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THERESE
BENSON /
THE STORY
CHAPTER I.—Following the splen
did wedding of her niece, Clntra, to
Lord Leister, which she has financed.
Matilda Smith Lovely (‘■Smif," by her
own Insistence), youngest and phys-
Ically the weightiest of the four Love
ly sisters, finds herself in decidedly
straitened circumstances. She has her
Own plans for the future, however,
which she refuses to divulge to her
sisters, prominent figures in New York
society.
CHAPTER ll.—The historic Lovely
estate, Lovelylea, In Virginia, is owned
by Smif's brother, Bill-Lee, but, finan
cially unable to maintain his position
there “as a Lovely should,” he is liv
ing in Chile, while the estate Is rent
ed to a Mr. Johnstone Nesbit. Smif’s
dearest wish Is to own Lovelylea, to
■which she feels sure her brother will
not return.
CHAPTER 111.- -Under the name
“Madame Saltou" Smif establishes her
self as a “Little Sister of the Rich,"
a consultant. The business promises to
be remunerative, but there is con
sternation among the other Lovely
sisters, in the idea that one of the
family should, as one tartly expresses
it, become an “adventuress.”
[‘am said nothing. The girl had a
gift of silence. It flashed across Smif’s
mind that there would be something
ponderous In her resistance if she
were In opposition to you, and she
went on, her words carefully cal
culated: “Take the English crowd
that Leister brought over. I should
say that you were more popular with
them than any of the bridesmaids ex
cept possibly Eve Goodhue. And Eve
is always hors concours.”
"She has had a wonderful life,” Pam
said. “I don’t know a girl I envy
more. I don’t mean her looks, I mean
the fact that Eve comes to all things
with a real gusto. We poor rich kids
were given sports as tasks. We were
taught to skate, we were taught to
dive, were taught to play golf and
tennis. We had professionaTinstruct
ors in everything. We Americans cer
tainly are h—l on education.” She
ended with a sincere heartiness that
would have amazed her mother. "And
now,” she went on, Tm expected to
go to England and be taught how to
manage my court train, how to curtsy
to royalty, how to get out of a room
siM fell
Oil
“I Simply Won’t Do It, Smiffy. I
Won’t Be Accused of Chasing After
a Title.”
backward, how to address the nobility
and gentry. I simply won’t do it,
Smiffy. I won’t be accused of chasing
after a title."
“No one would ac —”
“Yes, they would.” She caught the
words out of Smif's mouth Impatient
ly. “Once I went over, it couldn’t
be escaped. If I married there, they'd
say I’d made my catch. If I didn’t,
they'd make fun of me because I’d
tried and failed. Either way it would
be abominable. I’m not a lion hunter.
The most authentic British Hon Is safe
from pursuit by me. I've at least
made up my mind to that much, and
If you’ll break the fact to mother it
will be a help.”
Smif regarded the girl contempla
tively for a long moment.
"If I remember my history, America
whipped England once on this side of
■ for 1
BILIOUSNESS
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H CONSTIPATION U
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the ocean. I’d rather like to see what
we could do in the way of carrying
war into their own country—” Her
glance conveyed an interrogation and
the girl smilingly shook her head.
“Very well, then, although I don’t
promise Wyoming, I'm virtually cer
tain that Susan would discern a regu
lar he-man from the great open spaces
lurking there, no matter what you or
I could say to the contrary. But I’m
disappointed. I took particular notice
of one large British Hon that I thought
was destined to make a splendid Amer
ican door-mat.”
Pam’s silence was good-tempered but
absolute. At what cost to herself no
one would ever know, she had decided
to dismiss that subject for ever.
*•••••*
“There's a lady waiting for you,
ma'am. An eee-normous lady, not so
tall but awful wide.” Buttons was
standing in the outer lobby near the
elevator and there was more than a
hint of excitement in his voice. “Gee,
I betcha Tuffy Dorlan’ll say I’m a liar
when I tell him how big she is. I
betcha any coicus’d be glad to pay
her a pile of money—an’ If she’d on’y
get herself tattooed—” For a moment
he went into a trance, words failing
him at thought of the vast canvas
awaiting an artist.
“Have there been any cancellations
or telephone messages, Buttons?” Smif
had been surprised that no further
protests had followed Laura’s visit.
