Middletown transcript., 1915-08-28

know I've got to have it repaired. I'll
get it now" He turned to the ladies
with a 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. 1--WE fin
ished the others, Mr.. Bonistelle.
think the ladies will excuse you; can
attend to them, all right" She walked
slowly back to the stockroom, giving
him a meaning glance as she left.
"Oh, yes, don't wait, Mr.. Bonistelle;"
said Mrs. Royalton.
well, I'll have to go then, 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. I'll tell you. Wait
moment!" She walked up to the
stockroom door and opened it. Miss
Fisher!" she called.
Flodie appeared, wondering what
she could be wanted for.
II say, Miss Fisher, couldn't we go
into the reception room for a 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'. "Well have it
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.
80 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, whatT Was she
any nearer to getting Hall for herself
obviously she considered her pEos-
poets. She was as intensely concen-
trated on the effort as the tiger wait
ing to leap on her prey. ALI to be
seen of it, however, was little, quaint
gray-eyed girl, pathetically bending
over her accounts.
1t was not many minutes before Hall
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 tC
her, there are three mighty nice
girls, did you know it?"
Him." mumbled Flodie
They're all so sweet-by Jove,
hardly know which one l like best
he went on. They're charming; don
you think so?"
Flodie was very busy writing in {
little book. YES" she Eaid withou
looking up.
mo, but really, Flo!"
"Oh, yes; really"
by Jove, l hardly know which ont
l do like best!" Hall peeped into thu
reception room again curiously
through a narrow slit in the doorway
well, you can't marry them all, cal
your" Flodie looked up now, bitinl
the end OF her penholder viciously.
mo, that's the deuce of it. l almos
wish l could"
"Mr Bonistelle!"
We'll, then, I've got to jilt two o
them. wonder which one will b
the lucky girl! OF course it all de
. pends upon what they say to me tc
night"
He stopped suddenly and turned t
Flodie. Say. what are they talkin
} about in there, anyway"
"Oh, don't know. Clothes. guess.
| Flodie held her breath.
by jove!" His face changed swift
ly. "Oh, pshaw, though, nice girl
! don't go about telling their love a
! fairs, do they? What the deuce ar
you laughing at?"
3 "Oh, mol" said Flodie. Mice girl
A never get as intimate as that o
\ all subjects that concern the hear
r Mr.. Bonistelle. women are invariabl
5 as silent as the gravel"
He looked hard at her. "That
evidently sarcasm. Say, I'm worried /!
He walked anxiously back to the doc
and looked in again. by Jove," h
I exclaimed, this is getting on m
nerves. Lord, If they should find out
i See here, what were they talkin
T about while they were in here wal
y ing? D'you known"
t She looked up ingenuously, and T,
+ piled, "Oh, was In the stockroon
e printing proofs. They were all alon
Q here in the office"
s We'll, wish to goodness you ha
j. listened. I'd hate to lose four mi
F. lions of dollars on account of then
See here, Flo, can't stand this.
> feel as If were smoking a pipe @
s top Of a barrel of gunpowder. TheI
d may be an explosion any minute. Yo
J. can't tell what may touch it off-wh,
a single word, perhaps. I'm not goin
/ %