The Little River news., 1921-12-07
Flora Buys
 a Soul By DOROTHY WHITCOMB.

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 The girls chattered animatedly at | this piece of information. Flora Har- risOn had been nine years with Kemp and Waggers; she had started as cash girl, had become, in the ordinary course of events, a saleswoman, and only two years before was promoted head of the millinery department. And now she was going to leave.
 "Yes, it's true, girls she said, smil- ing. No, l haven't gotten a better job. Fact is, no more jobs for me. I've got $5OO saved up, and it's the country for Flora Harrison, with boarders and chicken farm
 And nobody could imagine how she longed for the country home that she had planned.
 Her with $500 and me trying to save ten dollars for an ostrich plume" said Belle ill deep disgust. The words and the enviOus look were not missed by Miss Harrison. She knew Belle Bates was a highty, foolish sort of girl-just the sort that was in need of someone to take care of her. She lived alone in a cheap boarding house, and Jopes of the mems furnishing department had spoken with her several times. And Jones was a married man with two children. But that Belle might l not know.
 Belle Bates had set her heart on that ten-dollar ostrich plume. Miss Harrison had thought of giving Belle that plume, but ten dollars would l make quite a hole in her own hard 1 earned savings.
 Still, if she did not give it to her, Jones would. Miss Harrison had heard many things about Jones during ! her nine years.
 Wont MT. Merrick give you that plume, my dear?' she asked Belle. Everybody knew that Belle was sup posed to be engaged to Frank Mer- rick, one of the clerks. But out of $25 a week it is difficult for a man to buy his fiancee an ostrich plume.
 "Him?" said Belle, laughing scorn- fully. "Why, that fellows just a skate."
 "But I thought you were engaged to him, my dear" said Miss Harrison.
 Belle laughed derisively.
 T guess he's just good for the 'mov- ies,'" she said. No, Miss Harrison, Pm too wise to fall for married life in furnished rooms."
 If only you could know that you ;1I, r;rl other, but she refrained from speech. She could do nothing, in fact-did nothing until few nights later, when she saw Belle and MT. Jones in earn est consultation outside a milliper's window on a street much frequented by shoppers.
 Miss Harrison's mind was made up quickly. She detained Belle next eve ming until the rest of the girls had gone home.
 Belle, want you to come home with me tonight" she said
 'I can't, Miss Harrison" said the girl.
 "Why not, my dear?"
 II have a date" said the other. Miss Harrison turned the key in the door,
 You are going to meet MT. Jones'" she said,
 Belle's eyes .widened with alarm.
 Suppose I am," she faltered. You open that door at once, Miss Harri- son." she continued angrily.
 My dear" said Miss Harrison sad ly, unlocking the door. you can go If you must. But you need friend more just at this moment than you have ever needed one"
 Belle halted, and the ready tears gushed from her eyes. She sank into chair. "I am so miserable" she | sObbed.
 | Miss Harrison knelt beside her.
 Tell me about 1t, Belle" she said.
 It's all right for you, with your S500," sobbed the girl. q just set my | heart on having a plume, and I can't ever save the money. And he-he promised me one if I would just have supper with hlm-what's the harm?"
 Belle, dear" said Miss Harrison, you are loved by an honest man. Isn't his love better than Mir. Jones with his false words and flattery?"
 "I knoww cried Belle. But how can I marry Frank and live like a drudge? Oh, if only we had a little money of our own-just something to put heart into us instead of this long round of drudgery, day after day, till we grow old-and then nothing"
 "If you had money" said Miss Har- rison gently, "what would you do with it?"
 1 Frank used to talk of a chicken farm," she said But he doesn't hope | for anything now. It's no use, Miss Harrison; I may be bad but I must l have that ostrich plume" Impulsively Miss Harrison took out her purse wherein, neatly folded, lay | five $1O0 bills. She had meant to pay them for the farm that night. Now