The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-09-08
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from fits shelf and hurried out with Il
After midnight he found the mum
Der and its complement: frank 10
linsli. 32s Twenty NTH street"
That didn't sound very encourag
ing: but then. with swift loyalty ht
told himself that It would be all right
Ho fell asleep and dreamed about 1
girl OF wonderful beauty with a voice
OF gold.
He was two hours early the next
morning. partially that he might &c
far out of his way TO pass 1928 Twen
ty-fifth street, and partially to return
the telephone book before It would be
needed
His heart sank TO his boots when
he stopped in front OF the number. II
was a small, dingy brick store in a
neighborhood Of small, dlngy brick
stores. over the store was a Big
sign: Frank zolinsld. Fine Wines
and Liquors"
He rebounded happily when he
saw that the place was empty, and
that ITO Rent" sign was displayed
prominently in the window. OF
coursel The phone number had been
transferred to another subscriber,
whose name was not yet In the book,
That day he called Broad 55S7 with.
out subterfuge. The girl was pleased
to be serious
You mustn't think am doing
something l shouldn't" she said.
Mamma knows l have talked to you.
And since we are acquainted"
Il know your" interrupted the mys-
titled Blanding.
Yes. indeed. How easily you forget
your friendsl"
The habit of talking with the girl
daily was now established. They
were not long chats, never more than
few minutes. But they frightened
his labors materially.
Blanding made no further efforts to
discover her Identity. He had half
superstidous feeling that in time 1t
would be revealed.
lnsensibly she grew deeply into his
confidence. He told her of his home,
his hopes and ambitions; of his moth
er and father.
In Blanding's mind a certain dream
OF the future began to form itself,
dream In which himself and the girl
whose voice only he knew were the
central figures. And that dream
spurred him to promotion and more
pay.
He was pegging away one evening,
long after the others had left, for
there was work which could not be
put over. when the president himself
came in. Mr.. Williams started at the
sight of the shirt-sleeyed figure be-
meath the single light
Still at it, Blanding?" he asked.
Yes, sir"
well, don't work too hard. We're
going to need you In the future more
than we do now. guess you've done
enough for tonight l want you to do
a little errand for me-"
"All right, SIR" said Neil.
I'D like to have you go up to the
house with this package for Mrs.
Williams. It's pretty valuable, and
don't want to entrust it to an ordi-
nary messenger. You can ride in my
car"
yes, sir"
TN tell them you're coming" and
he took the telephone receiver down.
Broad fve-aVe-eight.seven, please"
So that was the solution of his mys-
terry! Broad 5587 was Mr.. Williams
phone; then the girl with whom he
had been talking each day for weeks
was the presidents daughter, Mary
cite Williams.
He had met her once in the office
with her mother. To him she had been
a beautiful vision as unattainable as
the farthest star. And yet - she
liked him. Their daily talks proved
that.
While he-he loved her, because
she was his mate, intended for him
since the world was fashioned. She
was near to loving him, too-she
would care for him dearly. That glori-
Gus certainty thrilled him.
Back in the Office Williams was
ing over the nhone:
1--WE Just sent young Blanding up
to the house, mother. If you like him,
invite him to call. He's worth dozen
Of the average chaps of the day He's
got the stuff that partners are
made Of"
You've prejudiced me already in
his favor" replied Mrs Williams.
Il don't suppose he has $500 to his
name" mused the president.
His wife's voice Unconsciously took
on a note of tenderness when she re-
Piled; Neither had you. Fred, when
we were married."