“But men are so stupid. They just run after her because she looks at them out of her eyes with the look of a dying cat! Look at those two young sporting fellows that come here every night. Any one can see they are gone soft on her, and she had the cheek to go out driving with one of them yesterday.”
“You don’t say!”
“As bold as you please—that one they call Alec.”
“Well, I never!”
The talk was interrupted by the entrance of Bertha.
“Good-evening, my dear,” said Ruby; “how nicely your hair is arranged to-day. I wish you’d show me the way, there’s a love!”
Florrie came forward, also to inspect, and kissed Bertha as a darling to make her promise to teach the secret of the new coiffure.
“You are in luck, Bertha, going out for buggy rides. Not that that young Alec is much of a catch. I should look for something better if I were you.”
“My troubles!” said Bertha.
Soon the bar began to fill, and Alec came in with his shadow, Huey. Bertha greeted them both with a friendly nod, but the first opportunity Huey came to the bar and spoke to her some low angry words. His eyes fairly blazed. But Bertha merely tossed her head.