Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-18

and famhayHnt DESCRIPTIONS OF bat
ties wlcn there WAS Il step on tie
walk outside and a knock at the door
(which is it," he thought. 'Gusty or
tie rcvcrcnd:'
Obviously if Was Miss Black. She
stood Oh tie nliea slab that formed The
step and locked Hp al him as he swung
the door open. She had Il small leather
bag in her hand. just as the captain
had said she would have. but it flashed
,teross Mr.. Hazeltines mind that the
rest of the description WAS not Il fair
one. Sh" was certainly much more
than "ulidG!;n' good lookint'
"ls Captain Hedge in" she asked.
Now from his friends hints Ralph
had expected to hear Il luther sharp
and unpleasant voice-certain disagree
able reneml1rances Of former encOun-
tcrs with female book agents had help.
ed to form the impression perhaps
but Miss Blacks voice was mellow,
quiet and rather pleasing than other
wise
NO" said Mr. Hazeltine, obeying or
Is out just now
" 'Gusty''-s somehow the name didn't
seem to fit-was manifestly disappoint-
ed
"Oh, dear!" she said. and then added.
Twill he be back soon?"
Now this was a question unprovided
for Ralph stammered and then mis-
erably equivocated. He really couldn't
say just when the captain would re-
turn.
"Oh. dear" said the young lady
again. Then she seemed to be waiting
for some further observation on the
part of the gentleman at the door.
None being forthcoming, she seemed to
make up her mind to act ON her own
initiative.
Il think I will come in and wait"
she said with decision And come in
she did, Mr.. Hazeltine not knowing
exactly what to do under the circum-
stances.
Now this was much more in keeping
with the electricians preconceived
ideas of book agents behavior New
ertheless when he turned and found the
young lady standing in the middle Of
the floor he felt obliged to he at least
.'ecentiy polite.
NV Ont you take d chair?" be asked.
"'Thank you," said the caller and
took che.
The situation was extremely awk-
ward, but Ralph felt that loyalty to
Captain Eri forbade his doing any
thing that might urge the self pos.
sessed Mss Black to prolong her visit,
SO for a time he said nothing The
young lady looked out of the window,
and Mr. Hazel .ne looked at her. He
was more than ever of the opinion that
the "niu,t!ill - term should lie cut out
Of her description He rather liliei her
appearance, 50 he decided. Hc liked
the way she wore her hair, SO simple
an arrangement but so effective. Also
he liked her dress. 1t was the first tai
lor made walking suit he had seer
since his arrival in Orham And Wo;,:3
Ivy a country book agent of all people.
just then Miss Black turned an.
,aught hin, intently gazing at her She
colored. apparently with diSpeAS,re
and looked out of the window again
Mr.. Hazeltne colored also and fdgete,
with the book on the table. The situ;l-
ton was cOnfoundedly embarrassing.
He felt that he must say something
now, SO he made the original observa-
ton that it had been Il pleasant day
10 this the young lady agreed, but
81, ~, I,
Then Ralph, nervously fishing for an
other topic, thought of the book in his;
hand
Il was just reading this" ne said. ."
found it quite in1ere>ting."
The next moment he realized that he
had said what of all things was the
most impolitic 1t was nothing les,
than bid fol- canvass" and he ful :.
expected to be confronted with the nee
essary order blanks without delay.
But, strangely enough, the book lady
made no such move. She looked at
him, it is true, with an expression of
surprise and what seemed to be amuse
ment on her face He was certain that
her lips twitched as she said calmly:
1)lu you: dlll Sldu 10 I1CiG IT,
This dispassionate remark was cn-
tirely unexpected, and the electrician,
as Captain Fri would have said. lost
his bearings" completely.
''Yes-er-yes," he stammered. Every
interesting inteed. IL suppose you
must take good many orders in the
course of week.
"A good many orders?'
"Why, yes. Orders for the books,
mean. The books-the Great Naval
Lives'-er- these books here"
II beg your pardon, but who do you
think | amp"
And it was then that the perception
of some tremendous blunder began to
seize upon Mr.. HaZeltine He had
been red before Now he felt the red
ness creeping over his scalp under his
hair
"Why-why-Mis Black, l suppose
that is. r.