Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-01-13

Fern just slipped. and you'll have to
pardon me for it. It's Molly's fault.
She never called you anything else"
WHO is it," demanded Molly, more
eager to hear the news than he liked to
see. The information is highly i'm
portant. If true, and must not be
kept in suspense"
Hold on to something, then," he
warned her. "One, two, three-Sledge"
'Sledge!" she repeated. What?
That great big She paused for lack
Of words, and her face famed suddenly
scarlet with Indignation.
"Sledge." he joyously insisted, and
then, to the puzzled Fern. You re.
member the big fellow whose car stop
ped just abreast us last night
Mr. Glider, who as a boy had been
an expert in pulling the wings from
flies. went straight Oh with the slaugh.
ter. seizing Immediately the glorious
opportunity which presented itself
when Mr. Marley. brave in smoking
jacket and,pumps. sauntered into the
parlOr.
Great news Marley" hailed Bert.
beaming with delight upon the joyous
laughter of Fern Molly has captured
q new honor for the family. Whose
do you suppose is the latest scalp at
her belt?"
1T might be almost anybody" re-
turned Marley who felt that his moth.
erless daughters popularity reflected
somehow on himself. "Who is the
particular victim you have in mind?"
and he lau-hrI in advance
"SledSe: exploded Bert. by the
way. Marcy, lie save you u hint Of it
too. Didn't he ask you today while
was there for al invitation to Molly's
party tomorrow night or something
like that?' S-7z7szz'si77zs 'sssss
well. not exactly. but he did throw
out some pretty strong hints" ac-
knowledged Marley with grin, en-
tering into the joyous spirit Of the oc-
casion. He asked permission to call
on Molly. l told him that was up to
her"
"How unusually considerate" OBJ.
served Molly. biting her lips to sup
press the rising fury which had driven
the bushes from her cheeks and left
them almost waXen.
The Marley butler, thin faced and
thin legged young man with a pain
fully intellectual countenance, stalked
past the hallway portieres in answer
to below stairs ring and returned
from the front door with:
"Mr. Sledge. sir, to see Mr.. Marley
"Show him into the library" hastily
directed Marley. suddenly contrite and
feeling sinking horror. as did all the
others in the room. OF having this man
face to face with Molly. especially
after the crimes against her. Of which
they had themselves been guilty.
The instructions were too late. how
ever
Good evening" rumDled the deep
voice of Sledgc. who Just then appear.
ed directly in the center Of the opening
in the porticres. He wore an Inverness
topcoat. the open front of which dis
closed marvellous eXpanSe of white
| shirt front spaced with diamond
studs, the glitter of which palcd. how.
ever, by contrast with the enormous
| solitaire which Illuminated the solid
gold watch fob presented to him by
the Youn. Mems Marching club Of
Ward G.. His hair WAS pressed as
smoothly to his skull rs an earnest
italian barber COula plaster it. and
various angry SpcckS on his checks told
how micrOSCOpcally he had been SHAY.
ed The crownim" triunl'hs of his toi.
let, however. he carried In his right
hand he bore. held by Il wide velvet
ribbon. in the same huge fingers which
clutched the gold headed cane pre-
sented by the Capital City Slcdgc club,
q thirty dollar loX of candy. two feet
across. wrapped with six bcrihboned
layers Of fancy paper and provided
with an absolute maze of drawers and
| DaTIltlOllS. III lllN lcll illlu lc ''l wv
sDeckleSS silk hat Of the latest
French shape. and that arm encirclcl
a conical parcel so biz that il would
have staggered q small man. while
from the upper end Of the cone pro
truded q square yard of screaming red
roses.
"Good evening. Miss MOlly," he add.
ed. becoming more specific. Il brought
these for YOU myself" and he bcamcd
his cordial good will upon the entire
assemblagc.
It was in this brcathlcSs crisis that
Molly Marley. aggravated beyond en-
durance. took her mcrcilcSS revenge.
"How perfectly dcliShtfui.' she cried
and she swept toward him with more
eager cordialty than she had ever he
slowed upon Ecrt Glider himself,
We've just been talkin" about yon.
and then. to the intense CONSERVATION
Of her father and her foremost SultOr
she added: 81 want you at my party
tomorrow night Won't you come
pleaseT
The next day Smash, Mollys pet
like the way of many go"l dogs. f"l
into the hands Of the ohi"ial dog ratr';
er and was taken off to the pound
Molly was In a pitiable state. She 40
peaiod to her father. He testify s,tid