who are shocked even unto
modification by being discovered in
the act of shaving, and those who take
a malicious delight in their outrageous
condition. Hall Bonistelle opened the
door and protruded his belathered
face shamelessly, grinning.
Even disheveled as he was at pres
ent. scandalously tousled and be-
daubed with soapsuds, his smile was
disarming.
Flodie's alteration of him, though
of the maternal order, did not lessen
her firmness do you realize how
much you've got to do today, Mr.. Bon
istelle?"
Nothing to do but work." he chant
ed gaily.
"You have an appointment at ten
o'clock-and you know how you al
ways poke over that old breakfast"
Speaking of which, wherefore not
here?" He ioyously chucked her un-
der the chin.
FIodie 9ove0 it but dared not show
"ItT be here by the time you're fl
to be seen. You wash that face OF
yours and hurry up with it, you big
baby, you! I've got too much to do
myself to talk to you'll"
IAN right, oh, fair assistant. i must
obeyl" Hall disappeared and Flodie
marched back to the office.