The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-06-30

moro or less embarrassment: bu,
Fern. who was having the time OF
her life. giggled. and telling him
to recall the boy. added n fayorite
OF her own To- the musical program
you can have good time most
any place" Sledge oomplimented
her. with n growing fondneEs for
Molly's friend. You're a nice kid
ought To have invited your gen-
ileman friend along"
Il don't see who IL would be. .
laughed Fern. Molly knows 50
many nice chaps. but the most OF
them are such boys"
Excuse me minute. girls.
begged siedge. and unloomed him
self from the background.
4 hope he isn't going 90 order
! the spotliEhts turned this way,
A., snickcred Molly. He'd do IL.
think. Hes capable OF anything
AS long as It's nice" admitted
Fern. I'm bet you never had q
man treat YOU with more respect
Just as the overture struck uI
SledEe returned 10 the box. fol
lowed by big man OF about thirty
five He had merry blue eve and
pornpadour hair. and ha wore dia
mond shirt studs and cuff buttons
Tommy Reeler. girls" intro
| duced Sledre. Miss Fern Bur
bank. Tommy. Miss Molly Mar
ley"
Mr.. Recler. in great heartiness
and In friendliness all unafraid
shook hands with both the girls
and sat down BY Fern.
I'm in luck" he confided 20 the
crowd Il was feeling lonesome
enough TO take a drink when Ben
dug me up and slipped me the
news that he had girl for me
How do you like our town. Mis-,
/ Fern"
Il love a." returned Fern. moi
daring TO look al Molly, who's,
trimming eyes she know TO b.
fixed upon her.
Under the crescen % OF the
music the conversation became
paired off. and Sledge. with com
placcnt self.approbstion, watched
the couple IN front OF him.
'Tommy's n right guy" he con
fldcd TO Molly. Big contractor
paving and city buildings lie de
serves a good woman. but h'
doesn't get to meet EN-. He'll be
n great pal for your little friend
II she can nail him
The curtain rose. and the pla,
began. and Sledge. bending knot
ted brows upon the stage. sat de
Gently aloof. II anybody liked this
sort OF thing. far be II from him e
interfere with their pleasure. be
tween the acts, however, he came
right back on the Job. He arranged
for Tommy and himself TO take the
/ girls out to see the new water
works plant on the following day
and to witness as balcony patrons
on the following night, a barr
| dance OF the West End club. lie
planned a Country Club dinner foi
the day after. and then, reaching
ronchRlantly into his vest pocket
he dropped into Molly's lap gilt
terlng hauble. which looked like q
glass hickory.nut
Take that down TO Duvay's anc
have II fitted 10 your finger" h'
directed.
She picked II mp incredulously
II couldn't be real!
why. it's diamond" sh,
gasped. as II lay flashing and CLEAN
ing in her hand. and she saw tn,
perfect cutting and wonderful fir,
OF II. The realization startled hel
so that she almost dropped II,
But. Mr.. Sledge. can't accep
this she earnestly assured him
why mott" he demanded, study
ing her heavily. You're to be m!
Wife"
IT'S too large for a ring. for on,
thing" she evaded.
Why" no again rumbled.
She decided 10 leave out the
question OF good taste. "Yol
couldn't put a glove over It, sh,
explained.
He looked AT II reproachfully
HUH" he commented. It's 1
peach, tho, amt IT."
She handed II over to him. anC
as his palm touched hers. she fel
the tingle Of him for the first time
II was as IL she had inadvertently
touched an electric button, and sh,
ierked back her hand.
Between them they dropped tn,
diamond, and II rolled unde
Ferns chair Tommy Reeler picked
II up.
Swell pebble. Ben" he approved
and poured II into Ferns hand.
"Oh, YOU darling!" Fern murmeret
to H. where did this drop from p
Present for Molly" explained
Sledge modestly. Too big for q
ring Can't pull glove over It
I'm gonna have II set in a neck.
| lace"
rsIr.a aa.sa I.t.r tk. ....i.t.