Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-02-03

hearted Fern. "Why, that putty faced
old thief. Molly! He did it on your
account. Isn't he clever. How on
earth did he work it,"
Had Bert tie up all his money, in
Guiding some he borrowed, in property
Sledge deprecated in value, then
Sledse had the bank call the loan.
Bert can't pay, and the bank scizcs the
property. Moreover. nobody will in
vest i'll Bert's enterprises since they
know that Slcdgc is against him"
II don't blame him for getting what
does Sledge call it,"
"Slewed."
do you:" asked Fern.
He'll probably feel sorry for it to-
morrow" cvadcd Molly. "A mans
conscience usually hurts him when he
can't cat"
They had ncarcd the house, and now
Il slender figure in black came rapid
~ toward them.
rs that you, Molly:' inquired the
anxious voice Of Frank Marley.
1T is our fair daughter" she light
~ dSSuitu lin.
They are missing YOU" he declared
with all the responsibility of IL sue
ccssful Snowman. The governor and
his Wife, Senator Allerton, the mayor
and Il dozen others have been inuuir-
ing about YOU. You are this years
prize beauty" and he laughed proudly.
Embarrassed by the display he ap-
parently wished to make of her, Molly
followed him into the maze of COR
geous drawing rooms. where the arts
toclacy OF Ring county and the state
dispayed its evening clothes in con-
stantly shifting array.
The mayor himself, q keen eyed
young man with Il prcternaturally
bald head and Il reputation which fol-
lowed him about like Il black cat, came
hurrying up to her with her dance
program in his hand. With him was
81 gangling old beau with Il profession
al lady killer smirk, whom he intro
duccd by an unintelli-ible name and
handed To Fern as Il pcnance for all
her miSlecdS.
"Thcyrc already forming for the
grand march," the mayor Informed her
as he led the way to the big ballroom
with the magnificent pipe organ. which
Molly had coveted for a year,
The line was half formed. and the
parade was filing rapidly and with
much laughing confusion as the may
or hurried with her down toward the
center of the hall, where the governor
already stood with his lady.
where is our place." asked Molly,
figuring rapidly There was q state
senator, q world famous sociologfsr, a
musician of international reputation
and three state representatives. The
mayor probably would be about No. 8.
"Oh, LIN not your partner!," he re-
GREETED. I'm not so lucky. l don't
even get to dance with you until No.
s." And, to Molly's breathless delight,
he led her straight up to the eminent
sociologist, who stood Immediately be-
hind the governor.
The eminent s~ociologist, who under
that title had sounded so forbidding.
HioNCu I NC d young lOOhluS uldu
with a dancing eye, who hailed her
with JOY and u%nspokenly claimed at
tention solely on his merits as a live
member"
She found it difficult as he smiled
so frankly and boyishly at her to re-
member that this was a maj whose
name was known throughout the civ
ilized world for his keen thought upon
political economy in its broadcast sense.
and the astounding part of it was that
he was so good looking, graceful and
self possessed and, most astounding Of
all, that he Immediately began to talk
to her about baseball.
The equally eminent musician, Just
behind him, claimed Professor Watts
attention for a moment, and Molly
glanced c%omplacently back alon& tn.
line. Mrs. Allerton, the wife OF the
senator, vas just behind her. looking
hot daggers into her shoulder bladess
and Molly, suppressing Il giggle as she
noted the purple coincidence ribbons
nailed III with furniture tacks. gazed
calmly through her at the other social
LucreZia Borgias, whom she had pass
ed at one ruthless bound.
Also she cast her eyes downward.
with much satisfaction. at her own
eXtravagantly simple frock of pearl
woven white chiffon. Only youth and
q good figure could dare 4 frock like
that, and, happy in her new enemies.
Molly glanced at the dance program
which had been made out for her.
She caught her breath with incred-
ulous JOY as she saw her allotment.
Every notable in the gathering was on
her card, beginning with the governor,
No. . was Sledgc. and she wondered.
with Gawning horror. what sort of fig
ure he would be in the dance.
CONTINUED Next Week,)