The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-07-07
CHAPTER ~.

nembarrassedly, with careless
smile on her face. She was the sort O.
girl who affects extremes in style, an(
hats, the straightest, narrowest, short
est skirts. But they well became her;
there was a not unpleasant masculine
note in her air and costume brisk
ness and confidence that spoke of gol1
and tennis, horse or boats. Without
being too pretty, she had finely cut
sharp features, long nose, gray eyes
4 deft chin. She was most distinctly
New York type, trim as cutter,
clean and fresh as hound. If Mrs.
Royalton had been willowy-languor-
Gus, supersentimental, suave, the crisp
and cool newcomer was as easily care
less as a boy. She waited, with an
arch, somewhat amused expression,
for an invitation to enter.
"Oh-Miss Dallys! Good morning."
Hall called out and walked toward
her. "Say, would you mind waiting
Just a minute?'
"Sure!" said Carolyn Dallys. She
to the Office.
Hall returned to F1odie and stared
at her dramatically. Flodie trembled.
Finally he pounded the table with one
stroke of his fist. "By jove!" He
nodded emphatically.
ooh, Mr.. Bonistelle-you don't mean
=" Flodie looked unspeakable things.
He pointed to Sic door to the office,
There's the girl. right in there! Caro-
Ign Dallys! Why didn't we think OF
her before?"
Flodie WINGED as if he had struck
her in the face. Then she burst forth
like waterfall. ooh, no, no! Let me
tell you, Mr.. Bonistelle! She's too
mannish, Mr.. Bonistelle, Miss Dallys
is-you want a feminine woman, Mr..
Bonistelle-you know-one who can
care for you and look after you, and
; see that you get up and keep your ap-
pointments and-Oh, dear-can't you
see" She looked at him, saw he
was not listening, made another effort,
more hysterical, in sheer despair. ooh,
:. Mr.. Bonistelle, why, Miss Dallys cares
more for dogs and automobiles than
she does for you, Mr.. Bonistelle-Mr.
Bonistelle-" Flodie took him by the
: coat lapel impressively. "She smokes
cigarettes!"
Hall laughed and chucked her under
the chin. ooh, that's all right! Lord,
Flodie, don't want to marry house
keeper, you know. Why, I'll be mil
lionaire. I'll have servants to do all
that. My wife will have to know
thing. or two, you know, society, and
manners and taste. Carolyn is right
In it. College education, music and
everything l need-drives car, plays
olo-bridge-swims and shoots-why,
Lord, I'd be proud to death of her. You
go right in and tell her I'm ready"
Again Flodie f1inched. She gave him
one hungry look and started for the Of
fee. Then a new thought stabbed her.
She turned What if Mrs. Royalton
should say yes? What if she should ?"
Hall suddenly came to his senses.
"Say, by jove! That would be mix
up, wouldn't it! l hadn't thought OF
that at ALL" He dropped down on a
chair and looked at her hopelessly.
Did Flodie see, at the prospect of
such an ENHANCEMENT, faint hope for
her own chances? Her face, for mo-
ment, lighted It was anyone, now, to
beat Mrs. Royalton. Flodie foresaw
that Carolyn Dallys alone could help
her. Yes, he must propose to Carolyn.
Her voice came artfully smooth and
sweet.
You could hatch up a quarrel,
couldn't you-perhaps you could tell
her something horrid-or do some
thing-well you know!"
"Or you could. Couldn't you, Flo
die? You've helped me out before.
You're clever. You know women"
Flodie was a new creature now. The
primitive woman in her was aroused.
She smiled-but it was SO unlike Flo
dies sunny smile-it was electric. She
nodded sagely.
well, then, I'll take chance, any
way Lord, think I've got a right to
make as good a choice as l can, If l
have to be married to order! l don't |
see why I should ruin my whole life !
just because / happened to see Mrs.
Royalton first! You tell Carolyn I'm
all ready"
Flodie nodded, with hard look in
her.eyes. "All right" she said slowly,
and gulped something down. tits your
funeral!" She walked slowly back to
the office and gave Miss Dallys the
message, then sat down dismally at
her desk and hid her face in her hands.
Steadily the tears dropped down upon
the blotter; at regular intervals Flo
dies shoulders rose and fell as her
emotion swayed her. She began to
dab at her eyes with her handker-
chief.
Carolyn Dallys, 1.-THE, free, long-leg-
ged, walked into the studio with easy
Inconsistencies. Hello, HALL" There
was always a half-concealed chuckle
in her voice. Got those proofs ready
old man? Darn you if you haven't"
Really. Carolyn, I've been awfully