The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-12-06
"BABY DOLL"
Observation-Disclosures
BY PERcIvAL MARSH.
copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper CnionI

| three SplnSter sisters that lie nau at
last accumulated ten thousand dollars
| and that II was safe in bank, the sol
acing cOmplacency filled their souls
that they would never have TO starve.
lie had gone into buying grain from
| nearby farmers and had made money
fast, storing his purchases and ship
| ping TO the city always on rising
| market.
When one day he entered the house
and slapped down on the table pack
age of legal looking documents, with
| gloating JUNCTION remarking, There
are the title deeds to house and lot,
free and clear" all hands smiled with
delight, for they knew that u perma-
nent roof was assured.
Going to the city to buy an auto
mobile" he announced somewhat later.
"We're going to take all the good out
of life we can get" About week
later there came a telegram TO Hor-
tense, the elder sister. 1t read: "Home
Tuesday afternoon by new auto. Also
a Wife" and the 1utter this informa-
ton caused kept the three astounded
and suspehseful sisters on tantalizing
hooks through forty-eight hours.
They We're kindly of heart, though
having narrow notions in some re-
spects. Horace had been good broth
or AMI they hoped he had made suit
able choice of helpmeet.
She came and the sisters stared.
They had never seen greater beauty.
piquant, petite, ever smiling, it could
rot he in the heart of any one in the
world to resist her. She dazzled them
with her pretty ways. AS the three
sisters were alone Hortense said with
| sigh: "She loves Horace, that Is
sure. She greets her new home as Il
! palace. she has no relatives, Horace
Interfering Interests. Only five words
| express it,"
speak them, Hortense." urged
| Muliel.
"She is a baby doll" and that set
| tied conviction seemed unanimous.
"One thing" spoke Rose, II week
| later. Meta is no gadder. She loves
his home"
yes" echoed Muriel. "and her de-
! votion to Horace is almost pathetic"
"And did you ever see such fancy
work as she Is capable of doing?' sup
| plemented Hortense, and, when the
latter compimented Meta on this fea-
| ture the next day. the latter said mod
estly:
Il ought to know something in that
line, for spent three years as an APP
prentice. You see, artificial Hover
making is my trade"
Trader" mildly Hortense echoed
| the jarring word.
"Well, ii Is scarcely a profession, is
| it?' smiled Meta sweetly. you see,
| when your brother first met me l had
become forewomaH in millinery sup
| ply house. They say ! had become
| an expert, so If ever dear Horace has
business reverses we have something
to fall back upon"
The revcrses came. A shrewd, none
tco scrupulous grain buyer appeared
as rival in the field and Horace be-
wan to lose trade. He made some UNI
| lucky purchases. In six months his
surplus at the bank was gone. lit
| tie later he had to mortgage the home
and sell the automobile. Then he had
| a serious breakdown.
sisters" said Meta one day, "the
| time has come for us to show our
mettle. / want you, Hortense, to go
to le city tomorrow to help me buy
some stock. l am going to start into
the artificial flower business in a mod
est way. / know the line. l know
the trade, and | know further that in
side of week you three can become
experts with all your quick ideas and
industry and niftiness."
So Meta took Hortense with hef to
the city and spent week studying the
market. She had some money of her
own and she invested 1t unhesitating'
Il. She purchased ribbons and sheets
of silk, and satin and other fabrics
used in making pretty floral counter
feits. She bought dies, and wire and
tools. BY the end of two weeks the
big parlors were transformed into busy
work rooms. System and order pre-
vailed. A thorough business woman
|. Meta had an immediate outlet for her
wares. Horace, recuperating, MUIR
INJURED over his useessness.
READY to work." questioned Meta
brightly. Every well. First, you shall
help pack and ship. Then you shall
keep the books. Then, dear, as soon
as we are well started, instead of SELL
ing to the jobbers you shall be our
travelling salesman. We will work up
direct clients of our own and make a
double profit. Why, the business will
be IDEAL"
"How cozy II has been. and how
mice" said Hortense one day. a year
later. The mortgage had been paid
Off and they had new automobile
and money In bank. Tho business
had grown so that work rooms down.
town were necessary and Horace was
slowly. safely feeling his way back
into his old business.
Horace" said Hortense to her
brother one day. II did Meta a griev-
GUS wrong when she 3rst came among
u.s." sc a
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