Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-14

ing. Come along, then, I'll set them
on you'll"
"But meanwhile, don't forget that I'm
a justice of the peacel" Mr.. Doremus
gave Hall a poke in the ribs, grinned,
bowed and went out, with a youngish
smile at Flodie as he flourished
through the office.
No sooner was the door shut than
Hall Bonistelle e exploded. well, Flo
die, it's all up! It's back to the farm
for mine! Isn't that just my luck?"
A lively hope had blossomed in Flo.
dies heart. She was pale and trepid.
Il couldn't quite hear" she answered,
assembling; what was it?"
-Four and a half million dollars
gone to the devil just by a fuke-
that's all! By jove, it's an outraged"
Flodie stood twisting her hands
%nervously. you don't mean you're
going to let that" F1odie stopped
just in time; her mind had run away
with her lips. ooh, Mr.. Bonistelle, I
mean you don't mean that mean old
Jonas Ha~ssingbury's going to get that
money"
Eyes, confound him! The psalm
singing, holier-than-thou old hypo-
critic! Four millions. F1odie! Think
of it! Good Lord, isn't it ferocious?
And If that will had only been found
when Uncle John debut Lord,
what's the use of talking" He walked
doggedly back into the studio, and
gave a vicious swing to his camera.
F1odie Fisher followed him in, then
stood looking at him pensively. She
spoke slowly, softly, deliberately.
"Why don't you go ahead and get the
money, Mr.. Bonistelle?"
Get the money? How?"
"Why, get married." F1odie turned
suddenly crimson.
why, who in the world would have
me?"
F1odie swallowed down a lump in
her throat. "Oh," she said, I'm sure
there's some nice girl who'd be SO
proud to marry you. Mr.. Bonistelle!"
well, 1 don't know how I'm to
find her-and I've got deuced little
time to look. Why, do you realize
that I've only got till midnight to do
the whole thing in?" He went up to
her. "And do you imagine that any
woman would want to be married in
that way?"
"Oh, when you're in love, it doesn't
matter how soon"
"a hurricane wooing, Ell? BY jove,
I wonder" He stared at her with a
new light in his eyes. "Say, you real.
ly think l could get away with it?
Why, l never"
"Oh, you could do anything, Mr..
Bonistelle. I'm certain you could"
do you know of any woman who'd
have me-that quick?"
F1odie tried to speak, hesitated,
couldn't. "I-think So" she finally
got out. Then, timidly: Eyes, I'm
sure she would"
"By jove, I'll try it," he exclaimed.
"Who is she?"
F1odie almost broke down. She
crept up to him timidly. "Why-why,
you know, Mr.. Bo~nistelle, don't you'
why, you must know! It's some.
one'-she stopped and swallowed
someone you see-very often" She
couldn't look him in the. face, but
stood waiting fearfully, trembling.
Lord, if l could do it," Hall went
on to himself. -Four millions! Be-
fore midnight" He paused, gazing at
a corner of the ceiling. ooh, by jove!"
he exclaimed suddely, II know now
You mean Rena Royalton! Why, |
never thought of her, before! OF
course. Yes, that's a fact! She did
call me Hall, the last time / saw her,
didn't she?" He turned to Flodle.
"See here, Flodie, you're clever-how
the deuce did you know"
Flodie clutched at her heart and BIT
her lip to keep back the tears. He put
it to her direct. as 1t Mrs. Royalton,
Flodie?"
F1odie's smile was a triumph; it had
in it a dozen different meanings, 1t