The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-07-03
De
Coveted Kiss
BY VICTOR REpcLIFrH
s.....s.. s..sssssssssse
tcopyrisht 1919. by the we.te,n New,
Qauef rnianl

""'li'u w pubic social and political
gatherings II was n bright ana lively
Tene Wlthln-gleamlng lights. music.
any number 81 gnlly decorated booths
tended by pretty girls and smiling ma.
trrns. A great streamer announced n
home fair In progress for the benefit
o. ylctims Of the war abroad
Blythe was total stranger IN the
town. and hnd strolled forth 10 take
In whatever might Offer In the way Of
variety,
II WIS nearly canopied In. hut there
was sufficient % mn opening 20 lis.
play The loyellcs, looking girl he had
ever seen. She was rosentc. smiling.
fascinating Kisses. ten cents" read
Transparency over the booth. Blythe
noted n dandhod fellow pay his dime
and pass through little pnssareway
al one side, and the young lady dis.
appearing apparently 10 wall upon
her customer.
ITS more than worth the money"
he soliloquized In gleesome antlclpa.
tion and rs the customer disappeared
through another exit anil the roguish
face and twinkling eyes again present.
I'd where the draperies parted Blythe
rendered a dollar hin.
Keep II ALL" he said. smiling au.
daciously. Il presume there Is re-
duction on dozenl Twelve kisses.
please :"
I've entered the passngeway. 10 find n
board. serving as counter. heapcd
M with folded hits Of tissue paper
The fair young Girl was behind II. She
deliberately placed In a paper bag
n dozen candy kisses
"They arr homemade" she told her
customer, with an aggravating assump-
ton - innocence II know yuu will
Ike them"
II certainly shail." bowel Blythe.
conceulin- sklllfully bis disappoini.
men; and chasrlp at becoming vic
tim of clever slhterfuge. I'm win
the real article yet ?" he told himself
as he emerged ON the other side 4
minute later blythe asked a glrl sell.
ing huttonhole bouquets the name Of
the yotSr lady.
"Oh. that II our best worker" came
the response. "she Is quite a stranger
here. but she has made everybody her
friend Adelaide Stnndish."
Blythe gave quite a start His face
grew grave. lie lid not linger In the
rink The puryeyor of kisses. the men
tion 81 a name evidently familiar 10
him. had seemingly started line Of
thought that made him serious.
Adelaide Stsndlsh had only n flash
Ing glimpse of her generous customer,
but his face somehow left an impress
upon her mind that was far from fleet
ing Blythe was good deal unlike
the majority ~ youths with whom she
had dealt Some Of them had snlck.
cred, some had got angry, one or two
had tried to obtain real kisses. The
contrast Of wcll.bred young man.
who treated the episode with well-mnn-
nered good nature. charmed her.
There was quite a little history and
mystery rs TO Adelaide. She had come
TO Rossyille, presumably an heiress
That Is. nj her humble home ut "A town
fifty miles distant, an orphan living on
the bounty of relative, she had
whom she now lived. According TO his
story. one Hugh Barry, distant rela-
tive Of both. dying, had left TO him the
bulk 81 his fortune and 10 Adelaide
fair annuity as long as she lived
with him.
II was not very AGREEABLE for Ado
laide In the lonely old house with
her crochety guardian. but she was
well provided for, had plenty Of pocket
money. and II seemed pleasant 10 be
free from constant work. The only
thing Adelaide did not like were the
occasional visits Of a stepson Of War
dell. who medltated match between
them.
The mission Of the young man at the
hotel was a mystery 10 Rossvlle. He
would stroll about town for an hour
In the morning and then for another
hour after dark. and each time he
would pass the Wardell home. Twice
Adelaide came face TO face with him.
He lifted his hat and she bowed, but
he did not seek TO speak with her,
One morning wardell announced
that he was going To another town for
the day. After he had left, Adelaide
locked up the house and went 10 call
upon q girl friend. She did not return
until mldafternoon. As she reached
the front door. Il gave at her touch.
As she entered the hall she heard foot