Middletown transcript., 1915-10-09

I will do anything for money, then, will
she? She'll cheat, and lie and cut her
best friends throat behind her back
by jove, you're the coldest-blooded set
Of female vampires l ever saw in my
life! It's a revelation to me! So
that's all you wanted, eh? That's why
you all hung fire this morning, and got
me into this confounded mess-oh, you
wanted time! Yes, time to investi-
gate my finances, of course-and then,
when you do get wind of this devilish
old legacy, then you're all after me on
the gallop, like a pack of Siberian
wolves-falling over one another to
see who can get to the telephone first!
Well, thank God found 1t out in time!
Thank God I'm free of all three Of you,
you lying, back-biting, mercenary, two
faced hypocritesl Well, it's all over,
now. advise you to train your guns
on Cousin Jonas!"
There was a disagreeable pause.
When the pot calls the kettle black 1t
is uncomfortable for both. Then the
three women, their rage and disap-
pointment still unappeased, swept out
of the studio and left him alone. Rosa
mund went out, surly and lowering,
Carolyn sarcastic to the last, with a
bitter smile upon her lips, Mrs. Royal
ton abiectly weeping, hurling her faint
reproaches with a lessening might
She turned at the door to pull the
ruby ring from her hand, and, with all
of Flodies abandon. If with less of
Lodi Qualification tnaand ~ of hin,
He drew long breath, and dropped
into a chair. 1t had been a very bad
FIVE minutes; 1t was relief to have it
over What next? The music. still
continued, but it would soon be time
for his guests to be leaving. He knew
he ought to go out into the other
rooms and play the host-but he could
not 1t was impossible for him to see
L. again the three ladies who must just
: now be making their scornful exit. AS
. soon as they were out of the way, he
J would do his best with the others.
He knelt down on the floor and be-
gan to search for the ring.
Are you In here, Mr.. Bonistelle?"
: came Flodie's gentle voice at the door
: He jumped up and faced her. Yes
Flodie."
: She came in timidly and gave a
glance at the clock. Eyes, it's all over;
; the moneys gone!" he said calmly.
( Have they left yet?"
, She nodded, smiling, They're all
: making up to, Jonas with all their
might. BY the way they talked, you
=, must have had a pretty lively time
5 with them" Flodie sat down demurely.
Il should say SO, Flodie! Three
] ladies have told me tonight rather ex-
8 plicitly that I'm a cad. What d'you
. think?'
You're not!" she cried. Flodie sat
= up Indignantly, her eyes blazing.
He gave her a quick surprised look,
I and. his face lighted with hope. 1t
was the first time their eyes had met
n in perfect accord. 1t was the first real
, | thrill.
\ Then" he hardly dared to say it
n have you forgiven me. Flor"
v Have you forgiven me?"
You! For what?" 1t was evident
that she need not fear him.
Flodie cast down her eyes a mo-
= ment, then raised them boldly. For
a pretending"
h Pretending what?'
Pretending that didn't care" Flo
die, suddenly embarrassed, jumped up
and walked away from him. Hall made
= = leap for her. He caught her in his
arms.
"Oh. do you care, Flodie? Do you?
Do you? Even after all this?"
He kissed her ardently full on the
4 lips.
4 Flodie extricated herself from his
Il grasp. Isn't it-of course it's very
nice, Habits awfully nice-but isn't
3 it-just a ittle-well, premature?
She brought it out timidly, but her
face showed her rapture.
He dropped his arms and stood. sud
y denly disconnected, then laughed nerv
ously. why, surely you ought to be
70 lieve me now, Flodie! I'm right back
to where was this morning-no for
O. tune, no prospects-just working fol
IS my living, and quite head over heels
1t in debt"
e, Flodie giggled blissfully, do yor
Is want your eggs boiled two minutes
r this morning, Mr.. Bonistelle, oil
three?"
n, He smiled and shook his head
a, Yes, it's all over-I'll have no mil
/? lions to offer you, after all, Flodie. In
IN just a poor devil of a photographer
re Don't you believe me now?" he repeat
Id ed anxiously.
3; Flodie was trembling. "Believ'
it what, Hall?" she hung her head. "Yol
r. haven't said it, yeti"
d, For a moment he stood looking a
b. her. puzzled, then a broad grin spread
It, over his face. "Oh!" he cried. "Wel
ey 1 guess! Is that It'll" Jubilant, now
is he approached her with playful mock
ad romantic airs, knelt and put his arm
I'd around her. "Will you marry me
Flodie?"
ed CHAPTER XIV.
THnz5so burst into Aaore