Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-07-25
Meters and Meetings

plant window and wondering how II
was that such an entirely charming
young woman could work for SO heart
less corporation as the gas company.
'I am the regular clerk" was the
smiling response as she reached for
the slip Caverly had half thrust through
the window and glanced at the name.
IL want the one who gets the mail
complaints" he stammered. The girl
laughed unsteady.
Il am that top sided, frozen hearted
person who would not answer your let
ter" she insisted You see, in your
heat you forgot to give any address"
Caverly thought of some of the other
and more personal illusions he had
made and groaned. Until then he had
rather prided himself upon his ability
at invective.
II didn't know that you were-that
is, that the complaint clerk was wo-
man." he stammered.
Il didn't think you do" she laughed.
But I'm used to that sort of thing. l
had Il man over at your place yester-
day"
Did he have an axf' asked Caverly.
"Its the only way to get the best of
that meter
THE gas was turned on in the oven
of the stove" she said smilingly. 1T
must have been flowing for weeks
But | don't use the oven he pro-
tested. I'm bachelor, and just
get my breakfasts there"
perhaps when you were cooking the
modest egg" she laughed, you brushed
against the lower cocks"
Caverly blushed. He had been proud
of that line when l poach the mod
est egg or fry the humble rasher, the
meter straightway charges me enough
gas TO prepare dinner for a family
q six. which, thank heaven, l do not
possess" Now he thought it sounded
very silly.
81 must have smelled it, if it was,' he
argued. The girl shook her head.
There is n pipe connection with the
chimney" she reminded. 1T never got
into the room
Then l guess it's up to me-" he said
slowly
yes" she assented, "S7.2O for last
month; $40 this month. Pay at the
last window"
I'm sorry to have given you all this
trouble" he said awkwardly, land said
--er-those things, you know"
"That is right; l understand" she
said. Il hope you will have no more
trouble"
Il hope l do" he announced, ambig-
uously as Ire raised his hat and went
in search Of the cashiers window. but
/ won't write letters"
After that Caverly's meter seemed
suddenly to have become the most
troublesome in town. Two and three
times week he called with some COM
plant that somehow never seemed to
need more than word of advice.
Meantime he had discovered the
name of the young woman and was
searching everywhere for some one
who knew her, so that he might seek
an introduction. 1t was several weeks
before he discovered that his mother
out in Chicago was an intimate friend
of Grace WinSton's aunt, and through
this medium he was able 10 meet the
girl conventionally. lie lost no time in
asking her to accept an invitation to
little dinner which in some way
might make up for the trouble he had
caused her.
You should 90 10 boarding" she ad-
vised one evening as they fingered over
the demitasse. They had repeated the
dinner. You would have no more trou.
BILE with the meter them
1--WE had very little since | met you, p"
he declared, land | hate boarding
houses"
why not get married. she smiled
THAT would solve the problem"
II know it," he agreed. I've got the
very girl in mind too. | haven't asked
her yet. but 1 mean TO soon"
1T is a very good idea" she said
coldly. with wife you would be
more settled down and not have to de
pend upon restaurants"
"Oh, don't know about that" he de
INJURED. II should want TO have our
little dinner occasionally even after |
am married"
Il think you have "A rather poor opin.
ion Of me-" she said.
'By our little dinners | mean my
wife's and NINE" he said explicitly.
The girl flushed. II beg your par.
dom she said
Caverly yelled his amusement and
satisfaction. "You see" he added. ~
shall have plenty Of time then.
shan't have To watch the gas meter SO
carefully"
"No?"
mo; there won't be so attractive n
complaint clerk at the gas company's
office-then he said pointedly
\ month afterward the same two sat
.t opposite sides of the same table.