The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-20
DUCK BRIGGS' SLOWNESS.
Rx Lula Lohnstan.

Copyrighted. 1907. by M M. Cunning
 Sally ioitered along looking into the shop windows All the hot day she had | bent over the clacking machine until | eyes and back and head alike ached from the noise and strain. The other girls had hurried from the shop when the gong had struck. Some of them had engagements for trolley rides | for the evening, and were in a hurry to be dressed and off. Others made haste to reach home for supper. Sally had | neither of these reasons for haste. Her | thin, white face did not attract the few men she knew-they never invited her anywhere, and the streets were at least | cooler than the stuffy little room that she called home.
 She knew that presently she must make her coffee and fry her single chop over the tiny oil stove that filled the room with rocking odor of oil. but by walking slowly she delayed that time as long as possible.
 She gave a little gasp as she came before the installment bazaar windows. Instead of the rolls of wall paper and carpets, the hobby parlor sets and iron bedsteads, the four big windows of the store were gotten up to repre- sent the four big rooms of a flat, card in each window stating the cost of the equipment to be ten dollars down and five dollars a month for an unspecifed time.
 Sally passed from the plush elegance of the parlor to the simplicity of the bedroom and the cozy dining room with a real sideboard, but 1t was against the glass inciosing the kitchen that she flattened her pudgy nose the longest
 The domestic instinct was strong within her, and this array of gleaming pots and pans. the glitter of the cheap china and the plated knives and forks fascinated her. If she only had kitch- en like that instead of the one-burner oil stove on the soap box at the foot of her narrow cot! She drew her breath sharply and exhaled 1t in long sigh.
 Nice, ain't it?' Sally looked up in alarm, but there was nothing in the ap- pearance of the nan at her side to cause alarm His twinkling eyes were frank and honest and not line of his ruddy, freckled face was sinister. That he was no "masher" sould be seen at d glance, and Sally smiled an assent to his question.
 q bet a girl who knew how to cook could get fine dinners in kitchen like that he said-a shade of wistfulness in his hearty voice. If knew one, by jinks, I'd buy that"
 Huh" Sally's voice was scornful. She could understand why none of the men at the shop asked her out to trol4 ley rides and things, but for this great, strong fellow to admit his inability to find a sweetheart was absurd
 Tt ain't so easy" declared the other hotly. q ain't much with girls. They like fellows better what can dance and say fool things. I ain't never learned either"
 Then you ought to begin now" sniff fed Sally as she moved away. The man made as though he would follow, but the broad shoulders hunched together despondently. and he returned to his inspection of the Kitchen.
 But now he could also see the mis- tress of the apartment, slend.r wisp of a girl! the sort of a woman a man wants to take in his arms and cuddle To his Sally's wan face was beautiful. it's thinness elegance. Buck Briggs had met his fate.
 The next evening Sally, coming slow ly down the street, found him in front of the window again, and passed on with only the faintest glance of long ing at the shining kitchen. If he had any idea that she remembered him he should see that he was mistaken. Buck looked disappointed, but he followed on to the dreary pile that Sally called her home.
 She did not see him as. with tagging feet, she ascended the high stoop and climbed the five flights that led to her attic room. but Buck crossed quickly to the opposite side of the street and rang the bell, for his eyes had caught the sign announcing that furnished rooms were to be had, and that night he slept under the same roof.
 He was on the steps the following night when Sally came along, pretend ing a tremendous interest in the scene before him. He nodded as the girl came up the steps, and pulled off his cloth cap.
 say d'you want to ride out to the park after you eat your supper?" he asked. bashfully. I'm Twin here now" he added. as though that constituted a proper introduction.
 For a moment Sally hesitated, with the feminine instinct to be hardly won. but the afternoon had been excessively hot. and twice she had dropped over