The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-07-14
LOttie Turns Down
a Millionaire
70. lsz4. Western Newspaper Union. }
By HAZEL SMITH

'S. 1921. Western Newspaper Union)
When Lottie danced her brain was
as busy as her toes. Her famous
snake dance had been the rage in
London and New York during the
season In three months Lottie had
made more money than, she had ever
earned during the whole eight wears
of her working life.
Louie mad always known that she
could dance. But that money was 70
De made IN dancing had seemed an
absurd idea-wOuld have seemed so
anybody had suggested il 10 her.
The young fellow in the second row
OF the stalls, with the foolish. dissi-
pated face. was watching her again
She knew him, though he did nor know
her IN ract, she knew him Intimately,
and she reflected on this with a little
smile OF amusement which the audi
ence mistOOk for a stage pleasantly.
She had been pes1ered by him for a
week now.
Seven years before she had been
saleswOman in Bryant & Jones' de-
partment store. II was a big store
and treated its employees fairly well.
sui, Lottie had not been happy there.
she had been domestic in her tastes
sun was, in fact-and she and Joe
were both looking forward TO the time
when they were 10 be married and live
In their little home, when LOttie would
not go to work any more.
Then young Mr.. Jones-the one
with the foolish face. in the second
4
was. And he had taken her out to
supper. Mr.. Jones had asked her TO
marry him.
Can girl love two men at the same
time? Perhaps LOttie really loved
neither. She was very fond of slow,
easy-gOing Joe, but this was different.
Joe soon discovered where she spent
these evenings. Once he waited for
her outside the restaurant and would
have made scene had not Lottie
managed 10 calm him. That night
young Mr.. Jones asked Lottie To mar
~ Immediately.
Not unless your mother and father
are willing" said Lnttie
LOttie did not know Joe had shot
himself and injured his spine, when
'
his parents house on the avenue Old
Mr.. Jones shook her hand warmly and
said:
MY dear. you are far too capable /
a young woman TO throw yourself !
away on a foolish boy like Alfred"
Old Mrs. Jones said: THE store
is in my name. and if Alfred marries
you he Will get nothing. And Alfred |
could never earn an honest dollar in |
his life"
"I'H leave 1t to Alfred" said Lottie.
and walked out
LOttie had stopped dancing now and |
was bowling 10 an applauding house. |
The foolish young man in the second |
row was clapping his gIoved hands /
fatuOusly. Lottie looked at him de- |
risively, and then swept off the stage |
and put on her clothes.
At the stage door she saw young |
Mr.. Jones, with a bouquet in his hand. /
Young Mr.. Jones planted himself |
sQuarely across her path, and Lottie |
gave him box on the ears that sent /
him tumbling to the ground. When |
he had picked himself up she said:
You had your chance years ago /
and lost il. I'm Lottiel'
Young Mr.. Jones looked as though /
he was going 10 cry again. But Lot
tie had already forgotten him. She ]
was eager to hurry home; there might |
be news for her.
She got into the taxicab that al /
ways waited for her and was driven |.
rapidly TO the modest little fiat that
she rented in Harlem
She went into the living room /
and bent over a man who sat reading /
in an arm chair. and kissed him. She /
had come in so softly that he had not |
heard her.
1--WE got good news, Lottie." he
said. 1.-The doctor thinks I'm getting |
better. He says I'll be as strong and |
well as ever in six months more"
you dear old Joe," said LOttie, |
brushing away her tears and kissing
him again