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Show BEAVER PRESS j TTDncE EFcDunirtlDQ ELdDwcElly aiauy SYNOPSIS J Following the wedding of her niece, she has financed, Matilda Smith Lovely ("Smlf," by her own ln slstence), youngest and physically the weightiest of the four Lovely sisters, finds herself In decidedly straitened circumstances, but has her own plans for the future, which sh refuses to divulge to her sisters, prominent figures In New York society. The historic Lovely estate, Lovelylea, In Virginia, la owned by Smif's brother, Bill-Leitho lives in Chile. Smif's dearest wish 1h to own Lovelylea. It is rented to a Mr. Johnstone Nesblt. Under the name "Madame Saltou" Smlf establishes herself as a "Little Sister of the Rich," a consultant. The business promises to be remunerative, but the other Lovely sisters are horrified at her becoming what they term an "adventuress." Smlf has a client, a man who desires to evade the loverlike pursuit of an extraordinary stout lady, his neighbor, whom he refers to as Mercy. 1C Intra, which e, CHAPTER IV Continued , V Tet for all the boy's warning, the wom- an who entered while he lingered nt the threshold to observe the effect Bhe produced, transcended anything Smlf had imagined. "This Is a fabulous creature," Smlf by design thought, "a fantastic Hokusal, 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 Saltou?" Smlf bowed an assent. Never, she told herself, had she seen so many dimples; dimpled chin, dlnjpled wrists, dimpled knuckles. "I am surprised. You see my friend told me you were so reliable, I expected some one much older." There was no answer to this, and she went on: "My name Is Smlf stopped her with a swiftly raised hand. "I do not require the names of my consultants," she said. "It frequently eases embarrassment to remain anonymous." "How discreet," the stranger smiled, disclosing two more dimples. "In my case It Is not necessary. My name Is Martha Washington Mercedes Miss Martha Washington Mercedes. My friends call me Mercy." Smlf accepted this Information graciously. As nothing more was forth"There Is coming, she suggested: eomethlng you fancy I can do for your At once the round blue eyes In the round baby face opposite her filled with tears. "I suppose It 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 a 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 a cloud had burst, the tears became a flood. ("Cries easily," Smlf registered mentally. "I wonder how much her feelings really amount to?") The next moment she called herself for Mercy raised streaming 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 absolutely unique. Nor should I call It hopeless." "I'm afraid you will when you hear all about It," Miss Mercedes sniffed. "I'm desperate. Johnny absolutely hates all fat women. I've put on a little weight lately and since then he certainly avoids me. There's no mishard-hearte- taking that" little weight only a matter of weight, why not reduce?" "What else could itbe?" Miss Mercedes" round eyes grew rounder with astonishment, and she forgot to cry. "Perhaps It is lacking In delicacy to boast of It, but I assure you, Madame Saltou, no girl In the whole state had more admirers than I." "You should never have allowed yourself to grow so large." Mercy pouted as if she were a chidden child. "I've such a wonderful cook," she murmured with a guilty look. "Discharge her." "Oh, I couldn't do that. My dinners are celebrated." "Then don't eat them." "In tfTat case Luclnda would leave of her own accord. She has often told me that she wouldn't stay with a lady who didn't appreciate her food. Anyway, I've a tiny appetite. It can't be what I eat that makes me fat. Really, J take only enough to keep my strength up. Emotional as I am, and nnder ucb a fearful strain, I need nourishYou do see that Madame ment. fialtou?" "Ilm," Smlf pondered the point. I'lain to her was the fact that Miss Mercedes was a gourmet and probably a glutton. "In that case the only thing to do Is to keep Luclnda nnd you apart for a time." "You mean that I ought to stay here and reduce? And not see Johnny fur ages? How could I bear It? Oh, Madame Saltou, Is that all you can think of to help me?" "It may not be all I can think of A "If It's 1 o at least It's the most obvious remedy, Isn't It?" Smlf smiled. "If the gentleman preferred you as you were before, it would seem only to be necessary now to remake yourself more nearly to his heart's desire." Miss Mercedes' tears stopped. "How beautifully you do say things," she beamed. "I must 'remake' myself 'more nearly to his heart's desire? I think that's very lovely." Since time was pressing, It did not seem worth while to point out that Fitzgerald had done more Justice to Smlf began to Omar's thought. sum up: "As I understand your case, the only obstacle between you and your lover Is your size. What Is called for Is on your part. I should not think of advising either diet or treatment. The most I should be willing to do is' to suggest a physician who to my knowledge has been successful in similar cases." Miss Mercedes