The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-04-30


Jennings springing forward to part the
portleres for her and passing thrsusa
the room quickly where Flirty Florrie
sat waiting Flirty Florrie rose and
stood gazing at Elaine apparently
very much embarrassed, even after
JenEings had gone.
"It Is embarrassing" she said final
ly. "but, Miss Dodge, I have come to
you 10 beg for my love"
Elaine looked at her nonplused.
"Yes," she continued, you do not
know It, but Craig Kennedy IL infatu-
ated with you" She paused again.
then added, "But he is engaged TO me-"
Elaine stared at the woman. She
was dazed She could not believe It.
There is the ring" 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" Florric said
simply, choking a sob.
AAAAlAAh AbhhAh WIN a ENaA ANAA y
enough there was the neat living room
In the house on Prospect avenue In
one picture Florrle had her arms over
Kennedy's shoulders In the other,
apparently, they we're passionately
kissing
Elaine slowly laid the photographs
on the table.
"Please-please, Miss Dodge-give
me back my lost love. You are rich
and beautiful am poor. have only
my good looks. But-l-I love him
and he-loves me-and has promised
to marry me"
Florrle had broken down completely
and was weeping softly into a lace
handkerchief.
She moved toward the door. Elaine
followed her
"Jennings-please see the lady to
the 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 in 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
off so easily, and received him with
studied coolness
Still, Craig, manlike, did not notice
it at once. In fact, he was too busy
gazing about to see that neither Jen-
nings, Marie nor the duenna Aunt Jo-
sephine we're 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 a microscope slide. Still, he did
not notice
He took the ring about to put it
on her finger. Elaine drew away.
! Concealment was not in her frank ma
I 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
! fall carelessly on the table and
dropped into 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
I 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-iust to get me where
they could fake this thing. } sup
pose they've put someone up to say
ing she's engaged?"
Elaine was not so lightly affected.
But" she said severely, repressing
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" ne began, trying to explain.
| mo Outs, she interrupted.
"Then you believe that f."
"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 touch of
impatience, "if my word 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
come his fit of blues.
Kennedy, filled with his own
thoughts, paid no attention to me-.
Then he jumped up.
"By George will" he muttered.
1 poked my head out of the door in
time to see him grab up his hat and
coat and dash from the room, put
ting his coat on as he went
'He's a nut today" I exclaimed to
/ myself.
Though did not know yet Of the
quarrel, Kennedy had really struggled
with himself until he was willing to
put his pride in his pocket and had
made up his mind to call on Elaine
again.
AS he entered he saw that it was
really of no use, for only Aunt Jo-
sephine was in the library.