| Show In G CHAPTER I I. I 1 1 At nine o'clock In the morning punctual to the second Flodie Fisher unlocked the door marked Hall Boni- Boni stelle Artist Photographer Artist Photographer and walked Into the thc office The large light room was vacant lodie shook her head in sorrowful disappointment disappointment dis dis- appointment at her employers employer's tardiness tardiness ness and shrugged her shoulders Oh i dear she muttered impatiently just justl what I expected Then with H Ii shake of ot her head as one who says It must be d done me she walked in and listened outside Hall bedroom door For a moment she stood poised awkwardly awk awk- graceful graceful or or rather gracefully awkward perhaps so quaint so org o gInal g- g inal trial was her attitude She knocked knock d with firmness The summons was peremptory peremptory peremptory per per- yet it had the secret indulgence Indulgence indulgence gence of or a doting mother for her only child The only answer was a not unmusical unmusical unmusical un un- un- un musical baritone growl She banged on the door again This time she really meant it Mr Boni Boni- etelle elle You must get up Immediately come come come on now A A. A wait then wait then the unwilling reply All right Flodie walked back to the office frowning and sat down at her desk A leaf from the calendar pad was ripped off the desk top was dusted with a cloth then she stopped suddenly The elevator door had banged Almost immediately there entered to her the sad young Janitor Mr Alfred Alfred Alfred Al Al- fred Smallish He gave a pathetic hopeless look at Flodie and hung at anchor in the doorway meekly Morning Miss Fisher he said and grinned Flodie gave a a glance at him casually casual casual- ly then gazed with more interest Pate Pale bl blue e eyes a large Roman nose ears and a quivering mouth had Alfred His chin was was was' that of ot a lizard sloping ba back k weakly to a prominent prominent prom pron Adams Adam's apple She Bhe fumbled over the photographs on the table behind her Alfred she said in the voice of a school maam ma'am did you see a a. a picture of me I had here on the table the he other day He Ho tn turned ed fire You you you didn't want that picture did you Miss Fisher Fish Fish- er His eyes Implored her wildly vainly Well Ill I'll bring it back If it you say so 60 only I thought maybe maybe- maybe Well VeIl Alfred Smallish I like that Flodie ejaculated Oh Miss Fisher you Fisher you see well I didn't quite dare to ask you and well and well you ou know I thought thought Its Its It's just grand of J you Miss Fisher Fis i. er-i. Id I'd think th the world orld of ot it and and couldn't couldn't you poe possibly pos pos- sibly sibly- sibly enough Alfred I dont don't dare to discuss it You just walk that picture back Immediately Flodie's voice was sharp but well Flodie couldn't help pitying him She weakened Perhaps Ill I'll give you one sometime Ill I'll see Mr Smallish beamed with pleasure but he had bad a talent for blunders Some folks mightn't think you was pretty Miss Fisher but I think think- think Flodie whipped out her ber watch Gracious sakes she cried wheres Mr eggs Ill Til go down and see if It they're ready Miss Fisher H He turned Dy Hy Well hurry up then If It his breakfast breakfast break break- fast isn't here when he be comes hes he's liable to eat tho the tablecloth and go right back to bed Quick now Mr Smallish left In de de- Flodie walk walked d swiftly into the studio and knocked again at her employers employer's employers employer's employers employer's em em- door Mr Are you ready for lor breakfast r she called Floddie's tone had changed decided as as' it was It had bad softened it was almost almost al ai- al- al most musical Her face had changed also She stood as It if a awaiting waiting a vision F were heard in Halls Hall's i iF s bedroom bed bed- room room- Now there are two kinds of men those these who are re shocked even ven unto mortification by being belg discovered In Inthe Inthe Inthe the act of shaving and those who take a malicious delight in their outrageous condition Hall opened the thedoor thedoor thedoor door and protruded his face tace shamelessly grinning Even disheveled as he was at pres press scandalously tousled and bedaubed bedaubed bedaubed be be- ent daubed with soapsuds his smile was disarming Flodie's adoration of ol him though of t the maternal order did not lessen her ner er firmness Do you realize how much youve you've got to do today Mr Air- Bon Don N Nothing to do but wor work k b he be e Clan chanted chant chant- I t ed gaily You Vou have an appointment at ten know how you always