The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-01-02
"BABY DOLL"

BY PERcIvAL MARSH.


Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Unlonl
When Horace Barr announced TO his
three splnster sisters that he had at
last accumulated ten thousand dollars
and that IL was safe In bank, the sol >
aclng cOmplacency filed their souls
that they would never have TO starve.
He had gone into buying grain from
nearby farmers and had made money
fast, storing his purchases and ship
ping to the city always on rising
market.
| When one day he entered the house
and slapped down on the table a pack
age of legal looking documents, with
gloating JUNCTION remarklng, There
are the title deeds TO house and lot.
free and clear" all hands smiled with
delight, for they knew that a perma-
nent roof was assured.
"Golng to the city to buy an auto
mobile" he announced somewhat later.
"we're going to take all the good out
of life we can get" About a week
| later there came a telegram to Hor-
tense, the elder sister. 1t read: "Home
| Tuesday afternoon by new auto. Also
| a wife," and the f1utter this informa-
ton caused kept the three astounded
and suspenseful sisters on tantallzing
hooks through forty-elght hours.
They were kindly Of heart, though
having narrow notions in some re-
spects. Horace had been a good broth
er and they hoped he had made a suit
able choice of helpmeet.
She came and the sisters stared.
| They had never seen greater beauty.
Piquant, petite. ever smiling, 1t could
| rot be In the heart of any one In the
world to resist her. She dazzled theri
with her pretty ways. As the three
sisters were alone Hortense said With
a sigh: "She loves Horace, that is
sure. She greets her dew home as "a
| palace. She has no relatives, Horade
says, so there will be no divided non
interfering interests. Only five words
| express it."
speak them. Hortense,. urged
Muriel. ~
"She is a baby doll" and that set
tied conviction seemed unanimous.
zone thing" spoke Rose, a week
later, Meta is no gadder. She loves
| his home"
"Yes," echoed Muriel, "and her de-
votlon to Horace is almost pathetic"
sand did you ever see such fancy
work as she is capable of doingf" sup
plepented Hortense, and, when the
latter compllmented Meta on this fea-
| ture the next day, the latter said mod
estly:
81 ought to know something in that
line, for spent three years as an APP
prentice. You see, artificial flower
making Is my trade." 80 -
Trader" mildly Hortense echoed
the Earring word.
"well, it is scarcely a profession, Is
| it," smiled Meta sweetly. "You see,
when your brother first met me l had
| become forewomaR In a millinery sup
ply house. They say l had become
an expert, soft ever dear Horace has
business reverses we have something
| to fall back upon"
The reverses came. A shrewd. none
| too scrupulous grain buyer appeared
as a rival in the field and Horace be-
gan TO lose trade. He made some UNI
lucky purchases, up six mouths his
surplus at ths|.sk war .oas A mt
tie later he had to mortgage the pme
and sell the automobile. Then he bad
q serious breakdown ~
sisters" said Meta one day. "the>
time has come for US to show our
mettle. l want you, Hortense, to go
| to We city tomorrow to help me buy
some stock. 1 am going to start into
the artificial flower business In mod !
est way. l know the line 1 know
the trade, and know further that in
side of week you three can become
experts with all your quick ideas and
industry and niftiness."
So Meta took Hortense with her to
the city and spent week studying the
market. She had some money OF her
own and she invested 1t unhesitating-
ly. She purchased ribbons and sheets
of silk, and satin and other fabrics
used in making pretty floral counter
feits. She bought dies, and wire and
tools. BY the end Of two weeks the
big parlors were transformed into busy
work rooms. System and order pre-
vailed A thorough business woman
Meta had an immediate outlet for her
wares. Horace, recuperating. MUIR
INJURED over his uselessness.
Ready to work." questioned Meta
brightly. Every well. First, you shall
help pack and ship. Then you shall
keep the books. Then, dear, as soon
as we are well started, instead Of sell
ing to the jobbers you shall be our
travelling salesman. We will work up
direct clients Of our own and make
double profit. Why, the business will
be ideal"
"How coy II has been, and how
nice" said Hortense one day, a year
later. The mortgage had been paid
OFF and they had a new automobile