Page:Girls of Central High on the Stage.djvu/29

Rh But when Jess had lowered her umbrella and backed into the shop, she found several customers waiting at the counter. Mr. Vandergriff and his son, whom the boys called "Griff" and who played fullback on the Central High football team, were waiting upon these customers. Soon Griff was through with the man he was waiting on and came to Jess.

"What's yours to-night, Miss Morse?" he asked, and was so cheerful about it that the girl's heart rose. They didn't owe Mr. Vandergriff such a large bill, anyway. The proprietor was waiting upon the lady who stood beside Jess as she gave her order to Griff. The lady was a very dressy person and she laid her silver-mesh purse on the counter between herself and Jess. The latter saw the glint of gold coins between the meshes of the purse and her heart throbbed. She moved quietly away from the lady. Wasn't it wicked—seemingly—that one should have so much money, while another needed the very necessities of life?

"Thank you, Griff," Jess heard herself saying to the younger Vandergriff, as he packed her modest order in the basket. "I shall have to ask you to charge that."

"All right, Miss Morse. Nothing more tonight?"