always al al- o and o'clock-and 1 oc and k-and you ways poke over that old b breakfast rea kt as t I S Speaking of ot which wherefore not o ob 1 Joyously chucked her er under under un un- hero here b cro Ho d der r the chin Flodie loved It but dared not ot show show by the time time- you youre you're re fit in into It'll be bo here wash that face race of to HO b be e 5 Keen een seen You and S burry hurry up P with It you bi big g r J 19 baby yours you I Ive I've got 60 too much to do dor talk to you myself to m assistant I 1 must oh fair right All r disappeared awl ani l' l Flodie obey obey obey- Hall tack hack to tho the office once Opening the tho letter box on the door she took out a dozen or so envelopes One set she inspected critically they critically they were all In feminine handwriting handwriting- and then unwillingly rather laid them aside The others she tore briskly open each received a n. keen shrewd look They were filed or thrown away Little and whimsical and odd Fl Flo Flom 1 dies die's appearance had something of the humor of a 11 puppy the sad wisdom of ot ofa ofa ota a monkey The combination made her face pathetic Crinkly colorless hair and hazel eyes had Flodie Her fin fine regular teeth were her best asset and when she smiled her main relief from plainness ss Fro From her costume which was careless to her gestures which were queer Flodie Fisher was an original inal She had charm and magnetism Whether she made one laugh or weep eccentric little Flodie was was was' distinctly lovable Mr Smallish now reappeared with a loaded breakfast tray Put him on that table In the studio studio stu stu- studio dio dio Flodie commanded Have those giddy green garlands garlands' come for tonight 1 she asked Why yes they're out in the hall Miss Fisher What time does the party begin One minute past ten Will there thero be many here Miss Fisher Oh I dont don't know Alfred Allred about twenty I suppose suppose men men ladies and women Especially women They dont don't usually refuse Mr studio invitations I notice Therell There'll be too many anyway There wont won't be behalf behalf behall half hall of em come till the theaters are over though Weve We've invited a squad of actresses Alfred stopped d his arms loaded with garlands What t real ones No o only ly ripe half I guess Not rot nearly so real as the tho other women who'll be here anyway There are more good actresses of off the stage than on Alfred It'll be good as a play for tor me Alfred gazed longingly from the threshold his eyes afire Say Miss Fisher are you going to be dressed dresse up like you was thelast the last time She dropped dropp d a f fantastic courtesy Precisely the same Alfred Altred our good old friend Crepe Crep de Chine Chin Now v you gallop along with those evergreens before before before be be- fore your eyes drop out Mr Smallish Smallish Small Small- ish Alfred left with the love light un- un extinguished Flodie went into the studio and pounded at the chamber door again Mr Hurr Hurry up Your I Pounded at the Chamber Door Again breakfast is awfully l impatient Come along That old coffee Is swearing already Hall opened the door grinning And I suppose t those ose eggs are feeling rotten about it iJ he be offered Jauntily Flodie giggled delightedly and hovered hov ered over the tho table giving it a few final touches Hall was attired In a purple gown dressing-gown too evidently the gift girt of a loving tasteless female He showed himself now as really handsome even to that cleft eleCt chin which women seem to fancy raney and most right minded right minded men to loathe On his face faco was the touch of humor carelessly carelessly carelessly care care- lessly joyous rather than in Intellectual and with his artistic temperament It was easy enough to account for or his hili po popularity laritY with women popularity that gave him a n. spoiled air was not offensive and enabled him to do much forbidden to ta other men Always ex excepting excepting poor Flodie who hugged a pre precious ious secret to her breast women It might be added liked rather than loved him The obvious proof might He Ho In tho the fact that at twenty seven Hall had bad not yet been entangled Ina in ina ina a serious affair of the heart He considered considered considered con con- that he knew too much about I women to be seduced from Crom his amus amus- f ring ing occupation of merely study them As to that if one had bad asked Flodie she would have smiled and changed the subject Least of ot all perhaps 1 i H the truth were told did he know the fond adorer who had voluntarily made herself hersell his slave slavo He saw and