The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-07-29
The Bolt From
the Blue
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By DOROTHY DOUGLAS


girls had when they were informed
that they had inherited something
like fifty thousand dollars. Home
town, where the girls hailed from, was
instantly put on the map.
None of the girls had ever, in their
most vivid dreams, even thought fleet
ingly OF possessing something in the
neighborhood of eight thousand dol
lars, but that is what happened.
an eccentric old lady, supposedly
not well off, had become much at
tached to the girls, who had done all
sorts Of little friendly things for her
when she had tried to regain her lost
health the year before in the quiet
little town. When she died, she left
them her money.
I'm strong for keeping the money
all together and going to New York
and starting a tearoom or interior
decorating shop" proposed Ella and
there was an almost unanimous agree
ment. Hometown certainly is dull"
1t was Joan alone who differed from
the rest.
"Why not start something in Home
town? All country girls seem to think
New York is the one and only place in
the world and half of them go there
and take the wrong turning and that
sort Of thing and then-weli there are
millions of tearooms and decorating
shops in New York-heaps of compete
ton and all that. Right here in Home
town we have the start of everyone,
the advantage of knowing everyone
and we could do lot more with our
money here than in any New York
"Heari Hear!' shouted the other
five.
ITS all right" went on Joan and
her very blue eyes had taken on a
keener blue, "but most girls think
they're going to find something grand
In the way of man or stage career
if they go East, but, believe me, there's
just as much real joy and interest to
be had right here if we take the
trouble to make it. Now, say that
If we can get that corner opposite
Wester's movie and open a spiffy
little tea and coffee room and have one
big room for dancing and start some
kind of a dramatic club and build
tiny library wen have lot more fun
out of it than going among a bunch of
perfect strangers.
Fifty thousand would go long way
toward building up Hometown but
New York would gobbIe it as hen
choice worm.
1--WE could put summer houses and
benches along the river bank and add
another little wing to the church
and" it was Marcy now who was
spouting plans and BEFORE anyone
knew it the six girls had in their
minds eye made Hometown into one
of those perfect towns that occasional
ly beautify the country.
81 shall plant row Of dwarf
cedars all the way down Cedar
street."
"Yes, but to come down to business.
Who is going to do the dickering for
property? Which one of us is the best
bargain driver?"
Five pairs of eyes rested upon Joan.
.'Joan DEAR" said Marcy, eve are
no judge of bargain drivers but we
do know pair of useful eyes when d.
we see them. Your long lashes above
the blue of your eyes will go thou
sand miles farther in striking bar
gain than all the words in the world"
Joan swept her five friends with
laughing glance. II believe you're all
afraid Of the new real estate man,
but am not and shall brave the lion
in his den this very day"
And true to her promise Joan
donned the new costume which ex-
actly matched the blue of her eyes
and approached the Office of the newly
established real estate man whose sign
bore the name Henry Vale.
Vale was distinctly pleased with his
client for two reasons. First, because
she embodied all that his dreams had
ever pictured as the perfect woman
and secondly because Joan was pro-
pounding the scheme which not only
met but merged straight into the heart
of his own pet hobby.
Miss Varney, / left a big city to
come here and be a factor in the
building up and identifying of Home
town. want to grow right up with it
and be real part Of it and know
everyone in tile town. ! shall rent
your syndicate the corner for one hun
bred dollars less than / would to any Y
one else"
The flash OF joy in Joan's eyes was
certainly the real bolt from the blue !.
into Wales life. 1t quite sent his
rather steady head spinning. and he
knew then and there that Joan was
one day going to occupy second chair
at his dinner table. and in fact his
breakfast and supper table as well.
but he refrained from telling her so
just at the moment
And when Joan returned to the
eager girls awaiting news. with con-
tracts and things in her hands there
was such dreamy look in her very
H. -