Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-04-06
THEIR
NIGHT
OFF R
By.
Thomas E.
Hinchman
Copyright, 1901, by T. c. Mcclure

Copyright. 1901, by T. c. Mcclure
TwOmbley had been watching with
silent satisfaction the very artistic
smoke garlands he was reeling off his
post luncheon cigar. Suddenly his
glance fell to the figure Of the girl
bending over desk by the window.
Evidently she was puzzled by the let
ter he had given her to his fathers
ed her position to throw a better light
on the book. Incidentally it brought
her profile out sharply against the early
afternoon sunlight. Twombley forgot
all about the smoke wreaths.
by Jove," he said to himself,
that's a profile for the sculptor. 1
wonder where she sprang from and
where the governor found her"
THE governor" otherwise Thomas
Twombley, Sr., had been called sud
denly to London, and Thomas Twom-
bley, Jr., was spending his summer in
the office instead of at Newport or on
some friends yacht, as was his usual
custom. The summer nights in town
were something of a revelation to the
young man, who, despite his city birth,
knew little of city life, so much had
he travelled with his mother.
The girl swung round to her desk,
and the typewriter clicked insistently.
Tom laid down his cigar and bent for
ward, watching her curiously. 1t must
be deviliGh hard to work like that
when you know you were meant for
better things, thought the young fel-
low, and the light of a strong resolu
ton shone on his smooth, square cut
face.
"I wonder how she'd like to spend
an evening as do around town.
Then be paused uncertainty. Would
she have the clothes to wear? He
remembered the hlmy. extravagant
gowns he had seen at the casino the
night before. Then he as quickly de-
cided that she'd look well no matter
what she wore. He strolled across
the room to draw down the shades
just tribe.
"Beastly hot. isn't itT'
VERY warm" replied Miss Carruth
without looking up from her work.
III l owned the Stock Exchange or
controlled big business interests I'd
stop everything short in hot weather"
She looked up at him with a grave
smile. Then I'm afraid you couldn't
own a yacht and Il shooting box in the
Adirondacks
That's so. The wheels of commerce
must grind on the year around, l sup
pose"
And what lot Of poor people they
grind down" The girl spoke to her
self rather than to him.
"Oh, but the towns not so bad in
summer" he said. IT'S corking jolly
If you know the right sort of people.
I've had some good times the last few
weeks"
She looked at him almost pitylngly,
but he did not notice 1t.
You know, there are the roofs and
the gardens, and nearly all the fellows
in town have their automobiles. Oh,
It's not half bad"
She did not answer, but resumed her
writing He went back to his desk,
but the idea Of giving her an evening
out had become thoroughly imbedded
in his mind. About o'clock he rose
---'tH sdden determination.
'On, soy, -nIss CarTuth, let KNOCK
of for the day"
Knock Off" she said wonderingly.
81 don't understand"
Lets take trip around town"
The girl swung around In her chair
and looked at him In silent amazement.
Twombley looked back at her with an
engaging, boyish smile, and the faint
nush which had come into her face
died down again.
II think we have been working pret-
ty faithfully since the governor went
away, and we deserve q holiday. I'd
be awfully much obliged to you if
you'd have dinner with me tonight,
and then We will go up on one of the
roof gardens and see the show"
A faint smile curved the girls lips,
and he felt encouraged.
It's awfully jolly, don't you know,
and IL you have never seen that sort
Of thing you'd like it,"
"Oh, understand" said the girl
you're going to give re just taste OF
the life you and your friends lead. But
It might make me very dissatisfied
with my surroundings, you know"
Twombley found himself actually
blinking at her. She put it so badly.
"Oh, say, that's not fair. Just for
tonight think we might be jolly good
pals and forget that my father pays
your salary"
The girl laughed. Twombley pulled
down the lid Of his desk with O snap.
Wait" said the girl; you must sign
these letters"
"Oh, hang IT," he said, 81 forgot"
While he dispatched that work the
girl was closing up her own affairs for
the day, and when she took the letters
from him and touched the bell for the
Office boy TO carry them away he no
ticed that she had her hat on and a
neat pair Of gloves were caught
through the handle of her purse
We'll have time for a spin in the
park before we go to dinner" he said.
II must go home first and change my
frock"
He looked her over critically. The
shirt waist suit was simple, but It had
an air He didn't feel quite SO safe
about the flnery she might deem neces
sary for evening wear.
"Oh, don't bother" he said quickly.
"You look very At in that"
She shook her head. II must go home,
because mother would worry, and |
have no way Of telephoning to her"
Twombley saw that it was useless to
argue the question.
when and where shall l call for
yOu?"
The girl flushed suddenly. "Oh,
Will meet you at the park entrance,
It's not far from our house, and |
wOuld nuch rather do that than give