Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-10-10
Very Glad He
Accepted the
Work Offered
By MILDRED GooDRIDGE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


t9. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)
"OH, MANI Do you want to do
~ some work."
1t was little Flo Duncombe, a pretty
child Of eight years, who shouted at a
young man passing the garden where
she stood with her sister, lola.
Work, little One?" smiled the stran-
ger, pauslng and, at one glance at the
lovely face of lola, becoming interest
ed. 81 am always glad to work. What
is it,"
Rose leaves and DOWN. chartered
Flo, excltedy, important and eager.
81 fear my little sister has been
presumptuous." spoke Miss Duncombe.
II needed some assistance"
"And l am glad of an offer of work"
declared the young man promptly. He
carried portfolio under one arm.
"The work is less arduous than tedi-
Gus and painstaking," she said, and
she led the way towards an ornate
summer house. AS she neared its door
the young man instantly understood
the allusiOn Of little Flo to rose leaves
and feathers To every projection
attached particles Of soft, flmy
down
lola said Some one opened the
windows where / had been working
last night, a strong wind came up and
you see the result. The rose leaves
were sent me by friend from Califor-
MIA. have managed to gather them
up, for they were blown off the table
in a heap, but the down. fear 1t
is not worth the labor gather
ing it up"
"You might try" suggested the
young man. IF you would get me a
or a deep basket, will
see what can be done"
Miss Duncombe went to the house
and brought out three baskets She
and Flo set about the same task as
this hired help" She learned that
his name was Archie Blair.
II took two hours to gather up most
Of the scattered down. Then lola
said:
81 am greatly obliged, and the com
II was just going to speak of that"
declared Archie IF you will allow
me to sketch some Of the beautiful
here, with this little fairy
and yourself in the picture, l will feel
fully compensated"
So he was an artist, reflected lola,
and several little sketches Of his pen
I'll convinced her that his was no ordi-
nary talent, She felt warranted in
asking him to lunch, and when he
vent on his way little Flo made
aim promise to come and see them
when he returned from his sketchlng
tour.
If the young artist ceased to remem-
Der the fair maiden with whom he had
spent those delightful hours, not so
lola. A newcomer In town, a Robert
Wilder, came pretty regularly to see
her, but lola took little interest in
him. He had bloomed forth In the
village as a young man Of fortune on
a vacation. Mr. Duncombe had met
him at the town club and took quite a
fancy to him.
One evening this delectable individ.
ual met Jim Carr, a servant at the
Duncombe home, in secret way.
Judging from their conversation,
these two had known each other in
sinister way in the past Further, 1t
that the Wanted young man
of wealth had some hold on Jim.
"See here, Carr" he said, on the
present occasion, you know what Pm
after: a rich wife. If old Duncombe
has the money think wouldn't OBJ
ject TO becoming his son-in-law."
"YOu want to be spry, then" advised
Jim.
"Why is that?"
There's a young artist fellow who
has been around for an evening or
two. He met Miss lola about a week
ago, it seems, and, on his way to the
city, has decided to stop In the village
for a week or two. My opinion is he
is In love with the girl"
"oh, WE'LL I'm pretty solid with the
old man." boosted Wilder. "See here,
want you to do something for me,
and I'll pay you we'll"
"All rlght-what is lt?"
81 want you to act as my dlcta-
phone. In other words, could you
manage to overhear what conversation
goes on in the housed"
I've got some news" he advised
Wilder later.
Lets have It,"
There's closet managed to hide
in just Off the library, where | over
heard good deal Night before last
heard Mr. Duncombe telling what a
capital fellow you were"
"GOod!" commented Wilder.
"Then l overheard them talking
with his lawyer. From the converse
ton | gathered that he is worth about
hundred thousand dollars"
"Excellent-go on, Jim," directed
Wilder.
Last evening, though, stranger
called. He was inquiring about you.
He is a detective from the city, look
ing you up for "A swindling game"
POUNDS! then Pm done for" ex-
claimed Wilder Il reckon I'll make
tracks from town before I'm picked
up" and Wilder started to move
away.
There was something more" ad.
vised Jim. THAT artist fellow"
"Yes-well, what about hlm? Ques-
toned Wilder irrltably.
'He proposed to Miss lola this af-
ternoon."
"The mischief"