The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-11-02
FLAP! FLAP! FLAP!
BY DORIS CAMPBELL

complexion, age and height between
Gertrude. their brunette leader, and the
petite and very blonde Ruth.
When Cert blew herself 10 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 and
cigarette case Nan and Ruth followed
suit as IA matter of course.
Flap. Flap. Flap!
Belleville was scandalized. Bold"
and shameless We're about the mild
est words used to describe them. Were
their folks crazy 10 let them carry on
So! No, no one had actually seen
them smoking. But OF course they did
And Ruth had slipped on a banana
skin. and when she fell you could see,
with only one eye, that her stockings
didn't cover up her knees.!. Scan
dalUuS, that's what
Flap. Flap! Flap!!
But more about that banana skin-a
most important item. The girls had
started for a dresSmaker'S, on the out
bang when she fell that she decided
to sit in the park and wait for them.
So over She hobbled to seat nearly
hidden by shrubbery, after buying a
magazine
Larry had begged Girt that morning
10 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 her
till he saw her. Larry was really seri-
Gus, and though he had no idea of be
ing fortunate enough TO find her, he
walked through the park.
Sauntering along glOomily, he saw a
flash Of green that nature never pro-
/ duced. Moving closer. he saw, through
the Stats in the back of the bench, a
pert green dress, rufiling and billOw-
ing over the seat. The wearer was
almost hidden by a mOnstrous and
dropping hat.
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 you" with relief. But what do
you mean by kissing me?"
"Ruthie, / thought it was Cert.
| asked her to meet me here today. She
ii, Il, 4 ~
! she had come-and it's only you"
Ruth had to laugh in spite OF the real
tragedy in his fOrlorn face.
You really do care great deal for
Cert. don't you? Tell me about 1t,
Larry" Misery loves company, and
Larry spilled his woes.
what will you give me if Cert be-
comes engaged To you within
/ month";"
Anything you like"
Chocolates, then. And | shall Sc
lect the biggest box in town"
1.-The biggest and best, Ruthie-half
a dozen of 'em-but, how'll you work
| itP
Leave it to me. You don't know
! Ruthie like | do. Ruthie's got brains,
even if she doesn't look IL, Seriously,
il looks very simIte, Larry-only-In
have to tell Nan, and perhaps one or
two others"
Ii all hinged, Ruth figured, on
Gert's being II born leader. As truly
as she loved Nan and Ruth, she liked
10 h.,t L.,
follow. Nan agreed that Ruth's plan
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 a 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 II would not
be long before she would be practi-
cally deserted for the two men, passed
| from uneasiness to decision.
"Tll just have to beat them to IT,"
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 MIN 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 :"
II 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 confessiOns-terrible ones, which
would have Mortified Belleville.
"We tried TO smoke" shyly, "Once.
Gee! but weren't we ill.," There were
deep masculine chuckles, perhaps at
remembering personal experiences,
| perhaps not.
"And we tried to learn to s-s-swear-
real casually, you know, Just for fun
But the most we could manage with
g.