Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-09-21

he stopped in front Of the number. It
was a small, dingy brick store in .
neighborhood of small, dingy brick
stores Over the store was big
sign: Frank Zolinski, Fine Wines
and Liquors.
He rebounded happily when he
saw that the place was empty, and
that a TO Rent" sign was displayed
prominently in the window. OF
course! The phone number had been
transferred to another subscriber.
whose name was not yet in the book.
That day he called Broad 5587 with
out subterfuge. The girl was pleased
to be serious.
You mustn't think l am doing
something | shouldn't" she said.
Mamma knows | have talked to you.
And since we are acquainted"
Il know your interrupted the mys-
titled Banding
Yes, indeed How easily you forget
your friends!'
The habit of talking with the girl
daily was now established They
We're 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 a half
superstitious feeling that in time it
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, a
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-sleeved figure be-
meath the single light.
Still at 1t, Rlanding?" he asked.
yes, SIR
We'll, 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. want you to do
little errand for NO."
IAN 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 N my
car"
yes, sir"
IN tell them you're coming" and
he took the telephone receiver down.
Broad five-five-eight-seven, please"
So that was the solution of his mys-
terry! Broad 55S7 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 say
ing over the phone:
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," unused the president.
His wife's voice unconsciously took
on note of tenderness when she re-
piled: Neither had you, Fred, when
we were married."