Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1934-03-02
THE STORY


CHAPTER l.--Following the SPLEEN
did wedding of her niece. Cintra. to
Lord Leister, which she has financed
Matilda Smith Lovely t"Smif," by her
own inststence). youngest and phys
ically the weightlest of the four Love-
~ sisters. finds herself in decidedly
straitened circumstances She has her
own plans for the future, however
which she refuses TO divuige to her
sisters, prominent figures in New York
society.
CHAPTER 1.-THE historic Lovely
estate. Lovelylea, In Virginia, is owned
by Shifts brother, Bill-Lee. but, finan.
clally unable to maintain his position
there as a Lovely should he is liv-
ing In Chile. while the estate Is rent.
ed to Mr.. tombstone Nesbit. Smifs
dearest wish is to own Lovelylea, to
which she feels sure her brother will
not return.
CHAPTER III.-Under the name
MADAME Saitou" Sniff establishes her
self rs Little Sister Of the Rich"
a consultant. The business promises to
sternation among the other Lovely
sisters, In the idea that one of the
family should. as ore tartly expresses
II, become an adventures"
CHAPTER Iv.-smif has client, a
man (she does not require her callers
to give their names) who desires to
evade the loverlike pursuit of an ex-
traordinarily stout lady his neighbor
whom he refers to as Mercy. Later, the
lady in question. Miss Martha Wash
ington Mercedes mercy. for short)
comes. Her story is that because Of
her excess weight she has lost her
lover. Johnny" Smlf, recognizing the
identity Of her caller, advises her to
diet until she has reduced. Mercy pro-
poses that Sniff, who is herself af-
ficted with an overabundance of flesh.
should try the cure" and If the re-
suits are satisfactory Mercy will fol-
lew her example. For a generous fee.
Sniff consents.
Feeling that the situation had now
gone quite beyond her control, Smit
mutely held out the plate, Her self
invited guest helped himself and took
a large bite before speaking.
swell sandwiches" he mumbled.
"You live high, don't you?"
In her interest in this new specl.
men of humanity. Sniff forgot her hun
ger and watched her visitor help him
self to another sandwich, the first hav-
ing disappeared, as she declared after.
ward, ''lilSe conjurer's rabbit"
80 have a sandwich" he invited
her Hospitality, seizing the fast empty.
ing plate from her hands and offering
it to her 81 can recommend them,
and It's a mystery to me how some
women get along eating nothing the
way they seem to-while there are
others who never stop eating" he
added as an afterthought.
q What did one do to put in his place
an utter stranger who invaded ones
office and wolfed ones lunch? Sniff
acknowledged that she did not know
cad, accepting his invitation to have
sne Of her own sandwiches, munched
companionably, regarding him ap.
praisingly the while.
Aside from the pin, his attire was
conventional. A little on the loud side
perhaps, but well cnt and becoming
His shoes excellent. His hands, by
which she was given to judging char
acter, were lean. nervous, strong
Wen proportioned. too, the fingers
neither long nor short, the nails well
cared for but not polished. The hands
Of man Of taste, she decided. and
then smiled broadly as he continued to
eat her sandwiches with relish. The
word struck her as peculiarly appro-
Driat4 In the circumstances
her gaze then Travelled to his face.
Any prejudice she might have had
was rapidly melting away and she
found 1t an interesting study.
"You can have that sandwich" she
volunteered, weakly giving way to the
instinct innate in every woman from
the time Eve shared her only apple
with Adam, to feed the male of the
species. Buttons will be here soon
with more"
Sure you don't want til" he in
CURED as nursery manners dictated,
and took it eagerly, while she went on
with her mental appraisal.
Unexpectedly his voice broke in on
her thoughts.
well, what's your decision? hope
to the lord I don't look such a fool as
] am"
he was not unobservant then. Per-
haps even he had affected his intense
interest in the sandwiches to give her
the opportunity to study him.
Buttons. arriving with unusual ex-
petition, relieved her of the necessity
of replying.
Cream and olive all out, cream and
walnut, too he explained breath
lessly. Il took what they had ready.
Swiss cheese on rye; lettuce on whole
wheat and two club"
They'll do excellently well so long
as there are enough of them" the
stranger averred, cycling the pile hum
grily even as he waved aside some
change that was offered him.
Are you man or an ostrich"
Sniff demanded, speaking as II they
were childhood friends who had quar-
relied amicably for years. 81 warn
you right now that I'm going to have
one Of the club sandwiches If you ex-
plre OF starvation before my eyes"
The man too forgot the professional
position. o
Fair enough. but you don't have to
get in a pet about it. l offered you
that last sandwich. you know, all hon
orable and aboveboard, even though 1t
tore my heart to do It."
Smif took a club sandwich. q
"Why were you SO famished77 she
inquired casually. -
Uninterrupted at breakfast this norm
ing. Haven't had any appetite for
days before be replied Mental
strain. you know. Too worried to eat.
and that's a fact. I'm a bit easier in
my mind now that know sou. You're
A..