Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-02
FANNY AND THE STRANGER
ELLA NANDNLL, rEAHCn.

F,ef tho i;ighi-O Hosiery Comnany's
dAppcr and bib salesman another
,. nnn .appeArcd 10 solicit her trade.
warning OF her fathers; Il warming
thai came TO her even in the last
hours OF the old mau'S Illness: "Daush-
ter. beware of Strangcrs.'
To begin with. this newcomer bore
none OF tho hal!marks of tn" pro-
in his stock and It's disposal seemed
rather tcpid, In fact. there were times
whcn his attention seemed to be wan
dcrinG
Fanny. shrcwd for all her youth
and incNpcricncc. was well aware Of
the sly. sweeping chances and painted
tnuuirics OF her visitor, artful az ne
Then, when the mans attention
ceased 10 wander ard became per-
Fanny repeated 10 herself the re-
memhored advice; Daughter. beware
OF StranScrSi'
another order from me if YOU stay
the whole day" she said with dcci-
sion, when the salesnau's third call
reasonable limits.
"Wcn. Miss Ayres, If you do dc
eide to try a few Of these novclty
will find me over al the hotel III! the
rest Of the week..
M. the week Fanny exclaimed
sharply Nj Totem never stayed
around here more than two days"
I'm not the hustler Mr. Totten is
Something in Jannifer's smile tanta-
"l'shouIu say not! II YOU waste time
everywhere the WAY you do i'll this
storc-WclI. I'm afraid your firm Will
send another salesman out next trip.
Would YOU care. Miss AyrcS?" The
Question came with such significant
dircctness that Fanny blushed much
10 her annoyance.
She had spoken plainly to SHOW this
man she was aware OF his suspicious
activities. aud now she was hetraytng
I'm very busy this morning. MI.
Jannifcr." She said shortly ana turn=
ing aside she began to told some laccs
with trembling fingers,
"RiGht-- Jannifcr .;trai Ehtcucd his
;all. loose jcinted. but not eraceiess.
figure and pressed his soft hat upon
his abundant. rather long hair Ills
eyes s;ll chung to her, little visit
~mockery in his voice. - drop in to
see YOU again about those novelties
before leave town. Maybe T. stay
longer than a week
Fanny watched him as he lief; the
office, her feelings a queer blending
Of pleasure and discomfort. And be-
the proprietor of tho .Ayres stores Was
forced to a conclusion that hrouc hit
her hlushcs again to the surface. Guy
Jennifer was trying TO make an i'm
d
cause She was a woman Of property
He'd like To step into a place like
this. no doubt" she decided Hes Il
failure as "A salesman-hc must know
moucy-wCll, II that's his idea. guess
I'm equal To any slick stranger.
|; was after Jcnnitcr had been gone
SeNcra! days tina; Fanny AyrcS learned
that he had been making cautious in
uuirics ia the town a TO the standing
F.. and extent OF the Ayres business.
liumors came TO her from one dtrcc-
ton and another and stcelcd her for
The part she was to play when she Saw
I Guy Junnifer again. And her oppor-
iuni;y came at the end oi. II few weeks
"of course I'm not looking 70: amy
amn"unceG smilngly. lust thought ia
drop in and greet you as AN old friend.
! YOU know.
nnl y%%n ,I,, not" snapped Fanny
] sottencd and Smiled back. a queer little
/ twinkle in her eyes.
! - couldn't place any orders With YOU
! anyway. She informed HIM because
| I'm giving up the store. I'm scilius
Selling out" WHY. Miss .Nyres,"
Yes. don't mind telling you now
well. because. !, was TOO much FOR nc.
People thought was lucky and pros
porous. e%cept the people who were
near enough 70. know better"
She sighed heavily. I've been a
failure: and, as far rs I'm concerned.
the store is a failure .Nnd there were
old debts and things ! didn't under
stand. So I'm down and out Mr.. lem
infer"
oh. I'm sorry Indeed am" Jcn-
nilcr seemed deeply sincere. "Bui who
4 don't know. Fathers lawyer at
attended 10 the sale. y syndicate. |
, mink he sad Anyway, I'm not buy
ing amy nor" Elght-t hosiery