The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-02-07

4 Manchester a little vaguely. trying
now without success to remember the
latest name, "a kind of fiame-color."
+ 1T is, is it2" said the f%at-fingered
woman with New Money. Il guess l
know coral-as well as anybody"
, Possibly you are right, madam"
murmured Mary Manchester.
81 guess | am right said the wom-
an somewhat stridently. "And guess
you are wrong. And l guess you've
insulted me enough-for one day."
'Insulted you, madam = Mary Man
chester was still able to exclaim-but
a little more weakly than before.
First | am a fright" the customer
observed with bitter irony. Il look
like thunder in the dress. And then
I'm a liar !"
ooh, MADAME exclaimed Mary
Manchester. And suddenly, in defiance
of all known proprieties while waiting
on a customer, she sat down. 1t was
a grave error, of course. But it may
be said for her that it was quite nee
essary for her to do so, as otherwise
she would have fallen.
whats the matter?" demanded her
critic. And it seemed to Mary Man
chester, in her ridiculously nervous
state, as if the woman were ONE
thing unnatural, devilish, growing
stronger every moment to torment
her. Whats the matter now?' she
was inquiring. Cant you stand up
when you're waiting on customersf
Haven't you the manners to?"
The heat was evidently irritating
her more and more. II came here"
she said, ito buy a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
gown-and get insulted It'll be some
time before 1 come in here again.
Don't forget that!"
Mary Manchester was unable to an
swer that most dreaded of all threats
from a customer. Her lips moved, but
there was little that came through
them. She was using all her forces
to sit upright-and smile a little.
And so to Mary Manchester, going
home in her black gown-like many
others of her class, no doubt, that
same night-came especially sharply
a not unfamiliar dread: How long
can / stand this?" So, as we said, in
her way-in the sordid undramatic
way of her class in life-she might be
termed desperate.
Pardon me-" said the voice of a
well-dresSed mana man with a keen
face and slightly oblique smile. And
Mary Manchester, turning, saw that
he was addressing her.
He was, she saw, a gentleman in
manner, very much so-well dressed,
quiet, not young but most of all she
saw-as any woman would at a glance
that he had not that light which
adventurer with He had OBJ
viously-as any woman would have
detected-some other purpose. Mary
Manchester stopped, walked on-and
he with her.
Pardon me-" said Jasper Haig
again, and drew from his pocket
a small photograph, but is this your
portrait?"
And when she saw it, Mary Man
stopped short again. Even
she could see. 1t was almost uncanny,
the likeness to herself.
NO." she said finally, sit is not"
The woman was older, when you
and looked carefully-older
and not so well, and dressed as Mary
Manchester lever was and never
could expect to be.
mo-" said the girl, returning it to
lim.
THANK you," he said in his cold,
voice. "Now l would like to
ask you another question if l may"
Certainly" replied Mary Manches-
.er, her interest piqued-not unwilling
now, as no doubt the man had
planned, to go on with the converse
ion.
Are you a business woman? Do
you earn your own living2"
YES" she answered, as crisp
spoken as he.
Are you satisfied with your posi-
Satisfied !" she repeated with a
title bitter laugh. F.,
"May | talk to you," he asked, his |
yes. as she noted them, always study {
ng her keenly, seriously, "about a t
BUSINESS opportunity for your"
The girl hesitated. 1t was an I'M
sual method OF approach to such a
opic, certainly! The stranger, his 6
yes upon her face, caught up her OBJ {
as if she had spoken them. I
Eat any time" he said, 'and under t
our own conditions" t
perhaps" the girl ventured dubi-
usly. t
"But now-tonight-if at all !" he b
oncluded. i
"But why tonight?' she asked him, r
gain suspicious. why not tomor- u
ow?' o
'It must be tonight" he repeated n
"if at ALL" o
aT- 81 81, che ocIyaI fno1Ju Hoocu- n