Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-03-03
was looking in.

marriage morni" cried Hall gayly.
Flodie whispered to Alfred. run,
Alfred, bring everybody in, quick!"
! Alfred disappeared into the office
and could be heard announcing the in
vitation.
Jonas, however, had begun to bristle.
He strobe up to his cousin belligerent-
ly. why, it amt no use to git mar
ried now, Hall, you know thati Don't
be foolish!"
Hurry, Mr.. Doremus, hurry!" Flo
die was growing frantic. She pointed
to the clock. 1t indicated twenty
eight minutes past twelve.
Hall, however, was in no haste. "Oh,
/ know, Jonas; but you see Flodie and
/ have decided to lose no more time.
You can give her away, if you want
to-" He sat down, laughing at his cou-
sins CONSERVATION.
But it's past twelve!" Jonas insist
ed, pointing to the clock.
ooh, l know that! That proves it's
a love match, doesn't it?"
Come here, Hall, and stand up by
me! Anyone would think you didn't
want to get married." Flodie called
%nervously.
By this time the company had be-
gun to enter, and soon flooded the
studio, laughing, wondering, joking
with Hall.
go ahead!" cried Flodie. Were
ready, Mr.. Doremus, quick!" She
stamped her foot angrily.
ooh, wait a minute" Hall inter.
posed, 1--WE want this thing arranged
a little. 1t won't do to rush it." He
turned to his guests. Ladies and
gentlemen" he began, when Jonas
broke in again.
See here, l object to this!" He
walked up to Mr.. Doremus angrily.
Mr.. Doremus, however, had already
begun to thunder out, HAL Bonistelle,
do you take this woman, Flodie Fish.
er, to be your welded wife?"
"Just wait a minute!" cried Jonas.
looking at his watch.
"We're off," came in a chorus from
the excited guests.
81 dol" replied Hall. See here
Jonas, you mustn't interrupt the game.
you know. Sit down and be q~uiet!"
But l got something to say about
it"
"Flodie Fisher do you take-be
quiet, Mr.. Hassingbury, I'm running
this"
Its a schemei It's a fraud!,
Jonas appealed wildly to the company.
this man to be your lawful wed.
ded husband"
"Oh, you old scamp, you, you've sold
me out!" Jonas shook his fist at the
bride and was pulled furiously back oy
Alfred.
Il dol" F1odie screamed. IT never
Mr.. Hassingbury! l only promised to
prevent his marrying the others! ]
never said"
put on the ring! Put on the ring!.
the company screamed laughingly tc
Hall. He obeyed.
Then I pronounce you man and
wife!"
81 never said l wouldn't get him my
self" Flodie's words we're smothered
in Halls kiss.
Immediately she was surrounded by
LIZ 6OhtiClhCh VI IhC OOlup III Wiz
passed her from lip to lip, protesting,
laughing, struggling to speak.
Mr.. Doremus pressed Halls hand.
81 congratulate you, MI. Bonistelle!'
he cried enthusiastically.
"Thank you, sir!" Hall answered
1--WE got a fortune in Flodie.'
81 think you have! Two!" was Mr.
nN-4-a,,zt raV1xy NhI. IIa -I,.-~~
would you mind telling me what time
it is?"
Jonas turned white, and started hur
riedly to leave without a word. Flo.
die, alert, caught him as he turned,
and snatched out his watch as deity
as a pickpocket. She held it up to the
company. We've won! Eleven fifty.
nine!" she shouted.
The company took it up, and shout.
ed, too. Watches were brought out
from a dozen pockets, compared and
the time corroborated.
"It's a lie!" Jonas protested, "why,
look at the clock! It's half past
twelve! He's too late 1 tell you! The
moneys mine!"
"Why, that's right" said Hall,
amazed by the sudden confusion. II
set that clock myself"
But I told you what time to set i'll"
Flodie fairly yelled now. "And l told
you half an hour ahead on purpose!"
Mr.. Doremus held up his hand. "Si-
lence!" he Numbered. "Mr. Hassing-
bury" he declared solemnly, there
are witnesses enough present to prove
that Mr.. Bonistelle was married be-
fore midnight. AS you are aware, l
seldom take sides in any controversy,
but in this case, my little friend here,
Observation-Disclosures won
me over. There's no possible doubt
that Mr.. Bonistelle will inherit his
nnnlo,c fOrtunaO