Middletown transcript., 1915-06-19

them,
| AS to that, ii one had asked Flodie,
she would have smiled and changed
the subject Least Of all, perhaps, II
the truth were told, did he know the
fond adorer who had voluntarily made
herself his slave. He saw and took
advantage Of her cleverness and zeal;
her attractive oddity refreshed him,
but to her deep seriousness and the
reserves of her temperament he was
totally blind
Flodie sat watching his long, sIen-
der hands engaged gracefully. with
fork and spoon. But, much as she loved
to watch him, her conscience made her
too uncomfortable. Reluctantly she
withdrew her eager eyes.
WELL" she sighed. now for busi-
ness!"
She read aloud from the book. AT
ten o'clock Mrs. Rena Royalton-"
She looked up. And you won't be
half ready! I'll have to entertain
her-and you know how hate that
woman!"
Can you name one woman, Flodie
Fisher, whom you do not hate?"
mo, can't. They're all cats. Cats
and rats and hens and snakes and
parrots! But that's no reason for
keeping them waiting" Flodie ran
her finger down the page. Lets see
ten-thirty-Miss Dallys. Oh, no, l for
got! You took her yesterday"
"Carolyn's certain a fine girl" Hall
murmured dreamily, lighting a ciga-
rette and watching his assistant
amusedly
Carolyn" Flodie fairly spit 1t out
"Since how long?"
Ever since | neglected to pay my
dinner call on her, Flodie. had to
do something to soothe her rufled
feelings-so began to call her Caro-
lyn. What's the inevitable result?
She's invited me for next Wednesday
again. People always invite you again
If you are rude enough, Flodie"
You must have been pretty rude
to Mrs. Royalton, then. by the way
she runs after you! Why, she fairly
clucks like a hen!"
"Oh, Mrs. Royalton! All, there /
have another method! She's one of
those women you can't possibly in
suit" Hall smiled with superiority.
"Rena's got to the age, you know,
when she prefers to be fiattered."
Don't all women like it?" Flodie
demanded.
mo! You're too young, Flodie. You
want compliments" Hall was trium-
plant. 1T depends upon how you do
1t, you know. Rena wants it laid on
thick. A woman doesn't demand
subtlety. Flodie, after she gets to the
thirty-flve"
"Thirty-five! Mrs Royalton is thirty.
eight, If she's a day."
"By the way, how old are you. Flo
die? forget"
Me? Why, I'm only twenty-onei"
Hall laughed. PLUS five, makes
twenty-six."
I'm mott" she protested-but 1t was
no use. He laughed at her till she
flushed red and sought refuge in a
bundle of bills. There's a Please re.
nit from the Photo-Supply company"
she announced, looking up. What
shall l do?"
"Oh, answer Necessity forbids!'" L"
Hall shrugged his shoulders.
: why, Mr.. Bonistelle, don't you real
ize that we've simply got to pay that
bill pretty soon, or they won't send
us any more stuff? Oh, it's all very
well for you to sit there in a red silk
dressing gown and laugh and make
aristocratic jokes! But have to take
all the kicks, and stand off the col
lectors!"
Hall applauded gracefully. Say,
Flodie, you've got your war boots on
today, haven't you! What's the par.
ticular matter?"
"The matter!" Flodie looked down
on him as from a mountain. where's
the rent coming from, I'd like to
know? Out of your cigarette smoke?
Yes, you can smile and twist that silly
mustache all you want, but that won't
pay for hypo! Do you imagine we
can run this business on epigrams and
funny gestures? No, sir! Mr.. Boni-
stelle, ,"-Flodie shook his shoulder
you've simply got to wake up and
make a whole load of money. quick!"
He rose and yawned artistically.
Lord, know it, Think of a Boni-
stelle having to work for his living!
Isn't that grotesque? Why for all
know, may be millionaire this very
minute Fancy, Flodie-a millionaire!"
"Say"-Flodie grew serious. when
are they ever going to find out about
that old will, anyway"
Il wish to heaven l knew! If John
B. Bonistelle had been anyone elses
uncle, he would have filed his will
with his attorneys, and his nephew
would be driving a sixty-horsepower
car by this time. But being mine, of
course he has to hide the confounded
document where it won't be found till
the estate is settled. I've been on pins
and needles ever since he died"
"Well, of course he'll leave you
something. You'll get BOBBY consola-
tion prize, anyway. He can't cut you
out entirely!"
CTO BE CONTINUED)