Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-03-30

hAfC SAClNlSCu III SolltlliSlllS IL
most important political campaign.
On that first evening at the theatcr
he made Molly's wishes, expressed or
unsurpassed, both a study and a law.
A draft blew on her. She had a scarf
around her shoulders before she was
through with her first slight SILVER,
and Immediately thereafter Sledge
snapped his fingers for an usher and
ordered the fire escape doors closed.
She looked over the program of
entr'acte music and sighed for a miss
ing favorite.
write it down." directed Sledge,
handing her a fountain pen and a
check blank.
Laughing, she wrote it, thinking that
he would no doubt send her the sheet
music next day.
Again he called the usher.
"Take this to Joe, and tell him to
have it played" he ordered. "Any-
thing else you'd like, Miss Molly?"
"I'm afraid to mention q wish for
fear I'd get it," she laughed in more
or less embarrassment. But Fern, who
was having the time Of her life, gig
gled and, telling him to recall the boy,
added q favorite of her W to the
musical program.
"You can have q good time most any
place." Sledge complimented her, with
q growing fondness for Molly's friend.
you're a nice kid. 1 ought to have
invited your gentleman friend along"
<T 1nr'f n who ~ would 1o ,, Jo,,r1,
ed Fern. "Molly knows so many nice
chaps, but the most of them are such
boys"
excuse me a minute, girls" begged
Sledge and unloomed himself from the
background.
"Wherc now has he gomez" wondered
Molly, half amused and half apprchen-
sive.
Hes probably noticed hat some
girls have candy" surmised Fern, who
had come to believe him infallible.
He'll bring back a ton Of it,
81 hope he isn't going to order the
spotlights turned this way" snickered
Molly. He'd do it, 1 think. He's ca
pable Of anything"
A long as it's nice" admitted Fern.
"I1l bet you never had a man treat
you with more respect"
CHATS true enough. He's rather u
surprise to me in that. He's a fine
friend to have, Fern"
Just as the overture struck up Sledgc
returned to the box, followed by a
large handed man Of about thirty-1ive.
whose face and neck were red from
much cheerful exposure to the wealth
er. He had a merry blue eye and pom
padour hair, and he wore diamond
shirt studs and cuff buttons.
Tommy Reeler, girls" introduced
Sledge. Miss Fern Burbank, Tommy.
Miss Molly Marley"
Mr.. Reeler in great heartiness and
in friendliness all unafraid shook
hands with both the girls and sat down
by Fern.
"Im in luck" he confded to the
crowd. 81 vas feeling lonesome enough
to take a drink when Ben dug me up
and slipped me the news that he had a
girl for me. How do you like our
town, Miss Tern?"
81 love it," returned Fern, not dar-
eyes she knew to be fixed upon her.
Under the crescendo of the music
the conversation became paired off,
and Sledge, with complacent self ap-
probation. watched the couple in front
Of him.
"Tommy's a right guy" he confided
to Molly. big contractor, paving and
city buildings. Wife died last winter
'That was too bad" responded Mol
ly sympathetically.
"She was DUE" declared Sledge. "I'd
"a killed her"
WAS she so %dreadful?" inquired
Molly, forcing her share of tho Goa
%versation.
"a souse," grunted Sledge. 'Tora-
my don't touch it, but she got a die-
ferent kind Of a Heinz on every
night"
Drank? guessed Molly, tryins u
remember for Ferns benefit.
"For the family" Sledge corroborat-
ed. "and all this time Tommy q decent
guy. He deserves a good woman, but
he don't get to meet 'em. He'd be a
great pal for your little friend if she
can nail him"
II never heard Fern express a pref
erence for widowers." she suggested.
Hes the same as not" Sledge as
sured her. There's no kids. Tom
my's a grand boy"
The music struck Il pianissimo pas
sage.
"Me for Il blond" Tommy Reeler
unintentionally explained to the audi
ence. and before she could stop it the
clear silvery giggle Of Fern blended
with the piccolo obligato.
Reeler looked around at Sledge with
a broad grin and nodded his head en-
'phatically in the direction of Fern.