Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-01
CHAPTER l..

At nine o'clock in the morning,
punctuaI 20 the second, F1odie Fisher
unlocked the door marked Hall Boni-
stelle, Artist-Photographer," and
walked into the Office.
Tie large light room was vacant
FIodie shook her head In 8orrowful dis
appointment at her employers tardi-
ness, and shrugged her shoulders. ooh,
dear!" she muttered impatiently. "iust
what I expected" Then, with a shake
of her head as one who says, 1T must
be done!" she walked in and listened
outside Hall BonisteIle's bedroom door.
For a moment she stood poised, awk-
wardly gTaceful-or rather gracefully
awkward, perhaps, so quaint, so orig
inal was her attitude. She knocked
with frmness. The summons was per
emptory, yet it had the secret indul-
gence Of a doting mother for her only
child The only answer was a not IN
musical baritone growI.
She banged on the door again. This
time she really meant it. Mr.. Boni-
stelIel 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
off the desk top was busted with a
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
Iy, 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 a prom
tnent Adams apple.
She fumb1ed over the photographs
on the table behind her.
Alfred" she said in the voice of a
school ma'am, did you see a picture
OF me had here on the table the other
day."
He turned fire-red. "You-you didn't
want that picture, did you, Miss Fish
err" His eyes impIored her wildly,
Vainly. We'll, I'll bring it back, if you
say so; only, I thought. maybe"
We'll, Alfred Smallish! like that"
FIodie calculated.
ooh, Miss Fisher-you see, well,
H,f@ 70. al
you know, l thought-it's just grand
of you, Miss Fisher! I'd think the
world of 1t, and-couldn't you pos
sibly-"
That's enough, Alfred! I don't
dare to discuss it. You just walk that
picture back immediately" FIodie's
voice was sharp. but well,
F7odie 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 plumbers.
Some folks mightn't think you was
pretty, Miss Fisher, but think"
F9odie whipped out her watch.
Gracious sakes!" she cried, where's
Mr. Bonistelle's eggs?"
I'm go down and see if they're
ready, Miss Fisher" He turned heav-
lily.
Well, hurry up, thenl If his break
fast isn't here when he comes, he's
liable to eat the tablecIoth 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. Bonisteue! Are
you ready for breakfasts" she called.
Floddie's tone had changed; decided
as it was, 1t 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 BonisteIIe opened the
door and protruded his belathered
face shamelessly, grinning.
Even disheveled as he was at pres
ent, scandalousIy tousled and be-
daubed with soapsuds, his smile was
disarming.
Flodies 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
{steIle?"
Nothing to do but work" he chant
ed gaily
You have an appointment at ten
oclock-and you know how you al
ways poke over that old breakfast"
Speaking of which, wherefore not
here?" He joyously chucked her IN
der the chin
Flodie loved it but dared not show.
"ItU be here by the time you're fit
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 youi"
All right. oh, fair assistant, must
obey!" Hall disappeared and Flodie
marched back TO the office.