“No-o,” Elsie shook her head doubtfully. “But I don’t feel just right about it.”
“And that grocery fellow didn’t know after all, eh?”
“I think not. At least he said nothing.”
Druce shrugged his shoulders derisively.
“I think not. At least he said nothing.” he couldn’t detect a hair in the butter. I’m not worried about him. How is it with your own folks? Your mother doesn’t know?”
[Transcriber᾿s note: previous paragraph transcribed as printed, with apparent obfuscation by duplicated line.]
“No,” replied Elsie, uneasy again. “Anyway, mother wouldn’t matter so much, but dad—” She covered her face with her hands.
“Never mind,” said Druce tenderly, drawing her toward him and caressing her. “We had some ride, didn’t we?”
“Grand,” replied Elsie, brightened by the recollection.
“I told you it would be all right if I hired the car and picked you up around the corner from the mill. Say—” The man lowered his tone. “Gee, you’re prettier than ever today, Elsie!”