The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-29

laughed Molly.
They were winding up out of the
quantity lighted sunken gardens, and
they both stopped to admire the cold
ly severe beauty of the big white mar
BILE house as it lay cleaning in the
moonlight.
"That there's no danger of that with
you and Bert, you lucky girl replied
Fern, with a queer note in her voice.
at which Molly wondered. "Bert's a
dandy fellow. 1t makes me hopping
mad on your account when anybody
knocks him.
HAS the Lord Help the Absent
Member club got at him, too?' asked
Molly, with q smile. 81 thought only
women were eligible for discussion
.They take anybody dryly com,
mented Fern But, after all, it is
you who are up
''NIe!'' gasped Molly. ''Tell me the
worst about myself
you've madeJa sensational HIT gig
gIed Fern, land that's enough to send
you to the electrical chair any place.
However, they're taking it out in
pity
''They must hate me, them Molly
felt assured at last of her success.
But why pity 2"
Bert" responded Fern. "He isn't
here"
He telephoned me this afternoon he
might be late,'' said Molly, with a
slightly worried air. what of it?''
Common malice, on view in the
cloakroom, has it that he is at the
present moment unpresentable,'' stat
ed Fern and waited. st would be
absurd if it were not so mean. gave
one cat a piece of my mind about it,
the feather chinned woman with the
purple coincidence ribbons fastened on
her cerise chiffon with brass furniture
tacks.''
Molly howled at the description.
F'Wow!' she gasped. '"That's Mrs.
Senator Al1erton. What did you say
to herP'
~s'"That she seemed so happy to be
lieve the worst and that
''Il1 give you my little spangle fan
for that as soon as we go home"
promised Molly.
: You're almost as liberal as Sledge,'
compimented Fern. II wouldn't give
up that spangle fan for worlds. What
do you suppose is keeping Bert, Molly? p
''He's probably Slowed to use the
Sledge dictionary" responded Molly
calmly.
Does that mean the same as jag
gedY
"Spif1icated," elucidated Molly. Don't
look so shocked, Fern. Bert isn't in the
habit of it. Any of the boys will tell
you that he's SO sober he breaks up
most Of their parties"
'aThen why did he show off tonight? %
81 believe they call it drowning their
sorrows,' explained Molly quietlN "He
lost everything today-money, bust
ness. prospects. Sledge broke him.
: Poor Bertn' sympathized the warm
hearted Fern. why, that putty faced
old theft Molly! He did it on your
account! Isn't he clever! How on
earth did he work it7"
Had Bert tie up all his money, in
GLIDING some he borrowed, in property
Sledge deprecated in value, then
Sledge had the bank call the loan.
Bert can't pay, and the bank seizessthe
property. Moreover, nobody will in
vest in Bert's enterprises since they
know that Sledge is against him.
81 don't blame him for getting-what
does lSledge call it?'
Slowed
do your asked Fern.
He'll probably feel sorry for it to-
evaded Molly "a mans
usually hurts him when he
can't eat"
They had neared the house, and now
4 slender figure in black came rapid
y toward them.
rs that you, Molly?" inquired the
anxious voice Of Frank Marley. T.
ct is your fair daughter she light
u accu1a1 hi
''They are missing you," he declared
with all the responsibility of a sue
.essful Snowman. 1.-THE governor and
and dozen others have been inquir-
ing about you. You are this years
prize beauty" and he laughed proudly.
Embarrassed by the display he APP
parent1y wished to make of her, Molly
followed him into the maze of gor-
geous drawing rooms, where the arts
Eocracy Of Ring county and the state
dispayed its evening clothes in con-
stantly shifting array
The mayor himself, keen eyed
young man with preternatura1ly
bald head and a reputation which fol-
lowed him about like a black cat, came
hurrying up to her with her dance +
program in his hand. With him was
a gangling old beau with profession
al lady killer smirk, whom he intro
duced by an unintel1igible name and
handed to Fern as a penanee for all
her mtsdeads.
They're already forming for the
grand march, the mayor informed her
as he led the way to the big ballroom
with the magnificent pipe organ, which
Molly had coveted for a year.
The line was half formed. and the
parade was filing rapidly and with
much laughing confusion as the may
Or hurried with her down toward the
center of the hall, where the governor
already stood with his lady.
Where is our placer asked Molly
figuring rapidly There was a state
senator, world famous socfologist, a
musiAian of international reputation
~,