Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-05
Tom n1y'S
Discovery.
By Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

Rtu lVISc- IL an III
chief, an assistant editor. fiction ed
1tor, household editor, receiving
editor, a stenographer and a general
office boy.
Frederick Mallory Mason. A. B..
was the editor in chief. and Tommy
CAST name and degree of education
lwanting) was the general office boy.
Margaret Van Amburgh. Il. NJ. tbache-
Tor 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
Tommy's love of the ludicrous and to
Miss Van Amburgh's-well, to her com
bined prettiness and extraordinary
ability.
Into the midst of this center of ac-
ttivities on one particularly exacting
afternoon a minute piece of pasteboard
forced its polite intrusion. Tommy
handed it TO Miss Van Amburgh with
a reminiscent grin.
"She told me-" he announced, Ito
give it to Mr.. Mason. but | promised
the boss not to let any one get by me
this afternoon. She came near it,
though. Say, but she's a winner
Miss Van Amburgh glanced at the
name, dropped her work and, ignoring
Tommy's gratutous observations, went
Uut to meet Miss Elizabeth Greene.
I To Tommy's amaZement he soon
found himself ushering the winner
anto the editors sanctum.
Him." he soliloquiZed within cal
culated earshot of Miss Van Amburgh.
Something's up. She amt no au-
sthorest I'll bet my meal ticket"
Tommy" reproved Miss Van Am
hburgh, with dignity. You are not en-
lpioyed to pass comments on Mr.. Ma
sons visitors. Copy these letters"
Mark my words" he muttered as he
moistened the copying sheets. she's
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." liz
tructed Mr.. Mason in passing, Il 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 notieeably dis
;traught. He dictated In an absent.
minded manner and again left the Of
tfice early. offering no explanation of
this most unusual proceeding Tommy
waited until the door closed tight and
then whistled.
"Gone to meet the winner" be con-
3ectured. "I'n bet my
, Tommy, dust Mr.. Masons desk and
be quiet about it." directed Miss Van
iAmburgh. you grow lazier every
day"
In a few minutes only the click.
click, Of the typewriter broke the ST.
.lence. Suddenly long chuckle came
from the editorial sanctum.
Tommy, what are you doingw 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 BIN. II found
them in the wastebasket. It's hot
stuff: 'Well-that's-the- -way-I-feei-
bout-you-sweetheart T"-
With sudden sweep of her hand
Miss Van Amburgh sent the telltale
scraps flying.
I'm have you discharged Tommy"
ishe threatened solemnly. Go take
those letters out of the press and carry
them over to the postotiice You
needn't come back"
"EverY' gasped the astonished Tom
my. You amt got no right
Back tonight. you silly Now. step
lively"
AS soon as Tommy had been gone a
sufficient length of time TO insure
against his possible return Miss Van
Amburgh spread the erumpled bits of
paper out on the bIotter before her.
She felt as guilty MS she was.
Did you ever see anything so beaa-
tiful" Cher cheeks flushed as she read,
that you wanted to throw your arms
around it and sing for happinessp
Well, that's the way feel about you.
sweetheart. l 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 i'm 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
10 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