Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-08-22

bank2 But is she the sort Of a girl
that could be bought in that way? John
Halpin. you are laying up trouble for
yourSelf-lots of it. Well, 1 can face
It," And he squared his shoulders and
stalked along.
The next morning Elizabeth Leeds
was at her desk at the usual hour. and
John Halpin was at his desk, too. Pres
emily he looked toward her and nodded.
"Quite recovered from the excite
ment Of last EVENING"" he asked. His
tone was easy and natural.
"Quite, thank you" When she look
ed at his impassive face it seemed to
her as If the walk home the evening
before was only a dream.
you will receive a call this morn
ing from Mr.. COndit. 1 stopped at his
house this morning to tell him about
the fire."
He bent again over his work, and the
clicking of Elizabeth's typewriter re-
commenced.
When the eminent head Of the house
entered the room he went straight to
the girls desk.
II want to thank you, Miss Leeds"
he said, for the good sense and courage
you displayed last evening. Halpin has
told me about it. It does you great
credit"
"Thank you, sir" said the girl. at
is Mr.. Halpin who really deserves your
compliments. 1 helped him very little"
"Hslpin will get all the credit he de-
serves. 1t was a matter of duty with
Halpin. He will explain to you about
an increase in salary from now on"
And the great merchant passed along
When it came closing time John Hal
pin was busy and the girl walked home
alone. It was a strenuous time for the
great house. A smaller establishment
was to be merged with the original con-
Germ and John Halpin was a hard
worked man. Day and night-or q
good part of it-he toiled at his desk.
His demeanor toward the girl had not
changed. He greeted her III the usual
way, he babe her good night in his ac-
customed tones.
When he had time to think of the
girl at all John Halpin wondered if he
had done right in speaking as he did.
He was not a domestic man, he knew
nothing Of such a life His idol was
work and the power that such work
gave him. Besides, the girl didn't care
for him. If she smiled on him it would
be because he was a rising man. 1t
would be calculating smile. He was
a rare catch for a poor girl. Yes he
was sorry he had spoken. But there
was no harm done If he had raised
false hopes in the girls mind it wasn't
a serious matter She would recover
from it. He had already secured a bet
ter salary for her. He would add to
that. He would make her position east
er. Some time in the future he fan
cied she would tell how the merchant
prince had suggested that he might
marry her. No doubt it would be re-
garded as a harmless fairy tale. No,
there was nothing In q home life that
could compensate for his freedom from
all restraint.
Then he stole a look at the girl, her
fair head bent over her work, and his
face grew troubled.
AS for Elizabeth, she had plenty of
tasks to take her attention, and in no
way did her demeanor indicate to John
Halpin that she remembered his extra
ordinary proposition.
One morning he came to her desk.
Miss Leeds" he said, did you take
home the Denslow invoices last night?"
"Yes, Mr.. Halpin. You understood
that l would retain them until they
could be carefully compared"
Yes, but there is urgent need for
them. Denslow Is here. Is your moth
er at homer"
mo. She Is spending the day with
an old friend. l can go for the pa
pers"
He glanced at the typewriter sheets
on her table.
your work Is equally important.
Denslow wants to get away on the noon
train. Why can't 1 go? Mr.. Condit's
auto and his chauffeur are at the door.
That will be the quickest way"
The girl nodded.
Here is the key" she said. "You
will find the invoices wrapped together
on my writing desk in the parlor at the
right Of the hail." And she bent again
over her work.
John Halpin took the key and hur-
ried out. Just twelve minutes later he
stepped from the car in front of the
Leeds cottage. A moment more and
he was in the little parlor and had
found the papers.
AS he thrust them into his pocket he
looked around. What a neat and coy
room it was. How inviting the open
piano with the music on the rack. He
glanced at the pictures on the wall, at
the dainty bits Of art scattered here and
there. This was a home Of refinement.
and yet was not too refined to lose its
hospitable allurement. John Halpin
A~sNz