The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-12-15

Mercy to induce her to reduce until
she was more normal size. That
much, she was pretty certain she could
manage to accomplish; giving no guar
antee however that Mercy would con-
tinue sylphlike after marriage.
"After one has won race, plainly
there is no incentive to keep on run
ming" Sniff remarked to herself as she
switched Off the lights and, with
wide yawn, went hungry to bed
Foreseeing that she would be con-
tinually subject to interruption from
Miss Mercedes unless measures were
taken to prove to her that she had not
bought all Madame Saitou's time; to
her great disgust, Sniff promptly
charged that lady for visit she made
in the forenoon to inquire the result
of the call at Doctor Blanton's Office
While she was lingering, Sniff an
swered the telephone, to hear Stones
voice. He had, it developed, received
message from Lovelylea. voltaire
was Ill. 1t was necessary for him to
take the first train. No telling when
he would be back. He had to
rush. He hung up and so did
Smif. Involuntarily her eyes sought
Miss Mercedes face, who, being shrewd
in her own way, interpreted the glance
rightly.
'That was Johnny talking to you.
Don't bother to fib to me, know it
was. I could see you making up your
mind whether to tell me or not"
Sniff laughed, attempting no denial
Il was doing exactly that" she &C
knowledged. II confess I'd like moth
ing better than to have you go home to
Virginia until I'm through with this
banting. fancy it's going to be very
hard on my disposition. And also,
you will be better able ito estimate
what the treatment is accomplishing
after a lapse of couple of weeks
Yet I confess do not think your best
interest will be served if you go down
I'd Virginia now." fs
Mercy numbered to her feet.
"That means that Johnny is going
back. Probably can catch the same
train"
"Sit down again. You can't catch
his train, because it's gone. Now
pray pay attention to what I'm telling
you. It's for your own good" Sniff
interrupted her sternly. II absolutely
cannot guarantee results to any client
who refuses to be guided by me. Mr..
Nesbit is distinctly irritated by your
pursuit of him. assure you it would
be much better policy on your part
to stay away from Virginia for a
time. Give him a chance to miss
you"
do you think he wouldT' The visit
fulness in Mercy's voice was unaffect-
ed and moving.
II don't see why not. Indeed q
little show Of Indifference on your
part might prove very salutary. 'Ab-
sence makes the heart grow fonder.'"
she murmured. ''It's an old saw and
a true one"
"Tll not deny that that is an idea,"
Miss Mercedes remarked thoughtfully.
"rll think 1t over. What was it that
took him back to Lovelylea in such a
hurryY
"Who is voltaire?" Sniff asked. She
was curious on the point, having been
given no opportunity to ask Stone.
"Those d-n dogs!" Miss Mercedes
exclaimed. "When I'm Mrs. Nesbit, 1
declare I'll poison them"
Sniff, who was fond of dogs, began
to repent of the decision to forward
her marriage.
"French bulldogs" Miss Mercedes
went on; with ugly crumpled-up faces.
So clever you hardly dare talk before
them for fear they'll repeat what you
say. I certainly hate 'em. And Vol
taire is the worst. When Johnny goes
away, he can scarcely be persuaded to
eat. Besides which, the beast can
count. Johnny tells him how many
days he'll be gone and if he overstays,
the creature actually seems to 60 into
a sort of decline"
Miss Mercedes heaved her fat torso
in what was evidently intended to be
a shrug.
"Oh, well, he won't last long after
we're married. You don't suppose I
mean to be called down to Virginia be-
cause dogs in the dumps? And what
about Europe? Let me tell you Johnny
knows lot Of very important people
in England. There was Lovely girl
married title this past autumn and
he let out to me accidentally that he
knew some Of the men in the bridal
party. / tried to get him to invite
them to Virginia, but he wouldn't. 1t
will be good for him to go over there
now and then just to keep up with
his old friends"
This thought had occurred to Sniff
the night before. Coming from Mercy,
she found herself revolving against 1t,
while she mentally noted that Stone
had not mentioned either Lester or
his friends to her.