Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-21
CHAPTER ~.

lnCIC, oboAoiho sAO ROA
there's, was a young woman looking in,
unembarrassedly, with a careless
smile on her face. She was the sort of
girl who affects extremes in style, and
fits to her slimness the sportiest odd
hats, the straightest, narrowest, short
est skirts. But they well became her;
there was a not unpleasant masculine
note in her air and costume-a brisk
ness and confidence that spoke of golf
and tennis, horse or boats. Without
being too pretty, she had finely cut,
sharp features. a long nose, gray eyes.
q deft chin. She was most distinctly
a New York type, trim as a cutter,
clean and fresh as a 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
waved her hand jauntily, and retreated
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.
"Oh, Mr.. Bonistelle-you don't mean
=" Flodie looked unspeakable things
He pointed to the door to the office,
There's the girl, right in there! Caro-
Ign Dallys! Why didn't We think of
her b~efore?"
Flodie WINGED as if he had struck
her in the face. Then she burst forth
like a waterfall. "Oh, 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
LhO hJotCl iNoAB LII ohOOA oOoP0As OA
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, 1 don't want to marry a house
keeper, you know. Why. I'll be a mil
lionaire. I'll have servants to do al
that. My wife will haye to know
thing or two, you know, society, ant
manners and taste. Carolyn is RICH
in it. College education, music ant
everything l need-drives a car, plays
polo-bridge-swims and shoots-why
Lord, I'd be proud to death of her. 70,
go right in and tell her I'm ready"
Again Flodie finched. She gave hin
me hungry look and started for the of
flee. Then a new thought stabbed her
She turned. What if Mrs. RoyaltoI
should say yes? What if she should?
Hall suddenly came to his senses
Say, by jovei That would be a mix
; up, wouldn't it! I hadn't thought o
that at ALL" He dropped down on
chair and looked at her hopelessly.
Did Flodie see, at the prospect o
such an ENHANCEMENT, a faint hope TO
her own chances? Her face, for a mo
ment, lighted. 1t was anyone, now, t.
beat Mrs. Royalton. Flodie foresav
that Carolyn Dallys alone could he'll
her. Yes, he must propose to Carolyn
Her voice came artfully smooth an
sweet.
You could hatch up a quarrel
couldn't you-perhaps you could tel
her something horrid-or do some
thing-well, you know!"
Cor you could. Couldn't you, F1C
die? You've helped me out before
> You're clever. You know women"
Flodie was a new creature now. TIL
primitive woman in her was aroused
/, She smiled-but it was so unlike Flc
dies sunny smile-it was electric. Sh
nodded sagely.
well, then, I'll take a chance, any
way. Lord, l think I've got a right t
make as good a choice as l can, If
i, have to be married to order! l don
: see why l should ruin my whole lf
just because l happened to see Mrs
Royalton first! You tell Carolyn In
{ all ready"
= Flodie nodded, with a hard look i
her eyes,. "All right" she said slowly
: anu euiped something down. Its you
i funeral!" She walked slowly back t
' the Office and gave Miss Dallys tn
message. then sat down dismally a
her desk and hid her face in her hands
Steadily the tears dropped down upo
5 the blotter; at regular intervals Flc