The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-06-25

have been 1t; yet why had she selected
him as the nkeliest looking pickpocket
In the crowd7 Wilbert Dunton was
much chagrined and decidedly sore.
Not an hour after the episode on
Broadway, a certain young woman
stood before her dressing table.
aren't you ever going to be dressed
for dinner?" demanded her aunt, en-
tering from the other room.
"Of course, l ami But auntie, it is
so enhancing! The stuck-up thing
didn't even remember me, and 1 just
slipped my purse into his pocket and
then accused him of taking it."
"Why, Margie Everlyl How could
your"
1.-THE idea, his not knowing me !!
Why, when was sixteen, didn't he
win my young heart? Didn't he even
kiss my hand one night and tell me l
was beautiful? And now after only
seven years he doesn't even know
meW
"Well, you terrible child What will
you be doing next? Please do try to
behave at the Morton's masque to-
night. Your costumes here and 1t is
a dream. And Margery, Wilbert Dun
ton is sure to be there! I/only hope
he won't remember the pert young
woman who called him pickpo .ket
and then rubbed it in by giving him
twenty dollars to start him on new
life" And the good lady sighed a bit,
for she had hoped, or at least figured
that Wilbert Dunton might be a matri-
monial possibility for the niece whom
she had ventured to pilot Though the
social season.
However, that young lady was or
seemed to be, entirely mistress of her
own destiny, for after she was
dressed she slipped down to the phone
and called a certain number. Then
waited demurely.
"Hello, this is Dunton," came his
well-bred voice.
"Hello, pickpocket," she laughed
into the phone.
81 beg your pardon"
"Don't be dignified. A pickpocket
is never dignified."
Dunton grinned in spite of himself.
"And who might you be?"
az? Oh, l might be almost anyone,
5ut I'm not. Pm only-Poinsettia."
"Poinsettia xoinsettia! repeated
Duuton vaguely. But lie was speak
ing into a dead telephone. for she had
hung up.
When Dunton, dressed as a Portu-
guese pirate, arrived at the Morton $
masque, that night, the dancing had
been under way for some time.
THE Poinsettia must be some pro-
fessional dancer" Dunton heard some
one behind him say. 1--WE never seen
anything like her in our set. She's
great p
Dunton's glance swept the floor
where a crimson flash swirled on a
yellow background. There was a clap
ping of hands and the other dancers
fell back and left the floor to those
who were receiving the applause The
girl was gowned in a shower of poin-
settias cut from scarlet silk and flung
over a yellow satin underslip, and she
danced with poiseful perfection and
supple surety that was startling.
"Ahl" murmured Dunton. "Poinset-
tia" And he stepped through the
fringe of people on the edge of the ball
room with his hand on his sword
Crouching ferociously he advanced
slowly in step with the waltz threat
ening the dancers. There was an in
stant's hush and then sudden applause
Everyone thought 1t was arranged
bit of entertainment, as 1t were. Even
the Spanish grandee who danced with
Poinsettia played his part, for he
swung his fair partner behind him and
drew his napier.
Dunton knew him In minute. II
was Ferris, with whom he'd crossed
foils at the club many times. Poin
settia lowered about them as they
circled there, the ring Of their blades
swinging in time with the music. Their
suddenly the grandee slipped on ths
polished floor. Dunton leaped over his
PROSTATE form, swung the surprised