now exhibited an unsuspected trace of native shrewdness. "If you don't mind my asking, have you gone to him yourself?" As Smlf could read In her face that, If she had, her visitor did not think highly of the result, she permitted herself a broad grin. "No, I've never taken any treatment. I can't afford to. My time is too valuable." "Hm," said Miss Mercedes speculatively. "If you wish me to do so, I'll call the doctor this afternoon and speak about the case. If he says he can help you, I'll make an appointment for you and It will then be possible for you to decide for yourself whether It Is worth while to begin his treatments." "Hm," said Miss Mercedes again, "I've got a better Idea than that." "You have?" said Smif. "I have an Idea that's nothing short of an Inspiration," Miss Mercedes began firmly. "I only hope you'll agree to It." Smlf waited expectantly and she went on: "You see, money's practically no object to me. I've plenty of my own, and for the last four years I've not begun to spend my Income. Then Johnny's simply rolling. If I marry him I never mean to consider the price of anything again as long as I live. So, looking at this as a business proposition, It will pay me to find out what this treatment Is worth before I try it on myself." "And how do you propose to do that?" Smif Inquired, although she already had an Inkling of what was agitating Miss Mercedes' shrewd mind. "What is your idea?" "To try It on you," Miss Mercedes answered simply. For a minute Smif was Inclined to refuse to consider this proposal. Vaguely she felt Insulted by It, though where the Insult lay she could not say. Then she relaxed. "In other words, you want a whipping boy. Well, I believe that was formerly regarded as an honorable post. What Is your suggestion for the arrangement to be made between us? And have you taken Into consideration the fact that the causes of our too, too solid flesh may be totally different?" "If I find him successful with you. It will give me confidence that he will be with me, too." Smif's opinion of Mercy's common sense, which had been low, was rising with every word she said now that the subject of her love affair was left In the background. "As to the remuneration, I should feel that you ought to be satisfied If I paid your doctor's bills." "Sorry," said Smif briefly, "we'll let the matter drop. I do not find myself Interested In your proposition. Suppose I give you Doctor Blanton's ad dress and you can make arrangements with him or not as best suits you? Any good man would probably do as well for you, but I happen to have confidence In him." "You think there Is no other course open to me? What about mental science of some sort? Absent treatment? The power of mind over matter? I must do something. I'd go through anything for Johnny's sake; It's only that I've made up my mind I want to see the result of treatment given some one else before I submit to It." Mercy whimpered, yet It was evident that with her a mind made up was a mind made up once and for all time, and Smlf was becoming bored. "Really, Miss Mercedes," she began, "I do not believe that you should have any difficulty In finding some one who would accept an offer such as you suggested If you added a small fee. I cannot help you there." "Why won't you do It?" Feeling herself dismissed the lady began slowly to work her fat hands Into gloves several sires too small for her. "Because I am a business woman whose time has a very definite value. Moreover, I am by no means sure my size Is not an asset In my business. There Is something about It that Inspires confidence. I might be making a mistiike to reduce. At all events It would require a large bribe to Induce me to run the risk." "Very well," Miss Mercedes ejncu lated In trembling tones, giving way with surprising suddenness. "You shall name your price." "Nor shall I undertake It except under a written agreement," Smif self-deni- o o (. The warned her, recognizing her client's "I was sure you hadn't" Johnny revacillating dispositloa "I shajl expect joined. ten thousand dollars. Moreover, to be "How could you be certain I would fair to both of us, payment must be say nothing about Miss Mercedes? I half In advance, half at the terminathought she was your excuse for comtion of Doctor Blanton's treatments. ing here." Smif was disturbed. She That Is, when he has reduced me to preferred playing with people to havwhat he decides to be a normal weight." ing them play with her. "How do I know that will make Her guest beamed at her. "Any you slim enough? I want to be really excuse that brings me here Is good Miss slender; girlish, you know." enough for me." Mercedes was plainly wabbling again. This was sheer frivolity. Smif "I can't guarantee that," Smif repounded on the arm of her chair In exturned calmly. "I refuse to take off a asperation. "Listen to me, I Insist that you remember that I am a busipound more than Doctor Blanton regards as safe. Really, Miss Mercedes, ness woman engaged in a serious busidon't you think you are wasting time? ness enterprise." What you require is some one more "And I'm one of your customers," tractable than I also cheaper," she Johnny said soothingly. "You can't added with a hint of contempt; for, get away from that I engaged you to after all, Smlf was a Lovely with a keep me from being married by Lovely's disregard for money, when Mercy." she had it. And Miss Mercedes sensed "You didn't engage me to do that, this, growing more eager the moment because I should have refused such an she feared Smlf was Inclined to draw engagement. I said I would see If I back. thought I could help you. Well, if "I'll sign your agreement," she anthat's the only help you want, I can't nounced. "I'll pay anything in reason. and I won't, so there!" Please have the paper made ready and "I never believed that you'd go back I will make you out a check. It's a on a bargain." "So far as that goes I haven't. You proof of my love for Johnny," she added, her voice trembling. "And I look acknowledged that you are fond of her. on It as an Investment," she ended, You said that if she were not so fat her practicality again to the fore. you wouldn't mind " So said, so done, and Miss Mercedes "That was my fatal desire to palm wended her weighty way toward the myself off on you as a gentleman. elevator. D n it all, I won't marry her and have to sit opposite her watching her CHAPTER V gobble Luclnda's glorious food day after day. Just tell me this, is that Smif looked forward with an amount mammoth planning to reduce? Is that of interest that she found surprising what you're driving at?" to her approaching interview with the "She Isn't yet, not until I've shown person she still designated to herself her that it is possible." And then this astonishing man asas the gunman. On his behalf she was tonished her again. tempted to order a mere substantial "But you aren't fat," said he. luncheon ; yet, after all, why should Smif regarded him with Incredulous she? She had not invited this guest. Three wonder gradually merging into belief. Finally she compromised. sandwiches and an apple were to be The man actually appeared to mean It. "Never say again that you aren't a brought to her as usual, while Buttons "I Don't Pretend to Be a Gentleman. You Didn't Think Did You?" was told to hold a larger supply In reserve. The man arrived promptly and ushered himself out to the lounge without ceremony. Plainly ceremony was one of the superfluities he had banished from his scheme of existence. Buttons followed with a small plate of sandwiches, regarded by the gunman with extreme disfavor. "Are those a Joke?" he demanded before he saw the twinkle In Smif's eyes, after which the rest of the banquet was quickly forthcoming. "Well, why don't you talk?" he asked, doing full Justice to the sandwiches the while. "I was meditating on the inequalities and injustices of this world. If a tithe of what you do, I consumed the only scales I could be weighed on would be a hay scales; and I suppose the same Is true of Miss Mercedes." "Don't fool yourself or let her fool yon. Luclnda's best customer Is her mistress. And Luclnda's an artist." "So I was given to understand," Smlf said dryly. "I Judge that If Luclnda's masterpiece were less tempting Miss Mercedes might be less colossal." "What you'd like to say Is, if Miss Mercedes were not such a pig Miss Mercedes might be less colossal." "Really," said Smlf. lifting her eyebrows and with difficulty restraining her laughter, this man with the emerald horseshoe was, after all, so like a rather naughty little boy, "that Is not the way a gentleman should talk ' about a lady, Is It? "I can't see that" He compressed his lips stubbornly. "If a lady acts like a pig, I think a man should be free to mention It; Judicially and you understand. without Hut then what should I know about It? I don't pretend to be a gentle man. You didn't think I was one, did . you?" "Hear me. no!" Smif nnswered. "I nud It on good authority that you were Don't yon want to hear a gunman. of my Interview with Miss Mercedes?-- ' "Not particularly." "And that is Just as well," she told nim crushingly, "because I have no Intention of telling you anything." I Was One, gentleman," she remarked at last. "The first requisite Is to be able to lie magnificently and spontaneously. 1 congratulate you." "I don't mean you aren't big," Johnny began to explain laboriously, apparently quite uninterested In her view of the most essential qualification for a gentleman. "When I say fat I refer to something soft and boneless, a shape of blanc mange that hasn't quite solidified in fact, Mercy! You can't be fat, because I like you, and I simply hate fat people. I always have." Giving this knock-dowargument time to sink In, he went on with his sandwich. Having finished the first half, he resumed: "And that Isn't the only reason I like you, either. I liked you from the first moment I saw you. You reminded me at once of my This compliment was more than Smlf had expected. She broke Into a peal of Irrepressible laughter, laughing until tears stood In her eyes. Johnny never smiled. Smlf gurgled: "I've been compared to Kwan-YIn- , to the Sphinx, to