“No cancellations, Madame. Two
telephone calls. On your desk,
Madame.”
“Very good,” said Smif. “I will ring
when I want you.”
She found an urgent message from
Louise. Could she meet her for
luncheon? Anywhere at all that she
might suggest and any hour. Smif
chuckled, remembering that she had
a previous engagement to take lunch
with a man whose very name she did
not know. She told the maid who an
swered her ring that she was sorry she
would be unable to meet her sister
until five o’clock, when she would be
at Pierre's.
The second call asked her to ring up
a number that was not among those
noted in her telephone register. No
hurry about that. She dressed and
at length rang the number indiffer
ently. The first words spoken made
her sit stiffly erect.
“It’s Madame Saitou. Isn’t It? Rec
ognized your voice at once. I’ve sent
you a client. Be an angel and con
vince her that I'm worse luck for her
'han seeing one crow on a Friday
■rnlng. Don’t forget I’ll be with you
I for lunch. Pm saving my appetite.
Always had a passion for sandwiches.”
He hung up without giving her a
l chance for Inquiry or reply. She, too,
i however, had recognized a voice and
, It did not take great acuteness to fore
see that the large lady who had so ex-
I cited Buttons would prove to be the
Mercy of the merciless pursuit.
Sniff was now eager to look the
monster over for herself. She rang
for Buttons.
“Tell the strange lady that I can't
possibly see her for at least three
quarters of an hour.” she instructed
him. “I will fit her in if she will wait.
Otherwise it will be two days before
I can arrange for her. Saturday at ten
is the only vacant time.”
“Yes, Madame." Buttons made his
military salute, at once descending
from the official heights and low
ering his voice confidentially: “Betcha
she stays. Betcha she does. She’s
crazy to get a-hold of you.”
His prophecy proved true. When
the latest client was ushered out, the
stranger was still patiently sitting in
one of the little private rooms. At
once Smif told Buttons to escort her
to the lounge.
"Jus’ wait till you clap eyes on
her!" Buttons’ tone was important, as
if he took a personal pride in this ex
hibit. “She’s a corker. I’ll say I
I never saw her equal."
Yet for all the boy’s warning, the worn-
I an who entered while he lingered at
I the threshold to observe the effect she
• produced, transcended anything Smif
j had imagined.
■ “This is a fabulous creature.” Smif
! thought, “a fantastic design by
I Hokusai, a female hotel.” But she
' met the lady indifferently, as if she
l found her nothing out of the ordinary,
i and Buttons, disappointed, fled to his
j own post
“Madame Saitou?”
i Smif bowed an assent. Never, she
i told herself, had she seen so many
dimples: dimpled chin, dimpled wrists,
: dimpled knuckles.
“I am surprised. You see my friend
I told me you were so reliable, I ex
pected some one much older.” There
i was no answer to this, and she went
on : “My name is—”
Smif stopped her with a swiftly
raised hand.
“I do not require the names of my
I consultants.” she said. "It frequently
EARLY COUNTY NEWS, BLAKELY, GEORGIA
eases embarrassment to remain anony
mous.”
“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.”
Smif accepted this information gra
ciously. As nothing more was forth
coming, she suggested: “There is
something you fancy I can do for
you ?”
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.
("Orles easily,” Smif registered
mentally. “I wonder how much her
feelings really amount to?”)
The next moment she called herself
hard-hearted, for Mercy raised stream
ing 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 abso
lutely unique. Nor should I call it
hopeless.”
‘Tm 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 mis
taking that.”
A little weight!
“If it’s only a matter of weight, why
not reduce?”
“What else could It be?” Miss Mer
cedes’ 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
Saitou, 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 din
ners are celebrated.”
“Then don’t eat them.”
“In that case Lucinda 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. Any
way, I’ve a tiny appetite. It can’t be
what I eat that makes me fat. Really,
I take only enough to keep my strength
up. Emotional as I am, and under
such a fearful strain, I need nourish
ment. You do see that, Madame
Saitou ?”
“Hm,” Smif pondered the point.
Plain to her was the fact that Miss
Mercedes was a gourmet and probably
a glutton. “In that case the only
tiling to do is to keep Lucinda and you
apart for a time."
“You mean that I ought to stay here
and reduce? And not see Johnny for
ages?—How could I bear it? Oh.
Madame Saitou. is that all you can
think of to help me?”
