Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-04

t1tlid Ii - 49, a1O
the stockroom, waited eagerly for the
first shot. There was, however, a lit,
tie preliminary skirmishing necessary;
neither of the two foes had yet recog.
nized the presence of a rival.
Rosamund, with beauty's contempt
for mere brains, had returned to her
inspection of the photographs, when a
careless gesture sent some dozens OF
the prints slipping, sliding, falling to
the floor. With an expression of an,
oyanc she stopped to pick them up
Carolyn watched her. When two OF
three handfuls had been returned tc
the table, and Rosamund, listless and
restless, had taken a new pose, one
picture remained at her feet. Carolyn
goo~d-naturedly walked over and picked
it up, then looked at 1t, smiling. Rosa
mund became intrigued at once.
"Wonder who it is. D'you know?"
MRS. Royaltop. A friend of Mr.
Bonistelle." Carolyn's lip had the
slightest curl, in her eyes was a subtle
CLEAN.
"Oh!" Rosamund gave it another
look, and added petulantly: Mr.. Boni.
stelle seems to have a good many
friends!"
Carolyn was frankly amused;
enough to say, "Oh, yes; in fact, I'm
one, myself" She gave a sharp
woman-to-woman glance at Rosamund.
"Indeed?' Rosamund's little smile
was acid. She drew herself up. well,
then, when it comes down to it, so am
l." The two women's eyes flashed
like crossed rapiers.
1--WE certainly ought to be friends,
then," said Carolyn, struggling her
shoulders. There was but the faintest
trace of mirth in her tone, not enough
for Rosamund to register; but the hos
tility underneath Rosamund per-
ceiyed, oh, easily enough.
Perhaps you think" Carolyn went
on, smiling, as Rosamund was silent,
that that's a good reason for our not
being friends"
This was in the modern mode; but
frankness was not at all the game that
Rosamund played best; wherefore she
fastened to protest, "Oh, no, indeed!
Why should you think that?"
Carolyn laughed; she was now thor
oughly enjoying herself. well. then.
I'm Carolyn Dallys," she volunteered.
II think you must be Miss Gale, aren't
you? I've seen Halls pictures of you,
you know" Something suspicious in
Rosamund's face impelled her to add
micabinvouclu UAnd hos Oftan cnOEnn
to me about you"
Rosamund showed her irritation at
the p~atronizing air of familiarity only
by the slightest flush. Indeed" she
said, "it's queer he hasn't told me
about you"
ooh, there's very little to tell" That
was what Carolyn's lips said, but her
whole face told a different story. In
the woman's language of smiles she
was an adept and Carolyn's smile was
cruel.
1t was now evident that, unless Rosa
mund could distinguish herself from
the vast horde of Hall Bonistelle's fe-
shame. Carolyn, without knowing ex.
actly what caused the girl to suffer,
was rejoicing in her lack of ease. She
watched Rosamund grope for an ef-
fectual reply. At last it came with
a proud toss of the blonde head and a
flash of the golden brown eyes.
ooh, l see," she said. 81 didn't
know by the way you spoke first, but
perhaps you know him pretty well.
OF course Hall and I are quite good
friends, you know"
"Yes?" Carolyn was more attentive
mot that I've known him for such
a long time, I don't mean, exactly; but
well. we're quite intimate"
Carolyn gave her a keen look, but
did not show that she was particularly
affected. Really? Why, 1 rather un
derstood he was interested in someone
else"
ooh, no." said Rosamund placidly
"Of course, you understand, I have a
right to know, you know"
"Why, no, Miss Gale, / don't know
that I do know, you know" She drew
her chair up to Rosamund and sat
down deliberately. Would you mind
telling me what particular right you
have?" Carolyn, at last, had dropped
her banter. This was straight from
the shoulder.
'Oh, l can hardly go into that" Rosa
mund said softly, satisfied by her vic
tory.
Flodie, behind the shelter of the
door, Rugged herself in delight.
Carolyn stared at the girl, puzzled
do you mean to tell me-" she said
finally, that you are engaged to Hall
Bonistelle?"
Rosamund stirred uneasily, and
pouted. "Well, no; not exactly, that