The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-09-14
Good Little
Liar
BY CLARA DELAFIELD

Copyright. 1881. Western Newspaper Union.
Hatchem's was the slickest cheap
restaurant In town. and Aggie was
Hatchem's slickest hash Singer. 1t
was reported that professional conjur-
ors sometimes %freQuented Hatchem's to
watch Aggle balancing poached eggs
on mince on top of three orders of
fiapjacks, five cups Of coffee and four
bowls Of mock turtle.
That, Of course, was an invention,
but Hatchem's being In the theater dis
trict, many men who could have af-
forded better meals did drop in to
Hatchem's. It was a sort Of meeting
place for people who wanted to talk
over things.
Aggie lived in Harlem with her wild
owed mother, and her life was OK
emplary. She was engaged to be mar
ried to Bill McGurk, who drove an
ice-wagon and was waiting for a raise
before popping the golden circlet
over Aggie's slim finger. Aggie
had had plenty Of beaux before
Bill, but when they tried to get
IL NlIC S4udSIlCu CIlcIl IldtteT tIldu Il
stale pancake.
And she could give as good as she
got from any of the smart Alecs who
freqalented Hatchem's. There was not
an ounce Of sentiment about Aggie.
That was why she bore an abound
ing grievance against Bill the Brute.
That wasn't his name. He was a dark,
athletic, well-dressed man Of about
forty, and he happened in n evening
when the restaurant was comparatively
empty.
"Give me a plate of ham and EGGS"
he said.
Aggie brought it, and he toyed with
the ham and played with the eggs.
IT don't like these eggs" he said
presently.
whats wrong with emf" snapped
Aggie.
81 want EN- laid over again." said
Bill the Brute.
Somebody's slipped a pair of roost-
ers inside 'em. Gimme my check"
"You wait" said Aggie under her
breath. I'll know you again in a mil
lion years"
It was three months before Bill the
Brute returned. This time he came
with a lady, about the time the theater
closed.
"Stenog," shifted Aggie. Not yours,
though, Bill. That kind don't 60 out
to supper with the boss"
Aggie, watching them like a hawk,
as she fox-trottsd along the restaurant,
bunny-hugging a pyramid Of orders,
saw that something was doing.
He's made her cry" she said, as
they rose to depart. Can this be
love! Oh, Bill McGurk, come to me! J"
After that the little stenographer
took to coming to the restaurant for
lunch and supper. Aggie surmised
that she worked late. At lunch she
ate a hurried meal and went away
quickly, but at supper she waited till
sometimss-Bln the Brute came In and
sat down beside her. Then her face
would light up.
But he's a married man." snapped
Aggie to the lamb croquettes and pea
twins. That kind always are. 60
Of ROSTERS, Ell R'llT
The next time BIZ the Brute joined
the girl in the evening Aggie saw that
he was trying to persuade her tt do
something or other. It was pitiful to
see the indecision and doubt and trust
on her face, TOO, as she looked at
Bill.
Il guess girls don't look like that
when single men tell them they're the
main squeeze" Aggie ~soliloquized. IF
I'd looked that way, BilId have sent
for the plumber. Pair Of roosters, Ell"
"Waitress, my check" called Bill
the Brute from his cornen "Then it's
all settled, dear" Aggie heard him
say Under his breath as she rose from
the table.
He made his way in front of her to
the desk. There were two or three
in front of him. The girl waited beside
the door.
"Scrambled eggs on toast, coffee, and
a pair Of douglnutsr called one of
the regulars.
"Coming" said Aggie, staggering IN
der an Effel tower of dishes.
Ole oAc-sleppeu up u Tie girl. say!
You put that gink where he belongsi"
she whispered. Can him See? TIL
tell you why in a minute"
"Stewed cells and ham" cried an
other regular from across the room.
"Coming!" said Aggie, depositing
the scrambled eggs on the marble-top.
II was a good girl once!" she whis-
pered, as she cantered past the door.
IT was a honest, Woodworking stenog-
rapher, and he-he brought me to this.
Put him out Of your heart, lady he's
got a wife and family owe in Brook
Ign, and he's deceiving you. Learned
it-too late, too late" q
With frightened eyes and quivering
lips the little stenographer darted
through the doorway, just as Bill the
Brute was paying his check.
"Bucks and the goldenr called a
patron from beside the umbrella-stand.
"Coming'" cried Aggie.