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

was game, ne pulled h1mSelI together
and smiled again. 1t was with a fairly
creditable expression of affability that
he exclaimed: well, this is an unex.
pected pleasure!" He went from one
to another offering his hand, then he
drew off his gloves and looked his
guests owe a~nxiously. The atmos.
phere was like that before a thunder.
storm.
Then he drew a breath of sudden re.
lief. Flodie was entering. Flodie was
smiling. Seeing that smile, he seemed
to come to himself, as if after a dis.
turbing dream.
"Oh!" said Flodie, ARE you back
already? was SO busy l didn't hear
you"
Eyes. I forgot my watch. You
know I've got to have it repaired. I'll
get it now" He turned to the ladies
with a new enthusiasm. "I'm awfully
sorry I'm in such a hurry, but I've got
a lot to do this afternoon"
Flodie appeared nervous. Miss
Gale is waiting for me to do her
proofs, you know" she said. "I've fin.
ished the others, Mr.. Bonistelle. ]
think the ladies will excuse you; l can
attend to them, all right" She walked
slowly back to the stockroom, giving
him a meaning glance as she left.
ooh, yes, don't wait, Mr.. Bonistelle,.
said Mrs. Royalton.
well, I'll have to go then, l sup
pose. Make yourselves quite at home,
ladies; I'll be back in a minute" He
left impatiently.
Carolyn thought a moment. Say,
we've got so much to talk over, we
can't discuss it here. Hall may be
a moment" She walked up to the
stockroom door and opened it. Miss
Fisher!" she called.
Flodie appeared, wondering what
she could be wanted for.
Il say, Miss Fisher, couldn't we go
into the reception room for a while?
We've got some things to talk over.
About the party tonight, you know"
why certainly" was Flodie's reply.
"The studios being decorated, but the
reception room is all ready, and no.
body will disturb you. Go right in"
Come on!" said Carolyn, turning
to the other ladies'. Wen have it
out right now, and decide on every
thing" She led the way in.
Hardly had they disappeared when
Flodie emerged again. She took a
step toward the door they had left
ajar, and listened. Then she sat down
at her desk, smiling.
$50 far, so good!" she thought. Her
scheme had worked perfectly. 1t was
not for nothing that Flodie had
watched women, laughed at them, an
alyzed them and filed them away In
her mind. But now, what? Was she
any nearer to getting Hall for herself?
obviously she considered her pros
poets. She was as intensely concen.
trated on the effort as the tiger wait
ing to leap on her prey. All to be
seen of it, however, was a little, quaint,
gray-eyed girl, pathetically bending
owe her accounts.
1t was not many minutes before Hall
came in, thoughtfully winding a gold
watch. He looked about, surprised.
Where are they? Gomez"
"Oh, no." said Flodie. I'm there!"
She nodded toward the reception
room.
Hall walked toward the door and
looked in. Flodie watched him sharp
ly. "Say," he said finally, turning to
her, there are three mighty nice
girls, did you know it,"
Him." mumbled Flodie.
They're all so sweet-by Jove, l
hardly know which one l like best!"
he went II. They're charming; don't
you think SOP"
Flodie was very busy writing in a
little book. YES" she said without
looking up.
mo, but really, Flo!"
"Oh, yes; really"
"By Jove, / hardly know which n
I do like best!" Hall peeped into the
reception room again curiously,
through a narrow slit in the doorway.
well, you can't marry them all, can
your" Flodie looked up now, biting
the end of her penholder ~viciously.
mo, that's the deuce of it. l almost
wish l could"
"Mr. Bonistellei"
"Well, then, I've got to jilt two of
them. l wonder which one will be
the lucky girl! OF course it all de-
ponds upon what they say to me to-
night"
He stopped suddenly and turned to
Flodie. Say, what are they talking
about in there, anyway"
"Oh, l don't know. Clothes, l guess"
F1odie held her breath.
by jove!" His face changed swift
ly. "Oh, pshaw, though, nice girls
don't go about telling their love af-
fairs, do they? What the deuce are
you laughing at?"