Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-04-13
HELD BY the
Government
An Agreeable Surprise When
the Release Came.
BY orHo 3. sENeA.

John Pearson was distinctly annoy
ed He would not have believed Eu-
genia could be so unreasonable. 1t
was bad enough to lose Havens, who
was the best stenographer he ever had.
but when lie finally secured another,
who could do satisfactory work, to
have Eugenia object because the girl
was young and pretty was enough to
make II man lose all patience.
He strove to appease his fiancee's
wrath by pointing out how Inferior in
beauty and grace the new stenographer
appeared to him in comparison with
herself. He tried to appeal to her rea-
son. her pride, for faith in him, but to
little purpose.
You need not trouble to call again
or to communicate with me until you
have discharged that girl" was the
ultimatum, and Pearson went away,
angry and indignant, matchmaking
all women and their silly, unreasona-
BILE Jealousy.
Miss Anthony was not often unrea-
sonable and had had little occasion for
jealousy. She hardly could have ex-
plained 1t herself. but her annoyance
about the girl and her resentment to-
ward her lover had begun when she
had asked the name of the new en-
ployee and John had replied, "Anna
Darling"
The tiny flames had been famed and
Increased by every word of praise for
Miss Darling that the unconscious
Pearson had stupidity uttered until she
could bear 1t no longer. She magnified
his satisfaction with the girls work
into love for the girl herself and she
felt for the moment quite justified In
demanding her discharge.
But with the next days light Miss
Anthony's good sense and love of fair
play reasserted itself. "How silly 1
was" she thought.
She resolved to send him a little note
or telephone message, but decided to
wait until evening. he was to take
her to the opera and on the way she
would confess her unreasonableness.
The evening passed. and no John and
no message to explain his absence-1O
o'clock, 1890! II won't he FOOLISH
she thought firmly. "I'll call him up
by phone and tell him wnat to say
good night"
She had often done this when 1t had
not been possible for John to come to
her. She smiled happily as she rang
the bell and called for the Pearson
residence. John lived with his brother,
and she knew the family had gone
away. She recognized the house
keepers voice in reply to her call, but
her face fell at the message. Mr.. John
had not been home, and Mrs. Barnes
could get no reply to frequent calls
over the phone to the Office.
The next morning Miss Anthony
called Mrs. Barnes again, with similar
results. MIR. John did not come home,
and evidently there was no one at his
Office.
Miss Anthony was essentially wo-
man of action. She dressed herself in
Il most becoming street costume and a
half hour later was enterin. the great
Office building on Congress street.
Pearson's office was closed, the door
locked
"He wasn't there all day yesterday,
volunteered the elevator boy.
But surely some one was" insisted
Miss Anthony. "The young lady
"She came in the morning, but went
away again Immediately" he an
swered.
Miss Anthony was quick to resolve
and equally quick to execute. She
consulted the directory at once and
took car for Arlington. At the door
of a neat little cottage she paused.
Yes. there was the name, Darling, on
the dnorplate What could she say to
the 81. even If she found her? Did
she really expect to believe that she
and John Then she lifted her head
proudly. Was she going to be silly
again? Something had happened to
John, and Miss Darling might be able
W ul0 uCk III w AdI ~ w
When Miss Darling entered the room
Miss Anthony could hardly restrain
the impulse to take her in her arms,
such a pretty, timid looking little
thing more than child. Hcl
eyes were visibly red with weeping,
and when Miss Anthony asked her II
she had been at work the day before
her face colored painfully.
Miss Anthony explained enough of
the situation for Miss Darling to un-
derstand the reason of her visit, and
then Miss Darling told her own story
hurriedly.
II have been with Mr.. Pearson nearly
n month and supposed my work was
entirely satisfactory. went to work
yesterday morning as usual, but had
hardly entered the office when the tele-
phone bell rang. On answering 1t
found II was Mr.. Pearson speaking.
He said that he should require my
services no longer and would mail me
check for two months salary"
She paused choking back sob
MISS AnthOn. flushed WIN Snamc ana
regret.
II left the Office Immediately, Of
course. l cannot understand it, for !
was at work OH some papers that Mr.
Pearson was very anxious to have fin
ished this week-work that another
stenographer could not we'll take up
And"-she hesitated-"as yet lave
not received the check"
Miss Anthony spoke rapidly and with
decision. Miss Darling, l am con-