The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Plotters.


The Plotters.
BY LINCOLN koTHeLuM.
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
n oBBIE BURTON was a splendid.
X soc1able good fellow. provided
II he was among the boys. Even
those members Of the fairer sex whose
fairness had long since departed exer.
cised q mower over his composure
which quite delighted them. But the
one VINO threw him into q panic Of en-
barrags1ueut was q tiny miss OF scant
twenty summers, who to all appear.
ances scarcely seemed to notice that
he existed.
But to Bobbie, Delicia Hartley was
O. some vision OF loneliness out OF the
ether. Occasionally he would look up
from his work to steal a guilty glance
ct his wonder creature as she sat op-
posfte end facing him. the keys OF her
typewriter clicking out a continuous
and merry tattoo.
such tiny hands with such pretty
nails; such q clear, olive complexion,
and such eyes, soft and brown. And
when they glanced up at Bobbie his
heart ran on high. Hastily he would
return to his work, cheeks burning and
his closely clipped hair fairly stand
ing on end.
Il has been but yesterday when De-
licta had simply said, Telephone, Mr.
Burton" and he wanted to answer
ssThank you, Miss Hartley but could
not, for the words fairly stuck in his
throat
How he did wish to have the cour.
age to laugh and speak with her, per
haps even to ask her to 60 out with
him. But neither the proper oppor
tuntty nor the necessary courage pre-
eenfed itself and the invitation remain
ed unspaken.
However, Delicia was somewhat to
blame for this condition Of affairs, for
every one will agree q girl must needs
be devoid Of all the tntutttve faculties
accredited to her sex not TO detec,
very quickly the fact.that q particular
young mans affections are partial To
her.
And 30, although she was quite Gag
er for Bobbie to make his advances
she nevertheless wished to avail her.
self Of her womanly prerogatives and
hold him In disQuieting suspense, some.
what as the kitten toys with q mouse
before making q mouthful Of It.
But, unfortunately, Delicia had NOT
taken into consideration the negative
effect OF her seeming indifference upol
Boobies b~ashfulness and soon real,
lied she must prod the tagging lover
from his bashful inertia.
How to do 1t was the problem
very serious one. Divers were the
schemes suggested by existing situa
tons Of similar import in the NOV.
les" which somehow lacked pract-
cabfity as Delicia considered their ap-
plication in her own instance.
Had she only known the fact, it Is 10
be doubted II Robbie would have re-
Qutred much more inducement to loos-
en- his awkward tongue than the sigh,
OF Dalicia Hartley this lovely night
In June as she sat on the edge OF q
large rocker, elbows propped on the
window sill, chin cupped In her hands
gazing out intently into the dark and
seeing nothing.
Her forehead. usually unruff1ed, was
corrugated with many burrows which
Delicia was certain helped her te
think.
II have It'll" she etaclated, Jumping
up and doing a turn on the limited
area between bed and dresser. "I1l
make him Jealous" this with anratr Of
accomplishment as IL she were the first
on earth to essay the scheme. And
then long into the night Delicia plann
ed In detail how to undo the knot her
coquetry had tied. II must have ar
accomplice," she finally determined
tand It shall be Miss DeQuinne."
Miss DeQuinne, bookkeeper Of such
long standing with the firm that she
was considered as one Of the perma
neut fixtures, put In first appearance
was closely followed into the dressing
room by Delicta Hartley. looking sur
prtstngly wtde-awake, despite the loai
hours Of sleep.
"Good morning. Miss DeQuinne,'
4 she crested her ingratiatfngly with
sweet SMILE which not even the girls
could resist.
Good morning" mechanically an.
swered the elderly woman, breaking
the customary brevity Of the sum tota
Of her conversation by adding, "Yor
seem alert this morning"
Indeed I am-because I'm plotting
Miss DeQutnne smiled wanly. Plot,
ting she repeated. What? Trou.
ble?"
mo. Love plots. And you're to be
. fellow conspirator."
Miss DeQuinne leaned weak,
against the washbowl- Color, intre
squently present, mounted her cheeks
you'll not find me very experienced
In such intrigues."
Delicia glanced up shartly. sht
liked the way Miss DeQuinne blushed
Y was unusual. "oh, all I want you t.
do ts to tell Bobbie Burton I'm going
20 Q dance with MI. Limoges"
MT. Ltmogesi" echoed the book
keeper quite ~hurziedly, and at tn,
sound Of her own voice there arose
before her q mental picture Of the tall
thin and bald person presiding over tn,
credit desk, whose gentle eyes ant
easy smile had won her grateful re
sect and good feeling ever since he
ADVENT fnto the INV AZ mail ctari