The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-09-09
CHAPTER VI.-continued.


Flodie stared at him fascinated. as
bird by snake. Try as she could,
1t was impossible to deny his accusa-
tion.
Hold on a minute, nowl" He shook
his finger impressively. I'D give
good deal II was satisfied he wouldn't
be married before midnight"
Flodie could stand 1t no longer. 1t
was useless to attempt to hide her
feelings from this man. Her heart
was bursting. "Oh, so would |, If |
had the money!" she cried. woebe-
gone.
Jonas leaned back, with a smile of
victory on his face. wall, guess
! got to the woman of it at last" he
gloated. "Ali women Is Just alike.
when you come right down to 1t. One
man among a thousand have found;
but woman among all those have |
not found'-that is, different. But
that's neither here nor there. sus-
pected you was sweet on Hall; your
face give you dead away. Wall, then,
miss" he brought 1t out deliberately,
seems to me our interests ought to
be identical"
What d'you mean?" Something in
Flodie's subconsciousness was awak-
ened.
you, bein' a woman, don't want him
to marry anybody else. Wall. neither
do l." He watched her closely, heart
lessly.
q see." said Flodie frigidly. be
cause you'd lose fortune"
"Oh. 1t amt the money, miss. don't
you misinterpret my motives. don't
want a cent OF 1t for myself It's what
I can do with It. See here; IL Hall
gets that money, he's bound to throw
It away on all sorts OF foolishness. II
he marries tonight, some sheep-head-
ed. extravagant woman will have the
spendin' of IT," He watched the shaft
strike Flodle. and went on. WHARF
as, II inherit it-why. got my plans
ali laid out Already" He leaned for
ward earnestly. why. do you know,
miss, they's heathen In the tropics
what don't know what clothes be, let
alone the Bible. They tell me they
amt toothbrush nor pair o. corsets
In all Polynesia. And all of them mis-
cradle niggers got to be damned ever
lasting. Then they's hospitals in
tend to endow. and tracts ought to be
printed" But Flodie's eyes we're cast
down. He saw that he had lost his
audience, and came back to his best
argument. Think o. Halls wife
throwin' that cash round on parties,
and iow-necked dresses-to say nothin'
o. balls and concerts and theaters!"
WELL Flodie said, with pathetic
look in her face, Il don't see what we
can do about 1t. He's made up his
mind to marry tonight, and he's al
ready proposed to three women"
Jonas whistled long and low
Looks like we got to get to work in
hurry. don't It? See here, MISS" he
spoke slowly and emphatically. you
can do it. Why, women is born for
tricks like this. What's that jeremiah
says? A woman shall compass a
man. That's right, too. You'll find
way and depend on me to help all
can. What dye say?"
Flodies mind had already jumped
to the task. Why not try to save Hall?
that was the excuse she gave her
self. To be disloyal to him was un-
thinkable. but to prevent a lifelong
unhappiness due to his marrying any
one of the three women he had pro
posed to-ah, that was another thing!
What II she could accomplish 1t, and
get the best OF this scheming hypo-
crite into the bargain? There was a
magnificent chance for woman's
strategy! Suddenly the thought came,
beautiful, complete. She jumped up
excitedly. 81 know!" she cried
What? Got an idee a'ready?" Jo-
mas grinned.
Yes! I'll tell you. I'm going TO
get those three women together in this
room-and then-Ill just let nature
take its course! II something doesn't
happen, then I don't know anything
about women"
Jonas chuckled. delighted. wall
that will be a picnic, won't 1t! BY
iiminy I'd like to see the funi"
NO" said F1odie, you'll have to
leave. I've got lots to do, II I'm to
manage this thing, and I've got to dc
II alone. Now, let's seel Wait a min
ute-Halrs giving party tonight
Suppose I tell him that | invited you
and you come round at about eleven
o'clock. Then I'll tell you how mat
&c. .1ninUn