The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-11-10
CHAPTER III-Continued


Her heart beating rapidly, almost
unable to believe her eyes, Sniff stared
around her. They were on the second
floor of the establishment and 1t
seemed designed expressly for her pur-
poses.
'What part of the premises do You
wish to reserve for yourself?" she
asked breathlessly. "Could you get
along without this fioor?"
'As aisy as ye'd get along without
q hollow TOOTH" the woman answered
eagerly. 'Do We know of amy one
who'd like to take 1t off me hands"
Again Smif looked around her.
'.Not with your fittings, I'm afraid"
"To be sure not. IT'S more than
l could expect. There's little here but
draperies, an they can be packed
away. The lounge chairs could use
down stairs until better times. Twould
save storage" The woman's quick
brain had settled all details in flash.
do We think there's amy chance of
me rentin' It, Miss Lovely? It might
make just the difference to me be-
tween sinkin' or swimmin'. I don't
mind tellin' We that I'm overloaded.
Miss Cintra's dresses was grand
help"
In her agitation and sudden hope
Madame Georgette was babbling.
Smif stopped her good-humoredly.
six moderate price for frock
and, once we've settled that, I'll tell
you what I have in mind for this
floor If you can really spare it."
Madame Georgette, amazed. incred-
ulous, doubtful Of the success of so
unusual venture, when at last she
was won over, threw herself whole
heartedly into the details of furnishing
the Suggesting and incidentally
saved Smif both money and annoying
delays. In time the alliance of good
will was destined to work out to the
advantage of both Madame Georgette
and her tenant, neither hesitating to
recommend the other where she might
be Of use.
The word Lovely having an unfor-
tunate connotation, from the incep-
ton Of the plan Smif had known that
she must take a business name, and
finally she struck on the name Saitou.
1t was In no known language It did
not mean anything. but it sounded as
II 1t might, and before she had ex-
pected, Sniff found herself launched
as Madame Saitou.
Her staff consisted of one small boy.
He was dressed in black with many
gilt buttons. A round braided cap of
jade green, poised over one ear and
held by gilded chin strap, lent him
picturesqueness. The diminutive In
FAINT was officially entitled Buttons
and entered into his duties with en-
thusiasm.
Sniff had seen little Of her sisters
during her period of preparation and,
hearing nothing Of her activities, they
took it for granted there were none.
Either she had given up her foolish
plans or had exaggerated her situation.
1t was like Sniff to make an amazing
story out of nothing.
1t was Doctor Stannard who brought
about the revelation. He and his wife
were engaged to dine at the Ham
mersleys and he was called out pro-
fessionally at the last moment so that
Lucy was obliged to go on alone.
He came in, however, before the
cocktails were finished.
arm glad you weren't detained,
Cyril" his wife greeted him. Nothing
serious, hope?"
"Nothing at all. you might say" he
snapped, as If the fault were hers.
"a fool who wants doctor to hold
her hand and tell her she looks young
er than she did when she was nine
teen every time she discovers the be-
ginning of a wrinkle I've always
thought that a man was justified in
sending his tiresome patients to psy-
choanalysts and such people as this
Madame Saitou Reeves Blanton Is so
keen on"
Cyril fumbled In his pocket and
drew out couple of cards.
"Blanton gave me several of these
and advised me to use Them" he said.
sShe's not psychoanalyst, as under
stand It. She's just Pollyanna sort
of person. Big and jolly and fat.
Rather laughs people out of their silly
fads and notions, take it."
There was a swift exchange of
glances between the sisters. A hor-
rible suspicion had struck them at the
same instant
Laura reached for the cards and
passed one to Lucy.
MADAME SAITOU
Little Sister of the Rich
OO1 Fifth Avenue