Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-01-07

They take anybody" dryly COM
mented Fern. But, after all. 1t Is
you who are up"
"Mer' gasped Molly. "Tell me the
| worst about myself"
you've made a sensational hit" gig.
| gled Fern, land that's enough to send
you to the electrical chair any place.
However. they're taking it out In
pity"
They must hate me, then" Molly
felt assured at last Of her success.
But why pity?"
Bert" responded Fern. HE isn't
here"
He telephoned me this afternoon he
might be late" said Molly, with a
slightly worried air. what Of it?'
Common malice. on view in the
cloakroom, has it that he is at the
present moment unpresentable." stat
ed Fern and waited. 1T would be
absurd If 1t were not so mean. l gave
one cat a piece of my mind about it,
the feather chinned woman with the
purple coincidence ribbons fastened on
her cerise chiffon with brass furniture
tacks."
Molly howled at the description.
Vow she gasped. "That's Mrs.
Senator Allerton. What did you say
to her?"
"That she seemed so happy to be-
lieve the worst and that
"I'll give you my little spangle fan
for that as soon as we go home"
promised Molly.
You're almost as liberal as Sledge,"
complimented Fern. II wouldn't give
up that spangle fan for worlds. What
do you suppose is keeping Bert, Molly"
"He's probably 'slewed,' to use the
Sledge dictionary" responded Molly
calmly.
Does that mean the same az jag.
ged?"
"Spiflicated." elucidated Molly. Don't
look so shocked. Fern. Bert isn't In the
habit Of it. Any of the boys will tell
you that he's so sober he breaks up
most Of their parties"
Then why did he show OF tonightT'
Il believe they call it drowning their
sorrows" explained Molly quietly. HE
lost everything today-money, bust
ness, prospects. Sledge broke him."
"Poor Bertv sympathized the warm
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
GLIDING some he borrowed, in property
Sledge deprecated in value, then
Sledge had the bank call the loan.
Bert can't pay, and the bank seizes the
property. Moreover. nobody will in
vest in Bert's enterprises since they
know that Sledge is against him."
II don't blame him for getting-what
does Sledge call it?''
"Slewed."
do your" asked Fern.
He'll probably feel sorry for it to-
morrow" evaded Molly. "A mans
conscience usually hurts him when he
can't eat"
They had neared the house, and now
a slender figure in black came rapid
ly toward them.
us that you. MollyY' inquired the
anxious voice Of Frank Marley.
ut Is your fair daughter" she light
~ assured him.
'They are missing you," he declared
with all the responsibility of a sue
cessful Snowman. 1.-THE governor and
his wife, Senator Allerton. the mayor
and dozen others have been inquir-
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 gor-
geOus drawing rooms, where the aris-
tocracy Of Ring county and the state
dispayed its evening clothes in con-
stantly shifting array
The mayor himself. keen eyed
young man with Il preternaturally
bald head and reputation which fol-
lowed him about like IL black cat, came
hurrying m to hcr with her dance
program in his hand. With him was
gangling old beau with profession
duced by IN uriltctgihle name and
handed to Fern as penance for all
her misdccds
'They're already forming for the
grand march" the mayor informed her
as he led the way to the big ballroom
with the magniticcH pipe organ. which
Molly had covc!c! for year.
The line was half formed. and the
parade was filling rapidly ana with
much laughing confusion as. the may.
or hurried with her down toward the
center Of the hall. where the governor
als Idy stood with his lady
where is our place." asked Molly
fi<;ring rapidly. There was a state
senator, a world famous sociologist, q
musician of international reputation
and three state representatives. The
mayor probably would be about No. 8.
"Oh. I'm not your partner! he re-
GREETED. I'm not so lucky. l don't
even get to dance with you until No.
g." And. to Molly's breathless delight,
he led her straight up to the eminent
sociologist, who stood Immediately be-
hind the governor.
The eminent sociologist, who under
that title had sounded so forbidding,
proved to be young looking man
with a dancing eye, who hailed her
with JOY and unspokenly claimed at
tention solely on his merits as 'live
member"