Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
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Coveted Kiss
"a"
BY VICTOR REDCLIFFE
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE

Harold Blythe followed the crowd
which led him into what had ono,
been skating rink and more latteri,
| adapted 10 public social and politica
gatherings. II was bright and lively
scene cleaning lights. music
any number Of gaily decorated booth,
tended by pretty girls and smiling ma
irons. A great streamer announced .
home fair In progress for the benefit
OF victims OF the war abroad
Blythe was total stranger I'm the
town. and had strolled forth 10 take
In whatever might offer In the way OF
variety.
IL was nearly canopied In, but there
was sufficient OF an opening 10 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 a little passageway
at one side. and the young lady dis.
appearing, apparently 10 wait upon
her customer
ITS more than worth the money
he soliloquized in gleesome anticipa-
ton and as the customer disappea red
through another exit and the roguish
face and twinkling eyes again present
ed where the draperies parted Blythe
rendered a dollar bill.
Keep II all" he said. smiling au-
J daciously II presume there Is . re-
duction on a dozen? Twelve kisses.
please
He entered the passageway. 70 find a
board, serving az counter, heaped
up with folded bits OF tissue paper.
The fair young girl was behind IL. She
deliberately placed in a paper bag
a dozen candy kisses.
They are home made" she told her
customer, with an aggravating assump-
ton of innocence. II know you VIII
like them
81 certainly shall" bowed Blythe,
concealing skiIlfully his disappolnt.
ment and chagrin at becoming n vic
/ tim Of II clever subterfuge "I'll win
the real article get" he told himself
as 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, hut she has made everybody her
friend Miss Adelaide StandSh."
Blythe gave quite a start His face
grew grave. He did not linger in the
rink. The purveyOr OF kisses the men
ton Of q name evidently familiar 70
him. had seemingly started \ line OF
thought that made him serious.
Adelaide Standish had only a 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 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 10 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 10 Adelaide. She had come
10 Rossville. presumably an heiress
That Is. at her humble home M town
nifty miles distant. an orphan living on
the bounty Of relative, she had
been visited by old Leon Wardell. with
whom she now lived. According TO his
story, one Hugh Barry. distant rea-
tive OF both. dying. had left TO him the
bulk Of his fortune and 10 Adelaide
a fair annuity az long as she lived
with him
II was not very agreeable for AIDE
laide I'm the lonely old house with
her crochety guardian. hut she was
well provided for. had plenty of pocket
money. and il seemed pleasant 10 be
free from constant work The only
thing Adelaide did not like were the
occasional visits Of Stepson Of War
dell. who meditated match between
them.
The mission OF the young man AZ the
hotel was a mystery 10 RoSSyille. He
would stroll about town for an hour
In the morning and then for another
hour after dark. and each time ne
would pass the Wardell home. Twice
Adelaide came face 10 face with him.
He lifted his hat and she bowed. bat
ne did not seek 70 speak with her.
one morning Wardcll announced
that he was going 10 another town fer
the day. After he had left Adelaide
locked up the house and went To call
upon a girl friend. She did not return
until mdafternoon. As she reached
the front door, ii gave az her touch
AS she entered the hall she heard foot
steps in one Of the lower rooms.
us somebody thereY she called out.
and with a reasSuring smile Harold
Blythe stepped into view. she WAS
startled-spellbound
III you will give me few moments.
Miss Standish," he said. II would like
10 explain my presence here My mis-
sion is this" and he drew from his
pocket a large envelope. 81 have act
ed at the instigation Of your dead IA
theirs old lawyer. who had reason 10
believe that your guardian had sup
pressed the truth as To the estate II
is all yours, and here are the docu-
ments hidden by Leon Wardell, that
prove It,"
They let Wardell Oft lightly because
he was a relative of Adelaide. and
further because. mutual love mellowing