The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-06-01

IN the eye than any honest man could
have done. IF you have the time we
shall be pleased to give you a lesson in
running them"
Fern was halfway upstairs.
'Do you want your gray coat or your
furs, Molly?" she called as she went.
Something light replied Molly,
equally excited, running out to inspect
the car, with the gentlemanly salesman
right at her elbow and highly pleased
with his job. The chauffeur in the
blue car waited with bright eyes.
Fern, followed by Nina and another
maid. both Of them too slow to be of
| any service, came Gathering on the
porch with two afternoon coats and
two bonnets selected with less discrim-
ination than she had ever used and
tossed any of them to Molly. "I'll bet
it was Sledge," she whispered as she
ran and popped into the blue car.
Her coupe was the first to whiri
down the driveway, but the red one
followed in close order. Bert stood on
the edge Of the porch, with his hands
rammed in his pockets. and watched
the end Of the world. Being n young
man of keen thought, however, after
fifteen minutes of numbness he curled
his mustache, took up the telephone
and called Frank Marley.
| Did you make present of two au-
tomobiles to the girls?'' he inquired.
Did 1 what?" gasped Marley out of
the midst of his plans for making the
proposed street car consolidation worth
twenty points advance on his stock to
the up state syndicate
II thought not" returned Bert, with
a very near approach to profanity. Il
by $1,000 extravaganza of that sort"
II don't understand you" puzzled
Marley.
1.-TWO small inclosed cars came out
here about fifteen minutes ago, and
the man in charge of them said that
you sent them. Personally think
Sledge has been getting fresh"
Its barely possible" agreed Marley,
feeling dangerous indignation rising
within him. Leave that to me, Bert.
AS Molly's father it is my affair. I'll
Investigate it at once"
Palpitating with all righteous IA
ther's jealous care, Frank Marley kept
the telephone busy until he located
Sledge.
Il say, Sledge," he blurted. did you
send out a couple of automobiles to
my house?"
Nav, Marley" chuckled Sledge.
They're toys. You sent 'em. Do they
like 'em?"
Il haven't inquired" returned Mar
ley, still standing by his fathers dig.
nifty. Really, Mr. Sledge, you know
can't allow my daughter to receive
extravagant presents of that sort from
any one other than myself. ~
Jaw, cut it, advised Sledge. II &c,
you. If they don't like 'em, I'm the
goat If they do, close your trap. You
sent 'em."
"Well, but
II say you sent EN-" insisted Sledge
with a gruff loss of his cordiality
which had been apparent in his former
tones, and Marley heard the click OF
disconnection.
Nearly an hour later two shining lit
tie colonial coupes. the red curtained
one in front. drove up to the Marley
porch, where Bert Glider gloomed II
the doorway. They were driven by 9
happy girl each and had no other oc
cupants.
Come and take a ride with ne
Bert" hailed Molly, so full of delight
that she had absolutely forgotten hei
= quarrel with him, which was blow
indeed. "You can't drive, though"
Fern had emerged from her car.
I'm going to have my dinner he. ;
u she laughingly announced. 81 think
. shall go to the theater tonight in mine
II Jump in Molly's car, Bert, and try il
y 1t rides like rocking chair
- mo, thank you!" returned Bert cola
;, Iy. Those cars are going back to til
salesroom. l felt sure that your ia
ther had not given them to you, afte
. our business arrangement of this morn
y ing. They are present from Sledge.
u "Oh, please, nor pleaded Molly. wit
heartsick glance at her red curtain
= ed car. She had loved it at sight, btl
& now, since she had learned to know II
she adored it. "How do you know tina
l. they are from Sledge?'
n Il suspected it from the beginning,
y he sternly informed her. $50 calle
u up your father
u II said they were from Sledge!" G."
y Fern "Nolly. it was awfully crud, j
. him, but love him for it-don't you !
= "What did father say?" demande
. Molly.
y He is Investigating"
e Molly marched straight to the tell
> phone snd called up her father. 81
e talked 70 her kindly, wisely and wit
leliberation, also like man who ha
e given himself plenty of time ft
e thought. Bert stood at her elbow, II
l. tening to one side OF the conversatiG
y and piecing out the other with painful
T. ly knotted intellect. Molly turned
III him with calm satisfaction.
III Father says that l am to consid,
e. the cars as gift from him." she prid
T. fully announced.
~ Fern executed the full figures Of
H. minuet and sang merry tra-la-la q
the way through. Molly helped b
H. sing and dance the last figure.
le Three cheersr she exulted. "No
Il We may keep our cars"
II II never intended to give mine up
er Fern affirmed.
es Bert walked Molly back into
le fathers den