Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-08-15
TOn1m1y'S
Discovery.
BY Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

llOT, uOuSenOlu eultOr, TecelNluB
editor, q stenographer and a general
Office boy.
Frederick Mallory Mason, A. B.,
was the editor in chief, and Tommy
CAST name and degree Of education
wantinO 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
Tommy's love Of the ludicrous and to
Miss Van Amburgh's-well, to her COM
blned prettiness and extraordinary
ability.
Into the midst Of this center Of ac-
tlvities on one particularly exacting
afternoon a minute piece Of pastebOard
forced its polite intrusion. Tommy
handed It to Miss Van Amburgh with
n reminiscent grin.
'She told me-" he announced, ito
give II TO Mr.. Mason. but l promised
the boss not TO let any one get by me
this afternoon. She came near It,
though. Say, but she's n wlnnerw
Miss Van Amburgh glanced at the
name, dropped her work and. ignoring
Tommy's gratuitous observations, went
ont to meet Miss Elizabeth Greene.
To Tommy's amazement he soon
found himself ushering the winner
into the editors sanctum.
"H'm," 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, "she's
got the boss faded-sure."
And 1t 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 cnn, Miss Van Amburgh," in
tructed NJ Mason in passing. 81 shall
not be back this afternoon"
"Wot did I tell yer?" boasted 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
ntInded manner and again left the Of
<.s.-,---~-- a.. .----i--4,- e
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 ana
be quiet about it." directed Miss Van
Amburgh. "You grow lazier every
day"
In q 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 doingT 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. Il found
them in the wastebasket. It's hot
stuff: :'Well-that's-the-way-l-feel-
about-you-swee r.
With a sudden sweep Of her hand
Miss Van Amburgh sent the telltale
scraps flying. =.
'T'll have you discharged, Tommy
she threatened solemnly. go take
those letters out Of the press and carry
them over to the postofiice. 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 q
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 50 beau
tiful" cher cheeks flushed as she read
that you wanted to throw your arms
around it and sing for happiness
I We'll. that's the way feel about you
sweetheart. l want to fold you clos'
to my heart and sing to you Of m!
love"
For some time Margaret sat yer,
still. her chin resting on her hand
Suddenly she brushed away the tear
that were forming IN her big brow
eyes and, gathering up the preciou
scraps, put them in an envelope.
After she had directed this sent
mental collection to Miss Elizabet
Greene" she dropped It, without hes
tation. down the Office mail chute. Th
thud that indicated the letters arrive
I'm the box far below sounded the deatf
knell of her hopes, and the air castl
which she had built so joyously fe
crashing about her. But she was gla
she had had the courage to give al
other woman the happiness she oovete
for herself.
With the feeling that she had passe
= through some awful ordeal, yet ha
come out Of it creditably, Margar'
wrapped up a bunch Of miscellaneor
manuscripts for home work and close
the office.
AS she was ref ng these over lat
she came upon that bore pr
cious comment OF ,r own This
worth accepting" she had jotted dow
for the editors benefit, If you can
the mans love letters up bit In
do not ring true"
Turning the pages over llstlessly
the hero's first unsatisfactory epiSl
she was startled to read, in Masol
lona1rritinp the very letter Sne II