Evening star., 1925-12-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

"I love it, Colonel" said Mary. her
vivid eyes missing nothing. isn't II
| beautiful?'
Right pretty" answered the Col
cnel. "But 1 like Omaha better"
After all, Col. Ball" Mary Rogue
said that evening, as they sat on
circular velvet seat in the palatlal
| lobby of the Lorton. AFTER all, we
are not here to admire Florida, Sc
much as to find Maisie."
That's right, we got to find Maisie
You think we should try the Chamber
| of Commerce?'
Mary's slimness looked almost
| child-like, as she stirred velvet t-clad
| foot under a silk evening dress. Her
| bobbed yellow hair was perfection; the
precision Of her features fairy-like
! her complexion pink, and natural as
| the sunshine of Florida.
| Col. Ball could not help admiring his
! employe, his girl detective as he
| called her to himself. Another of his
| secret commentaries was too skinny
| but certainly is a pretty little thing.
| Mary was happily unaware of his
| views.
"The Chamber of Commerce? Never
| The Chamber of Commerce is too
| long-lost glory of Oloikeye. The town
| has been overlooked too long already
| according to their best ads in all the
| papers and magazines.
Look at all these fine gentlemen
| stirring around here, and every
| blessed one of them intent on finding
| some shiny new dollars out east OF
| town.
Hold on to your pocketbook. Col
| Ball" smiled Mary. Look that hun
cry gentleman over there giving you
| the once over"
1t was true enough. A splendidly
| dressed fellow of about 80 years OF
age, with q predatory face, but one
rubbed down by much contact with
| others. was directing his dark eyes
| toward the red velvet divan.
"A real estate man, Col Ball-oh,
excuse me a realtor"
X X y \
THAT feller's looking at you. young
lady. not at me-" grinned the Colonel
Nonsense. Colonel. They haven't
| any time for girls down here. Land
| is their one and only interest, land to
divide and subdivide, land to sell and
| resell That man has designs on
your we'll filled pocketbook, Col. Ball
| Don't forget that l warned you,
| #"
Col. Loganberry II. Ball uttered a
| distinct sound of disdain. Il am too
| old a bird to be roped In by a real
estate feller," he said at last. Nov,
If they got any hawgs down here
Before the Colonel could put his
thoughts into order the man with the
hawk like face had walked over.
Il beg your pardon" he said. bow
ing slightly, you are Col. Ball?''
The Colonel confessed 1t.
Il am Merkton l.. Jones of the
Merkton L. Jones Realty and Fl
nance Corporation of Oloikeye." con-
tinued the stranger, now a stranger
no longer. when / find a man OF
evident ability In Oloikeye l handle
the case personally.
My statesmen are the best in the
State, but when I run across a vist-
tor to our great Commonwealth who
| strikes me as being a man of eX-
perience, l like to talk to him my
self, because then / know l can put
our proposition up to him in a way
that Will be distinctly first class. "
He was quite sure of himself.
He paused to look down on the lam
guild blond who was staring across
the lobby.
Your daughter here, Col. Ball"
said the head Of the Jones corpora
ton, will be interested in the fine
trip We have planned for you