the Buddha at Kamakunt, but never, never before to anybody's great grand- mother." "It's a great compliment," said Johnny; "I hoped you'd appreciate It" "1 know It Is. It Is unique. In fact It has gone to my head," Smlf gasped, keeping right on laughing because she was unable to stop. "You're a very trying girl," the gunman declared severely. This was too personal for his hostess. "I am Madame Saltou," she bristled. "Pooh !" said Johnny "That's Just a business name It doesn't mean a single thing" "You know nothing about It " "Oh, yes, I do I tipped Buttons a dollar and asked dim If you were married. Thank God, I'm no gentleman! Thnt's saved you the troulile of saying It." "Well then," said Smlf, "It's true What Is It?" Buttons stood enough. apologetically In the doorway, "They's a lady here, Madame, Mrs. Bobbs-Merrl- t BT DOROTHY BARNES W msy irnniEEniiEsiE msiEMrsoM VTSV Service Lock-Ou- rill RjlPVlna TT REALLY wasn't Anne's fault It A was the wind's fault or John's Company.) Stannard. She says she's your sister and insists she must see you." Smif was In no mood for argument with Lucy. "Tell Mrs. Stannard that I have not a moment to give her now but that I am to meet Mrs. Carter at Pierre's and shall be very glad If she will have tea with us there at five." Buttons saluted and took his departure. She turned back to Johnny to find him pointing a finger at her accusingly. "Mrs. Carter Mrs. Stannard" ha stammered your sisters. "they're Then you must be the youngest of the family. Matilda Lovely." "Correct enough, although I don't publish my pedigree on my business card." She was ruffled, as her next remark betrayed. "I am curious to know how you came to ferret it out." "I didn't ferret It out!" Natural resentment colored his voice. "I didn't have to. You didn't take the family Bible with you when you left Lovelylea. You're all down in it, and when I saw a marriage in the paper I filled the date In after the name. It seemed to me a friendly thing to keep the record up for your brother in case he came back. Not that I want him to come back. Now that I've been there " so long I mean to buy Lovelylea A light had broken over Smif's face only to darken again. "You're Johnstone Nesblt!" she ex- ... claimed. He nodded. "The tenant of Lovelylea, and as you must have heard a hundred times, no gentleman." Silence fell between them. Lovelylea ! In her mind Smlf had traveled back many years. She was a child again. The heavy brown book with gold lines on Its leather cover was on the largest of a nest of lac- quer tables that stood between two The Bible, far too large for her to handle, always lay in Its accustomed place. She had, from her earliest recollection, admired It. She was roused from her reverie by Johnny. He leaped to his feet and began searching about wildly for his hat and coat "I'd better go," he muttered. "I needn't tell you I wouldn't have come If I'd known who you are. I don't I apologize, because I didn't know. didn't know, I tell you. I wasn't trying to push myself in under false pretenses." "I never thought you were," Smil managed to interject. "You did !" he accused her stubbornly. "I watched you trying to think how to get rid of me. You don't have to try. I'll take myself off. But never think it wasn't true. I did like you. You are exactly like my And I was so lonely." "So lonely." No more was needed. Those words were the open sesame to Smifs sympathy. He had found his coat and was struggling Into It when Smlf Jumped up and took It away from him. "If you'll kindly tell me what you're making all this fuss about, I'll be a to you," she said in a tone of exasperation. Johnstone Nesblt, as if unnble to trust his ears, took one look at her face then dropped heavily into a chair and, setting his elbows on his knees, rested his head on his hands and stared down at the floor. "It's a long story and after all these years I'm a fool to care, I suppose, but I still do," he confessed. "I was so lonely!" That was the tune wherewith to play on Smifs heartstrings, and she had heard tragedy in it Just now. She felt that she did not dare to let Johnstone Nesblt leave her until she hnd gone to the root of his troubles, yet her every minute was fully engaged In advance and some rearrangement would be necessary. While she was considering how best to effect this, Buttons further complicated matters by announcing that Mrs. Phelps was there accompanied by another lady. This probably meant a new and rich client, and any claim on her coming from Susan could not be Ignored. windows. