Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-05-14

Il NIollOl'
Perry Wainwright, redolent of band
box and soap rs ever, found his way
past the doorkeeper and burst into the
sanctum.
"Hello!" was his greeting. His
honor isn't around?"
NO." answered Cynthia demurely,
looking up from her work with the
most businesslike air she could as
sumo. Hes out at lunch"
81 knew he would be" grinned Per-
ry. 81 timed it fine, didn't II"
eff you knew he was out, why did
you Gomez" she asked severely. "You
know l never receive callers during
business hours. If you didn't come to
see Mr.. Bennett
"But l did. Honest 1 did. 1 have a
message for him. It's awfully impor-
tant. He mustn't miss it,"
"Perhaps you'll leave it with me? |
CAM
mo; it's got an answer to it. IN
have to wait, l suppose"
He sat down, unlimited, with an air
Of mock resignation that was too much
for Cynthia's gravity.
"Perry Wainwright,' she exclaimed
in evaporation, chow often am 1 to
tell you you mustn't bother me here
in office hours?"
"Now you've hurt my feelings" an
nounced Perry in solemn conviction.
"But," he added generously, "Tll for
give you, and to prove it I'll give you Il
peace Offering. See? Your old Boston
terriers Betty and Prince Charlie, and
me holding them"
And he laid before her a photograph.
She caught it up, with a little cry of
pleasure.
ooh, the beauties..' she exclaimed.
eve do look we'll in that pose" he
admitted modestly.
81 was speaking of the dogs" she
reproved him, with lofty scorn.
"But I'm in the picture, too" he e
planned. I'm the one with the hat
OH. And'-
"Thank you so much for the picture.
1 shall keep it always. They're the
incest dogs l EVER had"
"I'm nice too. And it isn't my fault
Pm not a dog. p
81 told you once before not to give
up hope. You'll grow. "I"-
Il told that to some fellows at the
club, and we tried to figure it out, and
we decided you were guying me-"
"What clever men you must be at
that club! Are you going to the ad.
ministration ball next week."
care youy"
"Why?"
Because that's the answer. I've
never been to an administration ball
but if you're there | guess it,
= Don't be silly. The administrator
ball is a very great function indeed
I've been asking questions about it
= Not only every n connected with the
administration goes, but all sorts o.
= capitalists and other people like that
y I've heard that some of the bigges
financial deals are arranged durin:
that ball. Isn't it queer?"
Not especially. There's a deal I'm
a thinking of putting through mysel.
+ that night if don't get q good chance
6 earlier-a deal that means a lot tt
me-"
: Then why wait till the ball? VIII,
not
n "I'd do it now, only Bennett Nigh
p come in before
! What a worker Mr.. Bennett is.
# broke in Cynthia, turning very pinl
a and, fastening to change the subject.
W I'm the old days we thought he wa
the soul of laziness, but now he
n working here night and day. He's no
- only the youngest mayor this city eve
had, but I think he's the busiest toe
~ He''-
Tho eulogy on the new mayor wa
n cut short by that dignitary's appear
ance from the center room. AS Alwy,
IN paused to hang up his coat and ha
and pull off his gloves Cynthia ben
once more over her work, while PERI
Strengthened UP and tried TO look a
though he really had business of press
~ ing Importance With his honor.
Sc The months had brought changes t
. Bennett. There We're care lines ON hi
IA face, and his eyes were tired. \ fey
- silver strands. too. had crept into TIL
NtlihSh ictA oi 1iS 1Siill'iSS. u 'Se
l. little now about him to suggest til
u idler.
"Well old man. he exclaimed o
Ne seeing Perry. whats the excuse thi
+ time?"
y "The what?" asked the youth III
u easily.
u "The excuse. You come here-whe
ie I'm likely to be o%ut-about four time
IS a week, and always with a perfect
re new excuse for your intrusion. l to
III crate you for the originality of thos
III excuses. What is today's?"
81 have no need Of an excuse" II
at piled Perry. with an air Of hurt dig
e. nifty. Il am the bearer Of a most in
he portant message to you"
"From whom?"
ID "From-from- Dallas is home; lane
u ed this morning"
at A light came into the mayors tire
" eyes at the Jews.
"And the message?" he asked es