The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-23

over, another amazon. stately brun-
cite, approached and called out re-
proachfuily:
aPiggy, piggy, to keep the only life.
sized man on the place! What does he
charge an hour?
About before he knew II, he was
struggling at the side OF another no.
vice at the art OF skating. Later he
returned to his blond, and although
his arms ached and he could feel the
sting OF several bruises where he had
fallen with his brunette pupil, he said
nothing Of leaving.
"Going to be here this atfernoon?"
she asked as they neared the edge Of
the court. II am going to stop now,
but may be back this afternoon.
Skating Is the rage, YOU know, and
must know all about 1t before this
cold snap ends, Men are so scarce
around here in the daytime"
For the lack OF anything better.
Botsford said that he intends to stay all
day. The girl thought a moment as
she sat on the bench. Come to think
OF 1t, shan't want you this afternoon,
but may want you tonight. It's ju.
nior ball night and don't want to
skate away all my enthusiasm for
that"
Here she lowered her voice as II she
did not want the other skaters to hear
what she had to say. but men are
scarce even at dances. You have no
idea how scarce, and I think might
want you for tonight. It opens at
nine, but you hadbetter be around at
the dormitory at half past eight. You
dance, suppose, though that isn't alb.
solutely necessary. I'll pay your price
Of fifty cents an hour and the addition.
al price of rent for an evening suit"
Botsford's heart beat at double quick
every time the amazon mentioned the
Junior ball, Giid he stammered some.
thing about already possessing an ev-
ening suit. Probably the amazon
thought he had acquired 1t during
short carer as waiter. He agreed
to the proposition. In fact, he said.
he would be willing to put in the en-.
tire evening for two dollars, from half
past eight till closing time.
"All right" said the girl as she left
him at the entrance Of the court. Then
she whispered again: zone thing you
must remember III introduce you as
my brother and you must keep up the
bluff. No one must know that have
employed you in this way. It's rath.
e. sore point sometimes when girls
don't have any men for dances. You
seem SO different from the sort Of men
that would be willing to be hired that
I am quite depending on you to do the
proper thing"
OF course, Botsford thought that he
was going to be the amazon's escort
and that she was the one who had
felt-perhaps keenly-the misfortune
Of not being able to secure man for
the dance. He had managed to skate
with her for two hours that morning,
so prabably he would be able to sur.
vive four or five dances with her that
evening. But, II the truth must be
told, 1t was the hope of seeing Betty
and the bitter thought that he would
also SEQ the rival who was taking his
place with her that led him to accept
the proposition without murmur.
1t was with decided surprise that
Botsford beheld the radiant splendor
OF the girl of whose name he was still
ignorant. There was no doubt about
1t she was decidedly striking and
truly magnificent creature in her ev.
enlng gown. Then, as he was recov.
ering from the surprise Of this rapid
change OF appearance-it was In the
crowded reception room of the dor.
mitory. where the girls and their es-
corts were assembling before the ball
She led him up to man whom she
introduced as "Mr. Smith, my fiance."
And Botsford caught the sparkling
CLEAN Of solitaire worn on her left
hand which her wooden glove had hid.
den in the morning.
He was wondering why he had been
employed-since she was amply sup.
piled with an escort in the stalwart
form OF Mr.. Smith-when she began
to speak in whisper.
you are to be the escort OF a little
friend. The man she intended to ask
disappointed her. l found out about
It this morning and hated to have her
fun spoiled Just because that brute OF
a man went back on her. So told
her had a brother that was Just
crazy to come and would like to be
her escort. Here she Is"
And just then Mr.. Smith led up the
timid little figure Of Betty, as dainty
as a wood nymph, Botsford thought.
in the pink and silver splendor of her
Junior ball gown.