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THE BREATH OF SCANDAL

next month when the bank might be wanting something, and she immediately invaded a clothing store down the block; next a milliner's shop; next a restaurant; next a garage.

Men in business were a most mixed lot, Marjorie decided that evening on her way to Clearedge Street; but almost without exception her "prospects" had one common sort of astuteness; they could spot on sight that Miss Conway, representing Bostrock's Business Boosters, was a girl without a home and very recently cast upon her own and was without experience of the ways of the world; and, with few exceptions, they were surprisingly considerate of her; they took time from busy hours to give her advice and several asked her to consult them, if she encountered trouble; one, in addition, ordered three dollars' worth of printed blotters.

So Marjorie returned with sixty cents earned—not much less than her lunch money and carfare—and with her opinions about her "prospects" rather unsettled until she talked with Clara.

"Fresh guys!" judged Clara promptly. "That's the kind-a stuff they try to rope you in with. You didn't fall for it, did you? Forgot to tell you, kid. Look out for the old ones—especially the gray hairs—worse than the boys. One of your own age—well, sometimes, Marjorie; don't count on it; but sometimes you'll by accident stir up somethin' sportin' in one—but the old boys that go after girls—they ain't got a fair instinct left to 'em. Air! Marjorie, take the air when they're around. Say, now, where'll we step this eve?"

For Clara required to be always going somewhere; the population of the neighborhood demanded entertainment or excitement of some sort with a unanimity