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 FLAMING

YOUTH

171

for twenty-five dollars—and she sizes you up and lays out your line for you.” “Ts this line, perhaps, equipped with a hook?” “Eh? Oh, sure!” Cissie laughed. ‘Hook and bait. Yes; it’s a fish-line, all right.”

“And what is your specialty?” “Haven’t I shown it plain enough? It’s the lively and risky with just enough restraint to lead ’°em on. I’m supposed to have passionate eyes, you know.” Scott laughed aloud.

“TI like you, Cissie.”

“It’s about time!” she exclaimed. ‘You haven’t, up to now. And I’ve been working pretty hard on you.” “That’s very shrewd of you. I mean it, this time. It’s vealler than the thing we’ve been playing at.” “Good man! It’s mutual. You can have the kiss if you want it, just for liking.” “But you’d rather [ wouldn’t.” “And that’s very shrewd of you. You're right; I like you that much ... Cary, I don’t wonder Pat’s batty over you.” “Pat? You’re quite wrong.” “And I’m wrong in thinking you’re crazy about her, I suppose.” “Equally.”
 * “Pat’s

line,”? remarked

thoughtfully, tomboy,

the

“is the Minnesota

you’re-another,

astute

Miss

Parmenter

shift up to date; all

take-it-or-leave-it

one

minute,

and the next you know she’s a clinging vine and you’re it. She can do it with those wonderful eyes and that throaty, croaky, heart-breaky voice of hers. It knocks the boys cold. And I’d think it would be just the line to catch an old—a man of the world like——” “An old man like you, you started to say,” prompted Scott. “No occasion for embarrassment on my account.”