The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1916-11-09

positively my last appearance this
season at stupid, So-calieu Ut
home.'" Betty Barnes dropped among
the pillows on the cretonne-c0Vereu
couch in her mothers bedroom, anu
pulled off her long gloves with langulo
jerks.
"Surely you don't mean that Mrs.
Mason's at home was anything but
n success?' Her mothers response
was both a protest and an inquiry.
100 successful" was Betty's bored
ren)y "That's one reason it was tire
some. But I'm tired of being a detail
In the stage setting for some woman
ambitious to put over on her gulllole
guests either her money or her brains
or her marrlageable daughters"
you're desperately Disappointing
Betty. Keep up such conduct anoth-
or season and you'll be worse than a
stage fixture; you'll be forced clear
| out or the WluSS.
"Then perhaps I'll strike up an nc
nuaintance with the stage hands or the
newspaper reporters or somebody else
who can be spontaneous and interest
ing"
"Please don't remind me OF your
scondalous conduct at the Lafayette
club dinner dance. I should never ee'
over It if the Markhams and Browns
found out that it was you VINO gave
the information about their teud u
that impertinent young scrub repor
err"
"Cub reporter, mother" correcte'
Betty, "and that very story promo1e'
him from the cub class
"We will not discuss this matte
now" Mrs. Barnes exuded finality L
her tone and manner. "The Markham
are dining with US this evening.
shall expect you to be decently CO..
r dial"
. By the time the second course wa
, served, Mrs. Markham produced ne
conversation trump-the latest DOCK
: "Have you read that piece OF e
, frontery, 'Maneuvering for Fits
Place'?'
Mrs, Barnes pleaded such bus
y week with club committees that 81
p hod not even heard Of the book. BE
:. tv offered a meek affirmative ana M
Barnes surprised them all with N
Z reply. ..
g 1T read it yesterday on the tra'
= coming from Chicago" he said. "Whe
u r found that Betty had put it in n
travelling bag along with my favor
|. conv Of Hazlitt, I felt like spankl1
o her, but ri have to confess that II
audacious title page carried me rle
into the first chapter and that carrie
me on through the book
swell, don't you think 1t the mo
'p audacious slap at society imaglnaDle
u Mrs. Markham's indignation was de'
II. and dignified. =,
:, "Frankly," said Mr.. Barnes, with
Il smile, IT thought it was a pretty go'
hit at us for allowing ourselves to p
too much stress or nOnessentials.
" "Who wrote it?' demanded MI
& Barnes, ready for hostilitles.
"It's anonymous, but supposed
have been written by a group OF pc
At ple who style themselves the Soc
Spy Squad"
The talk drifted to other subjec
pl and lust as the dinner was over
" telephone message summoned
.. Markhams home on account Of an
Nv cident to one Of the children; so
p bridge game that invariably follow
dinner had to be abandoned.
Mr.. Barnes resumed reading his
he finished evening paper, Betty bus
p1 herself with some loose engravii
-. and Mrs. Barnes picked up the n
''' hook that had been discussed at d
10 ner.
al 'Tf everyone else is reading thi
,,o suppose I'll have to read it, too
began, but the next instant stltfen
OF for in the doorway appeared Barn'
Wood, whom She mentally termed