Smyrna times., 1908-08-12
Tom my'S
Discovery.
By Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

Leahet had remarkably we'll equip
ped force. 1t employed an editor in
chief, an assistant editor. a fiction ed
itor, a household editor, q receiving
editor, a stenographer and a general
Office boy
Frederick Mallory Mason, A. B..
was the editor in chief, and Tommy
Qast 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
Tommy's love of the ludicrous and to
Miss Van Amburgh's-well,t to her COM
bined prettiness and extraordinary
ability.
Into the midst Of this center of ac-
tivities 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, ''to
give it to Mr.. Mason, but 1 promised
the boss not to let any one get by me
this afternoon. She came near it.
though. Say, but she's a winnerw
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 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 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. II shall
not be back this afternoon"
'Wot did l tell yer?' boasted Tom
my, but Miss Van Amburgh was toe
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
flee early, offering no explanation Of
this most unusual proceeding. Tommy
waited until the door closed tight anC
then whistled.
"Gone to meet the winner" he con
jectured. I'll bet my
Tommy. dust Mr.. Mason's desk anC
be quiet about it," directed Miss Val
Amburgh. "You grow lazier ever!
day"
In a few minutes only the click
click. of the typewriter broke the 81
lence. Suddenly a long chuckle cam
from the editorial sanctum.
Tommy. what are you doing?" de
manded Miss Van Amburgh, facin
the cElprit sternly.
"Get on TO this" said the unabashe
Tommy. reading haltingly from som
torn scraps of paper pieced together o
the desk blotter before him. Il foun
them in the wastebasket. It's he
stuff: at's-the-way-I-f
abOut--you-sweeth L y
With a sudden sweep Of her nan
Miss Van Amburgh sent the telltal
scraps flying
I'll have you discharged, Tommy
she threatened solemnly. go tai
those letters out of the press and carr
them over to the postofice. 70
needn't come back"
"EverY' gasped the astonished Ton
my. "You amt got no right
Back tonight, you silly Now, ste
lively"
As soon as Tommy had been gone
sufficient length of time to insu
against his possible return Miss Va
Amburgh spread the crumpled bits
paper out on the blotter before he
| She felt as guilty as she was.
did you ever see anything so bea
tiful'' cher cheeks flushed as she rea
"that you wanted to throw your arr
m around it and sing for happines
Well, that's the way 1 feel about yo
sweetheart. want to fold you clio
to my heart and sing to you of 4
love-"
eS For some time Margaret sat We
still, her chin resting on her haI
Suddenly she brushed away the tes
that were forming in her big broV
eyes and, gathering up the precio
scraps, put them in an envelope.
After she had directed this ser
mental collection to Miss Elizabe
Greene" she dropped it, without he
tation, down the Office mail chute. I
thud that indicated the letters arri'
in the box far below sounded the dea
knell of her hopes, and the air cas-
. which she had built so joyously
/, crashing about her. But she was g