Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-11

jill liz OSSAN1
n Carolyn's suspicious. She said moth
ing. but her eyes were hot and shin
ing. as she scrutinized Mrs. Royalton's
face.
"See here" said Carolyn, now thor
ouehly interested, 81 don't see why l
haven't a right to know. I'm a pretty
good friend of Hall's-you know that
and / think you ought to be able to
trust me"
"Well. 1t isn't only trusting you"
Mrs. Royalton looked significantly at
Rosamund, sulkily listening.
"Well, l declared" said Carolyn
calmly. "Rena Royalton, either you're
making an awful fool of yourself, or
else Hall Bonistelle has actually"
She got no further. Flodie, head up,
with a busy air, hustled into the room,
carrying a handful of prints. She
stopped suddenly, with a fine imitation
of surprise, and gazed at Mrs. Royal
ton.
ooh. Mrs. Royalton!" she exclaimed.
"Why didn't you let me know you
we're here? I've got your proofs all
ready for you. ] think they are splen-
did,"
She handed them over, and ap-
preached Carolyn with two other
proofs. "Here are yours, Miss Dallys.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so
long" She returned to Mrs. Royalton.
ooh, how l dread to look at them!"
that lady was saying. She was, new
ertheless, perusing them hungrily.
Carolyn meanwhile had stridden
across the roo to Rosamund, and the
two girls conspired as Mrs. Royalton
lost herself In her portraits.
ooh, I don't like that one -.
Really? Why, I look a hundred
a old! -. There! That's more
like me. Which n do you like
best, Miss Fisher? No, do you?
Why, l think it's awful. My eyes are
so hard to take right; you don't get
the soul in them, somehow Oh.
l think I ought to try another sitting,
don't you? =. Say, where is Mr.. Boni-
stelle, anyway"
lucIo CdIlC q ilnS at lnC tClOpuOaC.
Flodie jumped to snatch up the re-
ceiver.
Hello! =. Yes Why, what's
the matter? . Oh, naturally
Wait just a minute, pleased"
Flodie stopped and held her hand
over the transmftter. ooh, Miss Dallys,
would you and Miss Gale mind not
talking quite so loud for a minute? 1
can't hear very we'll"
There was a long pause, and the
three women. all studying F1odie's
face, saw a dozen different expressions
pass over it in quick succession. Then
she spoke again: Really? Oh, you
know, Mr.. Bonistelle-well, personally,
l loathe them =. oh, l don't know,
but a big diamond Is so funny, some
how :. . What?" Then: "Oh, yes
-. we'll, l know Oh, but it's awful
to pawn that Why, it was your ia
theirs, wasn't it? Well, of course
you know best -. Oh, didn't you?
Well, l might send it by the jani-
tor where did you leave it? ...
When will you be here? +. All right,
good-by!"
Mrs. Royalton and Rosamund still
sat as if %entranced, but Carolyn Dallys
rose impatiently now, and glanced
about, as if in search of an excuse. The
room was tensely charged with cleo
tric1ty. 1t was evident that in another
minute the explosion must come. But,
first, how to get rid of this important,
busy little Miss Fisher?
Flodie herself answered the I'M
voiced question. Wasn't she as desir-
GUS as any of them to bring the thing
to a head? Yes; so she must fly and
leave the field of battle clear. Still
smiling, she disappeared into the
stockroom. She left the door ajar.
Mrs. Royalton rose, with a self-con-
scious smile. well, Carolyn" she said,
i suppose I'll have to tell you, now.
1t is most unfortunate that Miss Fisher
wasn't more discreet in her nve
ton. But SO long as she has let the
cat out of the bag, l might as we'll in
form you that the ring she was talk
ing to Hall about is for this finger!"
She held up her left hand, her thumb
pointing to her third finger.
Carolyn, with a whoop, fell into
Rosamund's arms, and the two laughed
until they cried.
Mrs. Royalton stared as if they had
suddenly gone mad. Then she ex-
claimed angrily, I'D like to know what
there is to laugh at! 1 don't see any,
thing particularly amusing in the fact
that I'm going to marry Hall Boni-
stelle!"
ooh, don't your" Carolyn gurgled.
Miss Gale, do you see anything funny
in it?"
Funny! It's a scream!" Rosamund
shouted with mirth. Who'll be the
next one?"
"Oh, the more the merrier!" cried
Carolyn.
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