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Show Hction INA'S REVENGE dH"w, Richard H. Wilkinson Corner "T'M GOING TO GET EVEN with that man if it's the last thing I do!" Ina Carlton's eyes were blazing, cheeks flushed. "I presume," said Marlene Dale, "that you refer to Boylston's famous bachelor, Phil Bacon?" "You know very well whom I mean! You were there. You saw him snub me! Right in front of all those other girls! Oh, I can still see their hideous, laughing faces!" Marlene sat down on the edge of the divan. "You're a little idiot to act this way, Ina. And you're not playing fair with I I Phil. He didn't 3 "MinutB snub you. He Fiction merely treated I you as he does all the other girls in town. We all like him, we'd all like to know him better. The fact that he's trying to stay a bachelor until he gets his real estate business built up, doesn't justify your anger." This from her best friend, was small consolation. Ina began to scheme for revenge. Secretly she loved Phil Bacon. Phil smiled. "I'll get in touch with my prospect today." And, he looked deep into her eyes, "I'm mighty grateful to you for this opportunity, op-portunity, Miss Carlton." "I'm glad," said Ina, "of the opportunity op-portunity to help you." TNA LEFT the real estate office and went in-search of Marlene. She felt the need of congenial company. com-pany. But Marlene wasn't home, and so she strolled out on the Men-don Men-don road. Her thoughts were disturbed. dis-turbed. The seriousness of what she had done, now that her anger had cooled, began to develop in her mind. After all, she thought, it was only her own selfishness that prompted the idea. By the time she had reached the old colonial house, Ina had about made up her mind to swallow her pride and confess to Phil. She shuddered at the thought, and then suddenly her heart ceased beating. Phil's roadster was in the drive. Moreover, there was Phil himself talking with a stranger in the front yard. Ina ran up the drive. Phil turned at sound of her cry, left his companion com-panion and came to meet her. "Phil Mr. Bacon! Don't let him buy! Don't! You'll be arrested." She was breathless. "I wanted to get revenge because you snubbed me, so I I " Phil stared at her. "I don't believe be-lieve I understand." "Don't you see! Father doesn't own this place! I merely said he did so you'd sell it and get in trouble with the real owner. It was a mean, silly trick. I'm sorry." Phil's features relaxed. "Why, I'm glad you told me, Ina Miss Carlton. And about that snubbing, too. I really wanted to know you better; but well, it didn't seem possible pos-sible that such a pretty girl would be Interested in me." "But but then you haven't sold the house?" "Well, not exactly. I bought it myself a week ago. That man you see up there is my architect. I was explaining to him some changes I wanted made." An idea came abruptly. It took form slowly, but by the time she had reached home, she had formed a definite plan. Early the next morning Ina entered en-tered the office of Phil Bacon & Co. Phil, good looking, friendly, greeted his visitor warmly, though with a certain reserve. "Good morning," said Ina brightly. bright-ly. "I'm Ina Carlton. Perhaps you remember that we were introduced two days ago at Mrs. Whipple's party. "Indeed I do remember, Miss "Don't you see? Father doesn't own this place! . . . It was a mean, silly trick, I'm sorry." Carlton. Is there anything I can do?" His business-like tones were discouraging. dis-couraging. "Yes, there is. You see, we have a piece of property an old house out on the Mendon road. Last night father decided to dispose of it and asked me to drop in and see you about the matter." Phil's eyes shone. "Miss Carlton, I believe I can dispose of that property prop-erty for you within two days. A man was in here yesterday and asked about it. Do you think $10,000 would suit your father?" ."1 th'nk." said Ina, "tht would be tine." |