The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-02


ward toward Rose. who stood close 20 .
his desk. resting her sable muff on its .
polished top.
ITO what am indebted for this .
pleasureT he asked OF her.
Yourself" She smiled graciously
on him ms she spoke
Valentine drew near 10 her.
Howe"
Don't you suppose ] like you as
well as do the children" she an
swered gayly.
"Do youY" he asked anxiously.
Eyes, but why is it that you never
do call on me any more?' she ques-
toned reproachfully.
"Well-because"- he became very
uncomfortable. She must never know
the true reason for his avoidance of
her.
do you think it's fair to use a wO-
mans weapon against her? You know
it's a woman's birthright TO say be
cause when she''-
IL meant
'What?"
"Oh-ah-what were we talking
about?"
AS to why you don't call on me
any more"
Valentine struggled TO think of
successful mode of escape from an
swering the question.
"Well, now-don't You sec" he STAN
mered. "Of course you do" He was
becoming more involved every mo-
ment.
The girls smile began to fade.
Rather grimly she interrupted him.
mo. don't see at all" was her an
nouncement. She moved away from
the desk.
"Well, Miss Lane. u
The telephone bell rang at his desk
He bent forward and put the receiver
to his ear. As he hung up the re-
ceiver a clerk entered.
"Will you have the cash now?" lthe
employee asked.
"In a few minutes"
No sooner had the clerlll made his
exit when a messenger boy entered.
bearing telegram. Valentine tore
it open, apologizing to Roses as he did
so. The girl saw that the assistant
cashier was very busy. She deter
mined to leave him for the present.
AS Valentine dismissed the boy she
announced that if the press of bust
ness would not continue all day she
would return. Valentine assumed her
that in Il half hour he would be at
| I,fs. nd hnt ha
everything else in order TO talk m her.
She started toward the door, assuring
him that she would return. As she
opened the door she turned and ,cast
smile in the direction of the assist
ant cashier.
But Valentine didinot notice it. he
did not see it. HisAeyes were glued TO
the slip of yellow paper that he theld
in his hand. The tgirl saw that as he
read the telegram an expression of
tenseness. of unsubdued excitement,
crept across his face. WOnderingdy
she softly closed the door. A few
steps carried her before Valentine.
who looked up in surprise. thinking
she had gone.
what is it-thet telegram" she
gasped. Its bad news for you-very
bad" she went on. II must know"
Valentine. undergoing a pronounced
shock owing TO the contents Of the
message which he held in his hand
was almost completely unstrlmg 10y
the interruption of the sgirl he loved
Was it not fate that prompted her tc
appear before him at the,very moment
when
"Oh. it Is nothing" hetsaid weakly
Merely little businessN tangle-that
Ia all"
He stepped out from behind his
desk. crumpling the fateful telegram
In his hand, and gently led the girl to
the door. Remember" he said Il
have an engagement with you in a
half hour"
81 will remember"
Unconvinced. mystifed and thor
oughly agitated by his nervous man
ner. Rose Lane went out of the office
Valentine, smiling as best he could
under the circumstances. closed the
J door behind her He crossed to heI
chair, sank into it and fla4tened the
! wrinllled telegram before him. Again
he read 1t from end to end:
"Look out" he read Doyle will be
in town this afternoon at A to see you
: about an important matter"
The assistant cashier dropped his
chin into his palm and' stared vacant
ly at the opposite wall.
Doyle" he muttered - George
Doyle. He said he'd get me If it TOOK
ten years--a lifetime. Well. perhaps
he can; then, again. perhaps he can
not. At any rate. he'can probably ruiz
my career. my hopes..my standing here
where | have friends who believe IN
me-"
Valentine leaned ihack meditGtively
I'm his chair. The fatal telegram drop
ped UNDECIDED to the floor His moutl
set determinedly. A new fire blazeC
in his eyes, the fire'that had consumed
him and had spurred him on when il
the days and nights of the past he haC
ventured forth on n desperate enter
prise.
He would Give George DOYLE n race