The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-11-24
CHAPTER Iv-Continued


Yet for all the boys warning. the wom-
an who entered while he fingered at
the threshold to observe the effect she
produced, transcribed anything Sniff
had imagined.
''This is fabulous creature" Sniff
thought. "a fantastic design by
Hokusai, a female hotel" But she
met the lady indifferently, as If she
found her nothing out of the ordinary,
and Buttons, disappointed, fled to his
own post.
madame Saitou?"
Sniff bowed an assent. Never, she
told herself, had she seen so many
dimples; dimpled chin, dimpled wrists,
dimpled knuckles.
81 am surprised. You see my friend
told me you were so reliable, ex-
pected some one much older" There
was no answer to this, and she went
on: my name is"
Sniff stopped her with swiftly
raised hand.
II do not require the names of my
consultants," she said. ut frequently
eases embarrassment to remain anony-
NOUS"
"How discreet" the stranger smiled,
disclosing two more dimples. "In my
case 1t is not necessary. My name is
Martha Washington Mercedes-Miss
Martha Washington Mercedes. My
friends call me Mercy"
Smif accepted this information gra-
ciously. AS nothing more was forth
coming, she suggested: "There is
something you fancy l can do for
your"
At once the round blue eyes in the
round baby face opposite her filed
with tears.
II suppose 1t all comes back to the
fact that I've grown stout. A love
affair is something to write poems
about If you're built like bean-pole.
If you're like me, it's only a joke; and
I'm in love. I'm just terribly in love-"
Mercy burst out. AS If cloud had
burst, the tears became flood.
("Cries easily" Sniff registered
mentally. 81 wonder how much her
feelings really amount tory
The next moment she called herself
hard-hearted. for Mercy raised stream
Ing eyes to hers and spoke with telling
simplicity.
"Please believe me and help me. I
didn't know people felt this way when
they were in love. Maybe no one ever
did before" she suggested hopefully.
well, your condition is not abso-
lutely unique. Nor should / call 1t
hopeless"
"I'm afraid you will when you hear
all about it." Miss Mercedes shifted.
'I'm desperate. Johnny absolutely
hates all fat women. I've put on q
little weight lately and since then he
certainly avoids me. There's no mis-
taking that"
A little weight!
eff it's only matter of weight, why
not reduce?"
"What else could 1t be?" Miss Mer-
cedes' round eyes grew rounder with
establishment, and she forgot to cry.
"Perhaps it is lacking in delicacy to
boast of 1t, but assure you, Madame
Saitou. no girl in the whole state had
more admirers than l."
"You should never have allowed
yourself to grow so large"
Mercy pouted as If she were q
chidden child.
'I've such a wonderful cook" she
murmured with guilty look.
"Discharge her."
"Oh, / couldn't. do that. My din
ners are celebrated"
"Then don't eat them"
ain that case Lucinda would leave
of her own accord. She has often told
me that she wouldn't stay with lady
who didn't appreciate her food. Any
way, I've tiny appetite. It can't be
what eat that makes me fat: Really,
] take only enough to keep my strength
up. Emotional as l am, and under
such fearful strain, ! need nourish-
ment. You do see that, Madame
Saitou?"
mn, Hiiil poHuereu TIC punt.
Plain to her was the fact that Miss
Mercedes was gourmet and probably
a glutton. I'm that case the only
thing to do is to keep Lucinda and you
apart for time"
ssYou mean that / ought to stay here
and reduce1 And not see Johnny for
ages?--How could bear It? Oh,
Madame Saitou. Is that all you can
think Of o. help nie?"
at may not be all : can think Of.