The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1922-10-27
FLAP! FLAP FLAP
BY DoRRIs CAMPBELL

Anna, serious, authenticated, is tbs
middle one of the trio-mldway II
complexion, age and height between
Gertrude, their brunette leader, and th'
petite and very blonde Ruth.
When Gert-blew herself to a tweed
suit. Nan and Ruth did likewise.
So when Cert bobbed her hair, In
vested in some low-heeled, broad
strapped pumps, a walking stick ant
cigarette case, Nan and Ruth followed
suit as a matter Of course.
Flap Flap! Flapl
Bellevll1e was scandalized. Bold
and shameless" were about the mild
est words used to describe them. Were
their folks crazy to let them carry or
so? No, no one had actually seer
them smoking. But Of course they did
And Ruth had slipped on a banans
skin, and when she fell you could see
with only one eye, that her stockings
didn't cover up her knees!l! Scan
dalous, that's what
zap! rldp |! ! II zap !!
But more about that banana skim
most important item. The girls had
started for dressmaker's, on the out
skirts of the town, but Ruth got sucl
a bang when she fell that she decided
to sit in the park and wait for them
SO orer she hObbled to seat nearl!
hidden by shrubbery, after buying 8
magazine.
Larry had begged Girt that morning
to meet him in the park that after
noon, to hear something important
But Cert was a tease, and she only
laughed and said not to expect hei
till he saw her. Larry was really seri
Gus, and though he had no idea OF be
ing fortunate enough to find her, ne
walked through the park.
Sauntering along gloOmlly, he saw 0
flash of green that nature never pro
duced Moving closer, he saw, through
the stats In the back of the bench, O
pert green dress, rIlfling and billow
ing over the seat. The wearer was
almost hidden by mOnstrous and
dropping hat. s
"She came!' he exulted, his heart
pounding furiously with Joy. "She does
care, after ALL"
Silently he approached the seat
leaning over till it seemed he would
lose his balance, and land in her lap
he boldly embraced and kissed her.
Slap! Slap!! Sob, Larry !! It's
only your with relief. "But what dc
you mean by kissing me?"
'Ruthie! / thought it was Cert.
asked her to meet me here today. She
didn't say she would, but / thought
she had come-and it's only your
Ruth had to laugh in spite of the real
tragedy in his forlorn face.
"You really do care great deal fol
Cert, don't you? Tell me about it
Larry" Misery loves company, an6
Larry spilled his woes.
"What will you give me If Cert be
comes engaged to you within q
month";"
Anything you likew
chocolates, then. And / shall Sc
lect the biggest box in town"
'"The biggest and best, Ruthie-hal1
a dozen of 'em-but, how'll you work
it?"
Leave it to me. You don't know
Ruthie Like I do! Ruthless got brains
even if she doesn't look It Seriously
it looks very simple, Larry-Only-In
have to tell Nan, and perhaps one OF
two Others"
It all hinged, Ruth figured on
Gert's being a born leader. AS truly
as she loved Nan and Ruth, she liked
to be first, but she wanted them tc
follow. Nan agreed that Ruth's plaE
would be ridiculously easy.
With the aid Of Mans cousin Dick
who had always thought Ruthie pref
ty nice, and his friend, Bob, who was
quite delighted to "beau" Nan around
there came change, subtle at first
then most pronounced. Nan and Ruth
mentioned Bob and Dick more and
more often before Cert, at first ridi
culing their invitations, then admit
ting their attractive qualities, until
finally Cert, assured that it would moi
be long before she would be practi
cally deserted for the two men, passed
from uneasiness to decision.
"I'll just have to beat Nthem to 1t,
she determined, and to Larry's great
Joy, accepted his invitation to the
Fourth of July celebration and dance
Then she accepted other ones, also
books and candy, and wonder Of Won
ders invited him to supper one Sun
day. When Larry went home that
night he left kiss on Gert's lips
and a ring on her finger.
Three weeks he murmured admir-
ingly. "Gosh, Ruth is sure some girl !!
1t wasn't long before Nan, and
Ruth, too, were engaged, and that fall
there was triple wedding.
They kept their becoming bobbed
hair, but the walking sticks were dis
carded, to Belleville's satisfaction, and
the cigarette cases were attached to
masculine watch chains. And there
were onfessions-terrible ones, which
would have Mortified Belleville.
"We tried to smoke" shyly, "Once.
Gee! but weren't we illT' There were
deep masculine chuckles, perhaps at