Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-02-23
Flora Buys
a Soul
By DOROTHY WHITCOMB.

news? Miss Harrison's going to
l~eave!'
The girls chartered 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
aow she was going to leave.
Eyes, it's true, girls" she said, smil-
Ing. mo, l haven't gotten u better
job. Fact is, no more jobs for me.
I've got $500 saved up, and it's the
country for Flora Harrison, with
boarders and a chicken farm"
And nobody could imagine how she
i0nged for the country home that she
had planned.
"Her with $500 and me trying to
save ten dollars for an ostrich plume!"
said Belle in deep disgust. The
words and the ehvious look were
not missed by Miss Harrison. She
knew Belle Bates was a Eighty,
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 Jones
of the mems furnishing department
had spoken with her several times.
And Jones was a married man with
two children. But that Belle might
not know.
Belle Bates had set her heart on
that ten-dollar ostrich plume. Miss
Harrison had thought of giving Belle
chat plume, but ten dollars would
make quite a hole in her W hard
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.
won't Mr.. Merrick give you that
plume, m Y 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
SIS a week it is difficult for a man
to buy his fancee an ostrich plume.
"Him?' said Belle, laughing scorn-
fully. "Why, that fellows just a
skate"
But 1 thought you were engaged
to him, my dear" said Miss Harrison.
Belle laughed derisively.
81 guess he's just good for the NOV
ies,'" she said. "No, Miss Harrison,
I'm too wise to fall for married life in
furnished rooms
IF only you could know that you
are just a foolish girl! y thought the
other, but she refrained from speech.
She could do nothing, in fact-did
nothing until a few nights later, when
she saw Belle and Mr.. Jones in earn
est consultation outside a m~illiner'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, l want you to come home
with me tonight" she said.
81 can't, Miss Harrison" said the
girl.
"Why not, my dear?'
81 have a date" said the other. Miss
Harrison turned the key in the door.
"You are going to meet Mr.. JONES'"
she said.
Bellies eyes widened with alarm.
Suppose 1 am" she faltered. you
open that door at once, Miss Harri-
son. she continued angrily.
my DEAR" said Miss Harrison sad
IL, unlocking the door, you can go If
you must. But you need a friend more
just at this moment than you have
ever needed one."
Belle halted, and the ready tears
a chair. 81 am so miserable" she
sObbed.
Miss Harrison knelt beside her.
"Tell me about it, Belle" she said.
ITS all right for you, with your
$780, sobbed the girl. 81 just set my
heart on having a plume, and / can't
ever save the money. And he-he
promised me one If l would just have
supper with him-what's the harm?'
Belle, dear" said Miss Harrison,
you are loved by an honest man.
Isn't his love better than Mr.. Jones
with his false words and flatteryT'
81 knowl" cried Belle. 'But how
can 1 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-
rlson gently, what would you do
with it?"
'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
nave that ostrich plume"
Impulsively Miss Harrison took out
her purse wherein, neatly folded, lay
Ave 500 bills. She had meant to pay
tham FOR tha farm flat NIGHT Now