“It may not be all I can think of—
at least it's the most obvious remedy,
isn’t it?” Smif smiled. “If the gen
tieman preferred you as you were be
fore, it would seem only to be neces
sary 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
Omar’s thought. Smif began to
sum up:
“As I understand your case, the
only obstacle between you and your
lover is your size. What is called for
is self-denial on your part. I should
not think of advising either diet or
treatment. The most I should be will
ing to do is to suggest a physician
who to my knowledge has been suc
cessful in similar cases.”
Miss Mercedes now exhibited an un
suspected trace of native shrewdness.
“If you don't mind my asking, have
you gone to him yourself?”
As Smif 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 snecu
|(
H tt i IL -JU hI
In an Instant She Was on Her Feet. “The Door Is Just Behind You."
latively.
“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 bis treatments.”
“Hm," said Miss Mercedes again,
“I’ve got a better idea than that.”
“You have?” said Smif.
•1 have an idea that’s nothing short
of an inspiration," Miss Mercedes be
gan firmly. “I only hope you’ll agree
to it.” Smif waited expectantly and
she went on: “You see. money’s prac
tically 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 al
ready had an inkling of what was agi
tating 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 whip
ping 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 tn
the background. “As to the remunera
tion, 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. Ido not find myself
interested in your proposition. Sup
pose 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, hut I happen to have
confidence in him.”
“You think there is no other course
open to me? What about mental sci
ence 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
Smif was becoming bored.
“Really, Miss Mercedes,” she began,
“I do not believe that you shotfid have
any difficulty in finding some one who
would accept an offer such as you sug
gested If you added a small fee. I
cannot help you there.”
“Why won’t you do it?" Feeling
herself dismissed the lady began slow
ly to work her fat hands into gloves
several sizes 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 in
spires confidence. I might be making
a mistake to reduce. At all events it
would require a large bribe to induce
me to run the risk.”
“Very well,” Miss Mercedes ejacu
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
warned her. recognizing her client's
vacillating disposition. “I shall expect
ten thousand dollars. Moreover, to be
fair to both of us, payment must be
half in advance, half at the termina
tion of Doctor Blanton’s treatments.
That is, when he has reduced me to
what he decides to be a normal weight."
“How do I know that will make
you slim enough? I want to be really
slender; girlish, you know.” Miss
Mercedes was plainly wabbling again.
“I can’t guarantee that,” Smif re
turned calmly. “I refuse to take off a
pound more than Doctor Blanton re
gards as safe. Really, Miss Mercedes,
don’t you think you are wasting time?
What you require is some one more
tractable than I —also cheaper,” she
added with a hint of contempt; for.
after all, Smif was a Lovely with a
Lovely's disregard for money, when
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SOUP, Tomato, Campbell’s Vegetable
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TOMATOES, No. 2 can, 3 for . . 2gC
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CHICKEN FEED, ground beef bones and
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Makes them lay.
FRYER'S MARKET
BLAKELY, GEORGIA
she had it And Miss Mercedes sensed
this, growing more eager the moment
she feared Smif was inclined to draw
back.
“I’ll sign your agreement,” she an
nounced. “I’ll pay anything in reason.
Please have the paper made ready and
I will make you out a check. It’s a
proof of my love for Johnny,” she add
ed, her voice trembling. “And I look
on It as an investment,” she ended,
her practicality again to the fore.
So said, so done, and Miss Mercedes
wended her weighty way toward the
elevator.
(To be continued next week)
STRAYED—On December 24, four
meat shoats, two red, two white and
black spotted, ranging in weight 40
to 70 lbs. Reward for information.
D. S. STEPHENSON.
CITATION.
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
Whereas, J. G. Daniels, Jr., Ad
ministrator with the will annexed of
Mrs. Villa Dykes Daniels’ estate, rep
resents to the court in his petition
duly filed and entered on record,
that he has fully administered Mrs.
Villa Dykes Daniels’, deceased, es
tate. This is therefore to cite all
persons concerned, kindred and
creditors, to show cause, if any they
can, why said administrator should
not be discharged from his adminis
tration, and receive letters of dis
mission, on the first Monday in
February, 1934. This Ist day of
January, 1934.
D. C. MORGAN,
Ordinary, Early County.