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Copyright Law Provides Means of Registration The United States government guarantees no one against the theft of his Ideas or the unauthorized use of his material. The copyright law simply provides a means of registration and a basis whereby the holder of a copyright may go Into court to protect his Inrights If he feels they have been to which extent The upon. fringed two articles, or songs, or books or pictures or plays or films may resemble each other; and questions as to whether there has been plagiarism, and if so, what Is due the damaged party, are matters for the courts to decide. Two persons may offer similar, or even Identical matter to the copyright It office, and It will register both. makes no investigation and passes nr. Judgment as to whether there has or infringement. heen plagiarism These, too, are points for a court to pass upon If the holder of the prior copyright chooses to bring suit. sister's fault or the puppy's fault But not Anne's. To begin with, Anne and John had chosen Green Nook cottage because, it was In such a secluded position. Anne wasn't afraid. There were no tramps. Besides, there was the friendly collie puppy. And Green Nook cottage was the prettiest place Anne had ever dreamed of owning. It was on a little spur of cliff that reached out into the ocean. The winds were so tem- pered that trees grew protectlngly around the little house. And trees and ocean were combined to make a really beautiful outlook. Of course, If you turned the other And you way, you saw the road. knew that, a mile along that road, there was quite a little settlement of cottages. John and Anne settled for their first summer of marriage at Green Nook After they had been at the cottage. cottage for a few weeks, John's older sister Prudence, wrote that she would like to come visit them. "Never mind, Anne," John had said. "Pru isn't so bad as she sounds. Of course she's rich. And she's had so much money for so long that she forgets It Isn't convenient for other people, perhaps, to drop everything and entertain her whenever she wants. But she's not so bad." So Prudence was coming to visit With her husband, and two sons of fourteen or fifteen. And Anne had spent a busy day getting ready for them. The two rooms for Pru and her family were all In order excepting that the pillows needed pillow slips. The living room was in perfect order excepting that the dust mop and dust pan leaned against the chimney, for a last after dust. The dining room table was set but Anne's Italian lace and linen napkins were even now piled on the ironing board in the kitchen, where the electric iron was heating, to be pressed into run-aroun- d Dinner was sparkling smoothness. under way. Floating out the kitchen windows came tantalizing odors, even now, of this and that cooking on the stove and In the oven. And now Anne was locked out. To get through the rest of the matter quickly, Anne had suddenly discovered that the cream was not as fresh as It should be and had decided to run down to the nearest village for more. She had given a quick mental look around and realized that everything was good tor twenty minutes. Then she had rushed out the front A door and the door had slammed. perverse gust of wind had done the trick. The windows were all screened, with screens that hooked In on the Anne decided she would go Inside. for the creajn and think of a way to If she couldn't get in on her trip. think of a way, she'd get help. But when she reached her car, she realized that her keys were In her handbag. And that's where the dog came In. She had left her handbag on the porch, but the dog had dragged it within doors. He liked to chew leather handbags. Anne walked around and around the house, peeking In the windows, taking stock of things. The collie pup chew contentedly on her handbag In the living room, and each time she circled past the kitchen door the pots and pans steamed a little more tantallzlngly the fact that soon one of them might go dry. Everything seemed to mock at Anne. Minutes had passed perhaps half an hour. Finally Anne started to walk for help. She didn't know Just what sort of help she was going for. Perhaps Just a strong knife to cut out a hole In one of the screens. Perhaps a locksmith with a master key only of course there wouldn't be one within miles. But anyway Anne, still dressed in a pink gingham house frock, started to walk for help. An then the wayward breeze, that had so unobllglngly closed her front door, played her a pleasant trick. Turning, It suddenly brought her the sound of an approaching automobile. And John's automobile, at that None but his could make such a chuckling, coughing sound and still progress; John's automobile had seen better days. But It went, and with Anne's for her use and their use together, It did quite well enough until the cottage was paid for. The breeze shifted again, and waited for several minutes before she had further news of John. Then she saw his car round a bend In the road not far away. In a few more minutes, they were back at the cottage door, Anne's troubles explained. She bounded from the car the minute It stopped. "You dash back to the And village for some cream,' John. Just give me fifteen minutes Just fifteen minutes and everything will be perfect. Hurry and open this door. I can smell something almost boiling dry !" Anne put her hand on the knob of the front door In her Impatience. It turned.. She looked sheepishly at John hurrying after her with his key. "The latch was off," she said. "Well Just give me twelve minutes, aud I'll have this place ready!" |