The Portland daily press., 1899-12-22

When Jack Horton got back from
Michigan, where he had gone on his reg
ular July trip, he found new tenant
across the hall In the big Mohican build
ing. where Bunker the accident insur-
ance man, had been. There was q new
sign over the door: III. ]. Minglewood.
&ailway Supplies"
As Jack dealt in railway supplies him
self he looked ut the name with more
than usual curiosity. He had heard some
thing about Minglewcod. What the deuce
was il?
The next morning after he had looked
over his mail and dictated a few letters
TO his sole employee he stepped out in
the hall, intending to go down to the first
floor and send telegram to his Michigan
shipper to hurry down boatload of ties
As he passed the threshold he noticed
the door of the Minglewood office was
ajar lie stepped in. There was a young
woman sitting at typewriter in the
outer Office. and through the door of the
inner room he saw another young woman
at a small desk. 1t was evident there
was no man about. Jack took off his hat
and passed into the inner room.
Good morning" he said in his CHEEKY
way.
The young woman at the small desk
looked up. She had very fine brown
eyes, Jack noticed.
Good morning." she quietly said.
I'm Jack-l mean John Horton, from
just across the hail." he went on. as
Mr.. Minglewood in?'
"Mr. Mmglewood is not in," said the
girl, and Jack thought she had remark
ably nice voice.
Expect him soonT
"No."
at is nothing particular" said Jack.
''1'm in the same line, you know, and
just wanted to tell him that there's pleI-
~ of room for both OF us. Besides this,
j wished to meet him personally and give
him handshake and a word OF welcome.
That's all"
you are very kind" said the girl. with
a remarkably pleasant smile. III. j.
shall be appraised of your call and your
very good wishes. Good morning."
Jacks friendly call wasn't returned by
his new neighbor, and he noticed when
he passed the open door that the only &C.
cupant of the Office was the girl at the
typewriter The young woman with the
brown eyes wasn't in sight, but at last he
caught glimpse of her in the outer office
and stepped in.
Good morning." he said with the air
of an old acquaintance.
"Good morning, Mr.. Horton" she re-
piled as she pushed aside pile of letters.
Haven't seen you for several days."
said Jack.
'No," said the young woman; Eve
been out of town."
"And where's II. j.? haven't caught
a glimpse of him."
There was sudden choking sound
from the direction of the girl at the type
writer. Jack looked around hastily, but
the girl was bending down, apparently
absorbed in the intricacies of the ma
chine.
III. ]. has been out Of town." said the
young woman with the brown eyes.
Back again?"
"Yes"
"Well, tell him again, please, that I'd
like to meet him. We might compare
notes to our mutual advantage. Say I'd
be glad to have him come over and go to
luncheon with me. Tell him so. please"
Jack was not self conscious fellow.
He was big and honest and quite devoid
of ordinary curiosity, yet as he walked
out of the office he wondered what on
tdilu AuuOe thdt ~ PNhAAlet bAAi NhhNnaS.
Then he remembered nothing but the
brown eyes and the nice hair and the de-
cidedly attractive figure.
Jack was certainly hard hit There
was charm about this brown eyed
young woman that caught his fancy as
his fancy was never caught before. He
told himself that he knew nothing about
her. That he was a fool TO be so deeply
interested in a stranger. And yet he made
no inquiries concerning her. That was
Jacks way.
Early the next morning he was at his
desk looking over the mail when the girl
who ran the typewriter in the Mingle-
wood Office entered.
"Good morning, Mr.. Horton" she said.
"If you have q moments leisure Miss
Harriet would like to see you on bust
ness"
'Eh! Good morning" said Jack, jump
ing up. "Miss Harriet?"
YES" said the smiling girl.
care you quite sure it's Miss HarrietT
said Jack. The idea that she might have
been married came to him like a shock.
"Why, of course" replied the girl.
So Jack seized his hat and went across
the hall. He found the young woman
with the brown eyes in the private office.
1t was a very neat private Office. There
were O few etchings on the walls, a
bright bouquet on the desk. and the desk
itself was as orderly as il on dress pa
rade.
''You will pardon the business irregu-
larity of sending for You, Mr.. Horton"
SAID the Young woman after she had &C