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Later, in Willia

’Not a bad party,’ said Matthew, ’Almost worth the trip fro irl’

’Do you think she’ll helpMatthew’s mock accusation

VeU, you have three weeks to find out, but I fear you’ll discover she hasn’t lost hers yet,’ said Matthew ’Such isto bet you five dollars she doesn’t succumb even to the charms of Williae five dollars to Mattheas quite another He saw Abby Blount nearly every day after that, taking advantage for the first tian to feel he would do better without the discreet but persistent chaperonage of Abby’s parents who seemed always to be in the oal when the last day of the holidays dawned

Determined to win his five dollars, William sent Abby a dozen roses early in the day, took her out to an expensive dinner at Joseph’s that evening and finally succeeded in coaxing her back into his front rooet hold of a bottle of whisky while Prohibition is on?’

asked Abby

’Oh, it’s riot so hard,’ William boasted

The truth was that he had hidden a bottle of Henry Oshome’s bourbon in his bedroolad he had not poured it down the drain as had been his original intention

Williaht tears to Abby’s eyes

He sat down beside her and put his arm confidently around her shoulder

She settled in to it

’Abby, I think you’re terribly pretty,’ he azed at him earnestly, her brown eyes wide ’Oh, Williarn,’ she breathed ’And I think you’re just wonderful!

Her doll - like face was irresistible She allowed herself to be kissed

Thus emboldened, William slipped a tentative hand from her wrist on to her breast, and left it there like a traffic cop halting an advancing streanant and pushed his arm down to allow the traffic to move on