The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-12-21
A SALON
DIALOGUE
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

kinsT" / asked.
"Oh. nothing" replied Betty, "only
she's not half good enough for Harry.
why don't you interrupt the pro-
eeedings?''
How could do thatT'
Step In between them"
You fatterer. One would think to
hear you talk that could have any
man want for the asking
$50 you could and not half try.
Betty tried hard to conceal the pleas
ure my appreciation Of her powers
gave her, but failed.
There's one man couldn't
"Who"'
The first letter OF his first name
Ia j.
That's because you never tried :"
My first name is James,
Perhaps / will
What would poor Harry do In the
meanwhile? He would be swallowed
up by Ida Perkins
"Oh, that affair could watt
When are you going to begin Oh
meY'
morning Come and see me soon.
have things 10 tell you "
VERY soon. Goodby"
This scrap of converse ton. which
am free to admit was not concentrated
wisdom, occurred at the gl9ye counter
of Jones', where | met Miss Chamber
lin. The next time | saw her was at
Mrs. Winters salon. so called from the
brilliant dialogues that take place
there. Betty was tied to Ashurst He
was a graduate of a scientific school
and could drown her I'm pool of ideas
seven feet deep. | was sandwiched
between two girls directly behind them
We conversed with one another, but
aad our ears open for what Ashurst
and Betty were saying. One of the
girls beside me was Ida Perkins. The
only remark that could be considered
TO refer to the couple In front of Us
was made by Ida. 1t was this:
why do you bright men get stuck
In the honey of stupid girls p
Leave out the you. and T will an
swer the question" | replied.
But she wouldn't, and | confess
would not have been pleased if she
had.
Betty made Judgment with Ash
urst at that salon. and this is the way
she did it.
Il have heard. Mr.. Ashurst," she was
saying. that you are not one of the
kind to feel certain of anything and
that you never force your opinions on
any one
stConfound those persons who know
everything grunted Ashurst.
$50 say THAT is. mean persons
who don't know as much as other per
sons who know a great deal. but are
not constantly trying to show it off,
This was trif1e mixed. but Ashurst
didn't seem to mind it.
Some of the women here make me
laugh" Betty went on. They think
they're quite wise. Don't they tire you
Mr.. Ashurst?''
Il don't know: some of them do"
II heard one of them just now talk
ing about the big European war She
said the allies had the best generals.
only they had been short of ammuni
eion.''
Which allies?''
why, I suppose she meant-is there
more than one ally?''
| saw Ida Perkins and Belle Town
send-Belle was the other side of the
sandwich that had me for a middle
look at each other Fortunately for
Betty lady passed her, bidding her
good evening and making remark
about the weather So Bet was not
obliged to go any further into the mill
tary problems of the great war. In
deed. 1t had not been her intention to
do SO. She had become inadvertently
drawn into Ii by attempting TO hold up
one of her rivals In an unfavorable
light.
Are you fond OF motoring, Mr.
Ashurst?' was her next remark 81
don't suppose you are. AT least SO
busy man as you is not likely to have
time to enjoy himself"
Ashurst was the scientific adviser of
a gigantic manufacturing corporation
He looked relieved that Betty should
have spared him the trouble of an
swering the question she had asked
him. Bet has beautiful eyes and
knows that they serve her a better
purpose than her tongue. for unfortu
nateIy the latter member canrot wag
without drawing on her brain.
'oThe reason why asked you IL you
were fond of motoring is that | have
car. and If you could spare me some
afternoon about o'clock
81 should be very happy" was the
reply.
Don't you think an ice would coo,
us? These rooms are very warm
They arose and went elsewhere Bel
had caught sight of Ida in rather too
close proximity TO suit her
The next time | saw Betty congrat
Glated her on her engagement TO Ash
urst. Didn't | tell you" said ''tha,
you could If you tried?''
What's this | hear about you and
ida PerkinsT' she asked. looking at me
anxiously
''Oh. we're engaged FOO.
have never since regained the place |
occupied in Retty's good graces.