The Holly chieftain., 1924-01-17


her mother behind. took the remain-
Ing flight of stairs two at time, flung
her arms around him. gave him tight
hug. and kissed him soundly, just as
she'd used to do when she was un-
equivocally little girl. 1t was
heart-warming experience. The two
foraged in the pantry and through the
icebox for materials for tea.
II am practicing on you" Dorothy
admitted. "She wants me to-"
"Your mother7"
The girl nodded. Henry was still
speechless over this when he heard
Margaret talking to Violet in the 9TH
er room. 1t was only moment later
that his sister, without stopping to
remove her wraps. swo0ped down upon
them In the pantry. She kissed Doro-
thy enthusiastically and held her off
in both hands.
you're a delicious-looking young
thing" she said.
II wish looked like you." the girl
retorted, a little flushed but easily
enough. II always have. you know"
People had just one adjective for
Margaret-good-looki She fell short
of beauty and there was nothing pref
ty about her. She had regular fea.
lures, rather finely modelled. a good
skin, and enough hair. Had her life
run on in the channel that it had start
ed in. she might have attained N eff
feet of style. smartness anyhow. AS
1t was what she had achieved was
crispness of movement and In
Election, an air of adequacy to any
situation that might arise, which men.
in the main, found a little formidable.
The men who liked her best were old.
er than she and married. But just
this quality, 1t was easy to guess. was
what young Dorothy admired. And
you could not mistake the sincerity
of what she had just said.
Abruptly, Margaret shooed them out
into the sitting-room to keep Violet
amused while she got the tea. Just
as Margaret was coming in with the
tray Violet said. 1T must seem strange
to be leaving the bank. doesn't itY'
He answered quickly. Margaret
doesn't know" Then. to his sister he
went on. John offered me new job
at lunch today and I'm taking it."
Her eyebrows went up with an ex-
preston which betrayed nothing but
good-humored surprise. Then she
said. ut must be pretty good If you
could make up your mind as quickly
as that to take It,"
"Well, I'm cure it must look good
to John" Violet observed. ''The whole
scheme, mean. Because unlesa 1t
had looked-well = marvellous, he'd
never have gone in with that man."
Greer, you mean," Henry said, and
turned once more to Margaret with
explanations. Hes an inventor and
he's found way to make linen out
of American fax straw. They've never
been able to do 1t before and the farm
ers have burned it-thousands. or
maybe millions. Of tons of 1t every
year. . don't understand Greer's
process in the least. I'm not even
sure that John does. But he seems to
have no doubt 1t works. John wants
me to be treasurer Of the new COM
pany," he concluded. 1.-THE inventor
himself il to be president"
Have you met him yeti" Violet
asked.
II Just got glimpse of him." Henry
answered. II hadn't time to see any
thing but his beard"
That's the man. all right" Violet
said, with nod. And went on. since
they were both visibly waiting for
more: "Why, he sounds amusing to
me; really attractive. Jimmie Wal
lace likes him quite lot. He likes
to play with theatrical people-thats
how Jimmie knows him. But, OF
course. Jimmie himself isn't exactly
what you'd call-austere. He's got
an apartment-Greer l mean-up on
Sheridan road, in the same building
that Bella and Bill Forester are In.
Bella is quite an authority on him.
Never met him, of course. But she
meets up with him. accidentally. you
know, every now and then, and they
get very pally. She's hoping. she says.
that he'll invite her to one of his par
ties, They must be pretty terrific
from all accounts"
II got the Impression Henry OBJ
served. from Johns biography of him
that he's bachelor"
II don't know" said Violet. ut
comes to that. anyhow. He lives in
that big apartment all by himself. At
least" she qualified, and broke of
with glance toward her daughter.
You needn't mind me-" Dorothy
said quietly. I'm reading the Literary
News. All the same" the girl went
on. looking up at Henry from the
her glance had fallen upon,
Il think that sort of inventor would
be wonderful person to have about.
Mostly they're so awfully noble and
innocent, aren't they. and about hun
dred years old? Or Is that just In the
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