The Somerset reporter., 1908-07-30
T0mmy's
Discovery.
BY Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press

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For a small periodical the Literary
/ Leafiet had a remarkably well equip
/ ped force. 1t employed an editor in
chief, an assistant editor. a fiction ed
/ itor, q household editor, a receiving
editor, a stenographer and general
office boy.
Frederick Mallory Mason, A. B.,
was the editor In chief. and Tommy
/ Cast name and degree of education
wanting) was the general office boy.
Margaret Van Amburgh, b. NJ. (bache-
lor maid, held all the other positions
This able trio Kept things moving
amicably-a state of affairs due to the
editors never failing good nature, to
Tommys love of the ludicrous and to
Miss Van Amburgh' swell, to her com.
bined prettiness and extraordinary
ability.
Into the midst of this center of ac-
tiyities on one particularly exacting
afternoon a minute piece Of pasteboard
forced its poAte intrusion. Tommy
handed it to Miss Van Amburgh with
reminiscent grin.
"She told me-" he announced, ito
give it to Mr.. Mason, but promised
the boss not to let any one get Ivy me
this afternoon. She came near 1t,
though. Say, but she's a winner"
Miss Van Amburgh glanced at the
name, dropped her work and ignoring
Tommy's gratuitous observations, went
out to meet Miss Elizabeth Greene.
To Tommy's amazement he soon
found himself ushering the winner"
into the editors sanetum.
HIN" he soliloquized within cal
culated earshot of Miss Van Amburgh,
something's up. She amt no au-
thorest, I'll bet my meal ticket"
Tommy" reproved Miss Van Am
burgh, with dignity. you are not en-
ployed to pass comments on Mr.. Ma
sons visitors. Copy these letters"
mark my words' he muttered as he
moistened the copying sheets. shes
got the boss faded-sure."
And it looked SO when an hour later
the mysterious visitor. smiling, but
with tear stained eyes. left the office,
followed by the attentive editor.
Just close up the days business as
best you can. Miss Van Amburgh." In.
tructed Mr.. Mason in passing. 81 shall
not be back this afternoon"
"Wot did l tell yer?" boosted Tom
my but Miss Van Amburgh was too
busy to answer
Things went badly In the office Of the
Literary Leafet the next day. The
editor In chief was noticeably dis
traught. He dictated In an absent
minded manner and again left the Of
fee early, Offering no explanation Of
this most unusual proceeding Tommy
waited until the door closed tight and
then whistled.
Gone to meet the winner" he con-
jectured. "I'll bet my
Tommy. dust Mr. Mason's desk and
be quiet about It," directed Miss Van
Amburgh. you grow lazier every
day"
In a few minutes only the. click,
click, Of the typewriter broke the 81
lence. Suddenly a long chuckle came
from the editorial sanctum.
Tommy. what are you doing?" de
manded Miss Van Amburgh. facing
the culprit sternly.
Get on to this" said the unabashed
Tommy. reading haltingly from some
torn scraps Of paper pieced together on
the desk blotter before him. II found
fhnm N FOL hnf
stuff: 'Well-that's-th e-way-I-feel--
about-you-sweeth -
With a sudden sweep OF her hand
Miss Van Amburgh sent the telltale
scraps flying.
"I'll have you discharged. Tommy"
she threatened solemnly. GO take
those letters out of the press and carry
them over to the postoftice. You
needn't come back"
"Ever?" gasped the astonished Tom
my. You amt got no right
Back tonight. you silly. Now, step
lively"
AS soon as Tommy had been gone
sufficient length of time to insure
against his possible return Miss Van
Amburgh spread the crumpled bits of
paper out on the blotter before her
She felt as guilty as she was.
did you ever see anything so beau
tiful" cher cheeks flushed as she read
that you wanted to throw your arms
around 1t and sing for happiness?
Well, that's the way | feel about you,
sweetheart. | want to fold you close
to my heart and sing to you OF my
love"
For some time Margaret sat very
still. her chin resting on her hand
Suddenly she brushed away the tears
that were forming in her big brown
eyes and, gathering up the precious
scraps, put them In an envelope.
After she had directed this senti-
mental collection to Miss Elizabeth
Greene" she dropped it. without hest
tation, down the Office mail chute. The
thud that indicated the letters arrival
II the box far below sounded the death
knell Of her hopes, and the air castle
which she had built SO joyously fell
crashing about her. But she was glad
she had had the courage to give an
other woman the happiness she coveted
for herself.