"Saunders is readin' 'The Brokenhearted Bride'-- you can have it
soon's he's through. He says it's a peach."

"Fifteen is bringing up a bunch of magazines. I'll have reading
in plenty two hours from now; but my heavens above, those two
hours!" She struck both fists despairingly upon the counter.

"I've got gumdrops, and fancy mixed--"

"Forget it, then. A five-pound box of chocolates is due--on
fifteen." She sighed heavily. "I wish you weren't so old, and
hadn't quite so many chins, Pete," she complained. "I'd inveigle
you into a flirtation. You see how desperate I am for something
to do!"

Pete smiled unhappily. He was sensitive about all those chins,
and the general bulk which accompanied them.

"Let me make you acquainted with my friend, Good In--er--Mr.
Imsen." Pete considered that he was behaving with great
discernment and tact. "This is Miss Georgie Howard, the new
operator." He twinkled his little eyes at her maliciously.
"Say, he ain't got but one chin, and he's only twenty-three years
old." He felt that the inference was too plain to be ignored.

She turned her head slowly and looked Grant over with an air of
disparagement, while she nodded negligently as an acknowledgment
to the introduction. "Pete thinks he's awfully witty," she
remarked. "It's really pathetic."