The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-07-17
131e
Coveted Kiss
BY VICTOR REDCL1FFE

/ Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
| paper Union.)
4 Harold Blythe followed the crowd
which led him into what had once
been skating rink and more latterly
adapted to public social and political
gatherings. 1t was bright and lively
scene notwithstanding lights, music,
any number Of gaily decorated booths
tended by pretty girls and smiling ma.
irons. A great streamer announced a
home fair in progress for the benefit
Of victims Of the war abroad.
| Blythe was total stranger in the
town, and had strolled forth to take
In whatever might offer in the way OF
variety
1t was nearly canopied in. but there
was sufficient of an opening to dis.
play the loveliest looking girl he had
ever seen. She was roseate, smiling.
fascinating. "Kisses, ten cents" read
a transparency over the BOOTH Blythe
noted dandified fellow pay his dime
and pass through little passageway
at one side, and the young lady dis
'appearing, apparently to wait upon
her customer.
"It's more. than worth the money
he soliloqulzed in gleesome .anticipa:
ton; and as the customer disappeared
through another exit and the roguish
face and twinkling eyes again present
ed where the draperies parted, Blythe
rendered dollar bill. : 60;
Keep it ALL" he said, smiling au-
daciously. II presume there Is a re
duction on dozep7 .:Twelye kisses,
pleased" ". .'.,.s =, ~ -
He entered the passa geway,. to. find. q
board, serving as a counter. heaped
up with folded bits Of tissue; paper.
The fair young girl was behind 1t, She
deliberately placed in. a paper bag
dozen candy kisses. ....x
"rhey are homemade" she told her
customer, with an aggravatinx assunp-
tion Of innocence. 4 know You VIII
Ike them"
II certainly SHALL" bowed blythe,
concealing skillfully his disappoint'
ment and chagrin at becoming g vic
tim Of clever subterfuge. III win
the real article yet y he told himself
a. he emerged on the other side. A
minute later Blythe asked girl SELL
Ing buttonhole bouquets the name Of
the young lady.
"Oh, that is our best worker" came
the response. "She Is quite a stranger
here. but she has made everybody her
friend-Miss Adelaide. Standish."
Blythe gave quite start. His face
grew grave. He did not linger in the
rink. - The purveyor Of kisses, the men
tiOn Of 4 name evidently familiar to
him, had seemingly started, li1aaof
thought that made him 4erious. X
Adelaide Standish had: only fash
Ing glimpse Of her generous customer,
but his face somehow left an impress
upon her mind that was far from fleet
Ing. Blythe was a good deal unlike
the majority Of youths with whom she
had dealt. Some Of them had snick'
cred, some had got angry. one or two
had tried to obtain real kisses. The
contrast of well-bred young man.
! who treated the episode with well-man-
nered good nature, charmed her.
There was quite little history and
mystery as to Adelaide. She had como
to RossviIle, presumably an heiress.
That Is, at her humble home at a town
fifty miles distant, an orphan living on
the bounty Of relative, sh6 had
been visited by old Leon Wardell, with
whom she now lived. According to his
story, one Hugh Barry, a distant rela
tive of both, dying, had left to him the
bulk Of his fortune and to Adelaide
! faif annuity es long as she lived
with him.
! 1t was not very agreeable for AIDE
laide in the lonely old house with
her crochety guardian, but she was
we'll provided for, had plenty of pocket
money. and it seemed pleasant to be
| free from constant wrrk. The only
thing Adelaide did not like were the
occasional visits Of a stepson zof-'War-
dell, who meditated a match between
them.
The mission of the young man at the
hotel was a mystery to Rossville. He
would stroll about town for an hour
IL 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 h0r.
One morning Wardell annGainced
that he was going to another town for
the. day. After he had left, Adelaide
locked up the house and went to call
upon girl friend. She did not return
until midafternoon. AS she rtaehed
the front door. It gave at her touch
As she entered the hall she heard foot
steps in one Of the lower rOOms.,
us somebody there1" she called out,
and with 4 reassuring smile" Harold
Blythe stepped into view. She was
neutrality-suspicious. !:
III you will give me a few moments,
Miss Standish," he said, Il would like
to explain my presence here. My mis-
sion is this" and he drew from his
,.~ro opvolopo hovA or$.