took advantage of ot her cleverness and zeal thor flor attractive oddity refreshed him but to her deep seriousness and the the reserves of ot her temperament he wa war totally blind bUnd Flodie sat watching his long s slender slen slender en ender der hands engaged gracefully with fork and spoon But much as she loved to watch him her conscience made her too uncomfortable n Reluctantly sh shit she sheI I withdrew her eager eyes I Well she sighed now for business bushness bush busi ness I She read aloud from the book At Atten Atten Atten ten o'clock Mrs Irs Rena Royalton Royalton- She looked up And you wont won't be behalf behalf behalf half ready Ill I'll have to entertain her her and and you OU know how I hate that woman I Can you name one woman Flodie Fisher whom you OU do not hate No I cant They're all cats Cats and rats and hens and snakes and parrots But that's no reason for keeping them waiting Flodie ran her finger down the page Lets see see see- ten ten- thirty ten l Miss Dallys Oh no I for forgot got You took her yesterday certain a fine girl Hall Han murmured dreamily lighting a cigarette cigarette ciga ciga- rette and and watching his assistant amusedly Carolyn Flodie fairly spit it out Since how long Ever since I neglected to pay my dinner call on her Flodie I had to todo todo todo do something to soothe her ruffled milled feelings so feelings so I began to call her Caro Caro- lyn What's the Inevitable result She's Stes Invited me for next Wednesday again People always invite you again if you are rude enough Flodie You must hav been pretty rude 1 to Mrs l Royalton then by the way she runs after you Why she fairly clucks like a hen Oh Mrs Royalton Ah there I have have another method She's one of ot those women you you cant can't possibly insult in in- sult Hall smiled with superiority Renas got to the age you know when she prefers to be flattered Dont all women like lUte it Flodie d demanded No Youre You're too young Flodie You You want compliments Hall was triumphant trum It depends upon how you do doit doit doit it you know R Rena na wants it laid on thick A woman doesn't demand subtlety Flodie after she gets to the the- thirty Thirty five Mrs Royalton Is thirty- thirty eight if it she's a day By the way how old are you Flodie Flodie Flodie Flo- Flo die I forget Me Why Im I'm only twenty one Hall laughed Plus five m makes kes twenty six she Im not she protested protested but but it was vias no use He laughed at her till she flushed red and sought refuge In a bundle of bills Theres a Please remit remit remit re re- re- re mit from the Supply Photo-Supply company she announced looking up What shall I do Oh answer Necessity forbids Hall shrugged his shoulders Why Mr dont don't you real real- ize that that weve we've simply got got to pay pay that bill pretty soon or they wont won't send us any more stuff Oh its it's all very well for tor you to sit there in a red silk dressing gown and laugh and make aristocratic jokes aristocratic jokes But I have to take all the kicks and stand off the collectors collectors collectors col col- col- col lectors Hall applauded gracefully Say Flodie youve you've got your war boots on today haven't you What's the particular particular par par- matter The uThe matter Flodie looked down on him as from a mountain Wheres the re rent t coming from Id I'd like f to know f your cigarette smoke Yes you c can can smile and twist that silly mustache all you want but th that t wont won't pay for tor hypo Do you imagine we can run this business on epigrams and funny gestures No sir Mr Boni stelle stelle-Flodie stelle Flodie shook his shoulder shoulder- youve simply got to wake up and make a whole load of ot money quick He rose and yawned artistically Lord I know it Think of a Boni- Boni stelle having to work for his living Isn't that grotesque Why for all I know I may be a millionaire this very verj minute Fancy Flodie a Flodie-a a millionaire Say Say Flodie Flodie grew serious When are they ever going to find out about that old will anyway I wish to to heaven I knew If It John B. B had been anyone else's un uncle le he would have filed flIed his will with his attorneys and his nephew would be driving a sixty horsepower car by this this time Jut But being mine of ot course he lie has to hide the confounded document where it wont won't be found round till the estate is settled Ive I've been on pins and needles ever since he be died Well of ot course hell he'll leave you something You'll get a booby consolation consolation consolation consola consola- tion prize anyway He cant can't cut you ou out t en entirely TO B BE CONTINUED |