MASONIC NOTICE.
tel Magnolia Looge No
86 Free and Accept
ed Masons holds reg
u ’ ar corr > mu ß cations
on the first and third
/ \ Monday nights in
each month. The
time is 8 p. m. in the summer, 7:30
p. m. in the fall and spring and 7 p.
m. during the winter. Visiting breth
ren are cordially invited to attend.
C. M. DUNNING, W. M.
R. H. STUCKEY, JR., Sec’y.
SHERIFF’S SALE
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
There will be sold by the under
signed on the First Tuesday in Feb
ruary, 1934, before the courthouse
door of said county in the city of
Blakely, Georgia, within the legal
hours of sale, at public outcry to the
highest and best bidder for cash,
the following described real estate,
to wit:
One shop lot, containing one-half
acre of land, bounded on north by
land of Julius Roberts, on east by
State Highway from Arlington to
Damascus, formerly Brumby avenue,
on south by land of S. J. Collier, on
west by land of Mrs. Jennie Booker.
Levied on and to be sold as the
property of J. B. Bridges and G. L.
Dykes to satisfy a fi. fa. issued from
the superior court of Early county
in favor of J. A. Hightower vs. said
J. B. Bridges and G. L. Dykes. Ten
ant in possession notified.
This January 2nd, 1934.
S. W. HOWELL, Sheriff.
NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND
CREDITORS
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
This is to notify those who are
indebted to the late Dr. F. P. Davis
to come and settle their debts; and
those who have claims against the
said Dr. Davis are asked to present
them, properly made out and at
tested. This January 10, 1934.
MRS. MATTIE C. DAVIS,
Executrix of Last Will and Tes
tament of Dr. F. P. Davis, dec’d.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
By virtue of an order from the
Court of Ordinary of Early county,
will be sold, at public outcry, on the
First Tuesday in February, 1934, at
the court house door in said county,
between the legal hours of sale, the
tract of land in said county contain
ing 6 acres more or less more par
ticularly described as folloks: Be
ginning at the north west corner of
lot of land number 216 and running
east a distance of 25.45 chains,
thence running south a distance of
2.35 % chains, thence west the dis
tance of 25.45 chains, thence north
the distance of 2.35% chains to
point of beginning and lying in the
28th district, Early County, Georgia.
Said lands will be sold for cash
to the highest and best bidder and
a good and sufficient title to same
will be made by the administrator
of the estate of Mrs. S. J. English,
deceased.
This 3rd day of January, 1934.
J. E. BECKHAM,
Administrator of the Estate of
Mrs. S. J. English, deceased.
NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER
GEORGIA, Early County:
Because of default in the payment
of a loan secured by a deed to secure
debt executed by D. S. Sheffield to
Citizens Bank, Blakely, Ga., which
debt and deed has been duly trans
ferred to the undersigned Mrs. Mc-
Arthur Jones, which deed is dated
April 10th, 1930 and recorded in
Mortgage Book No 1, page 433 in
the office of the clerk of the superior
court of said county, the undersigned
will on the 20th day of January, 1934,
acting under the power of sale con
tained in said deed, between the legal
hours of sale, at the court house in
Blakely, Ga., sell at public outcry
to the highest bidder for cash, the
land described in said deed to-wit:
One Hundred Acres off the south
side of lot of land No. Two Hundred
Seventeen (217) in the 28th district
of Early County, Georgia.
Said sale will be had for the pur
pose of satisfying the indebtedness
which said deed was given to secure,
and a deed will be executed to the
purchaser at said sale.
This December 28th, 1933.
MRS. McARTHUR JONES
A. H. GRAY, Attorney.
Dr. G. O. Gunter
BLAKELY, GA.
Office in Howell Drug Co. Building.
Phones: Office 66, Residense 59.
FELIX P. DAVIS
Dentist
BLAKELY : : GEORGIA
Prices reasonable and all work guar
anteed. Specialist on Crown and
Bridge work. Office in Gay building,
first two rooms at bead of stairs.
Phone 157.
LOWREY STONE _
Attorney at Lav/
Alexander Bldg.
BLAKELY. GEORGIA
C. T. ALEXANDER
Dentist
BLAKELY, : : GEORGIA
Office upstairs In Southern States
Life Building, rooms 5 and 6.
Office hours: 8:30 to 12:00 a. m.;
2:00 to 6:00 p. m.