New Britain herald., 1926-07-22

sit here by your open window, so
Sadie won't smell my smoke" she
said, as she turned the key. She
and Mons called each other by
their first names now.
Merry was standing beside the
dresser looking at some snapshots
of himself that Bill Erskine had
sent to her in letter that had
come in the afternoon mail.
Want. to see my sweetie?" she
asked. and tossed them down into
Lilies lap. He's not so terribly
good looking, but he's just as nice
as he can be-
Lille looked at them. Then she
laid her burning cigaret down on
the window sill and looked at them
a second time.
"Well, of all thingsi Tubby Frs
kline! How do you happen to know
him 2"
CHAPTER xxx
Merry picked up the snapshots OF
Bill Erskine and dropped them into
the top drawer of the old dresser.
She shut it on them with smart
little bang.
"Why, I've known Bill long
time" she answered sharply. Il
met him through my sister Cassie.
There's nothing so wonderful about
me knowing him, is there? Hes
not the King of Siam or anybody
shouldn't know, is hc?'
Lille laughed her rich, good-na-
tured laugh that always sounded SO
comfortable and contented.
mo. I guess not" she said. But
it's funny just the same - your
knowing him. Why. J haven't
thought of Tubby Erskine for ten
or twelve years! And then to find
out that he's a friend of yours!
THE world is a pretty small place,
after all, isn't it?"
She shook her head musingly,
and went on. IT knew him one
winter down in Palm Beach. ] was
giving permanent waves in one of
the big hotels and he used to come
in and try to make dates with me-
She arched her darkened eye
brows, knowingly.
But he never got very far with
ME." she added. II saw through
him right from the word Col He
was trying to marry some rich
English girl in the hotel. But he
didn't mind having good time
on the side. Only I wasn't going
to be part of his good time'
don't play second fiddle for anyone.
Not if l know it!'
whats all this you're talking
about in there?" Mons asked loud
", trying the handle of the door.
Lille had just time to throw her
cigaret out of the window before
she was in the room.
Lille was telling me about Bill
Erskine. She knows him." said
Merry. She knew that if she didn't
tell her mother, Lille would, any
way. Lille was one of those an
noying people who tell everything
they know, and little bit more.
II was just telling Merry that
he's something of fortune hunt
err" she said, getting up and pulling
her kimono around her plump
shoulders. AT least he was when
7 knew him. But that was years
ago. He may have changed"
people don't change in this
world. Once bad egg, always
a bad egg Mons replied gloomily
She settled herself down on the
edge of Jinny's narrow bed for a
comfortable gossip.
"But if he's out to marry money,
l don't know what he bothers with
Merry for, I'm sure" she said, "for
we certainly haven't one cent to
rub up against another. We're as
poor as Jobs turkey"
Hes not after money. He has
plenty of money of his own!'
Merry defended him, Indignantly
He doesn't know what to do with
all the money he makes! Why, |
just look at the things he sends
me, every week of his life!"
Her big eyes swept the room.
Every corner of it was filled with
proofs of Bills devotion to her. A
piece of Chinese embroidery was
tackled on the wall above her writ
ing desk. A pair of befurred car
riage boots that he had sent her
from Montreal, stood on the floor
of the clothes closet. The dresser
was loaded with perfume in cut
glass bottles, with boxes and boxes |
of powder, with a toilet set of |
genuine tortoise shell.
Mons scolded every time the |
mail brought these gifts. She
didn't think it was proper for a
man to give such intimate things |
as powder and perfume to a young |
girl, and she said so!
Some time I'm going to tell |
him So too." she often threatened. |
IF he doesn't know what's proper,
and what isn't proper, I'll teach
hint"
Lille was looking at herself in
the mirror that belonged to the |
toilet set.
"Just gaze upon that double chin,
will you'll" she exclaimed. isn't
that terrible! i'll don't stop get !
ting fat I'm going to look like
comic strip pretty soon. I'd better |
go on a skimme milk diet, | |
guess"
At the door she turned for a
moment.
you know" she said, with her |
wise head to one side. you know |
all these hard-shelled bachelors fall |
in love, sooner or later. And l
suppose that's what's happened to |
Tubby Erstine, after all these |
years.
Cassie thought SO, too.
Hes just wild about you, |
Merry" she told her one afternoon,
when she dropped in at the beauty
shop. YOU'D better nab him |
the next time he comes to town.
He has everything girl wants