The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-02-03
FIRING
JONES
CONTINUED from first page)

'N'AtiAAN'N ii'iii AloN PokNI
gone cheerfully out with the gang.
got gloriously intoxicated, and then
have slept It Off Jones was not
that sort-he was decent in the basic
things. He had no special moral
objections formulated against vice.
But It did not appeal to him-good
taste is often the best protection.
Saturday morning he set his teeth
and made a last try. Things went
better, but the day was sultry. Every
body was wilted and mad and re-
fused to be solicited. He hated -olng
It. So at noon his time had been
spent in vain, and he wandered dis
consolately into Scottys for coun-
ter lunch. He slouched his hat down
over his eyes as he ordered and
then, his eye catching the eye of a
girl beside him, he Strengthened and
took off the hat-she was in the ad-
vertising department He turned and
spoke to her about the heat, and
about the poor quality of the food
they were about to have, but which
was as good here as anywhere. if
you're not a millionaire"
He turned to look at her and noted
with a start that she was white about
the lips and red about the eyes, which
somehow did not disguise the fact
that she was very, very pretty. Her
pallor made her simply pathetic, but
her deep gray eyes were Hnd-some-
thing motherly shone from them,
though she could not have been more
than eighteen. She said nothing
about her own troubles.
How does your work go these
days?' she asked as she bit into
sandwich full of what the news
paper folk called alleged ham"
Rotten" he answered succinctly
How about you?" He had not ex-
pected a simple business question to
bring tears to a girls eyes, but that's
what happened to Jones, and made
him inwardly curse himself for a
laundering donkey who ought to be
kicked. He had never had a girl
apology on this fair-haired, slender
little thing bravely trying to smile
past the tears while she took a gulp
Of coffee before she tried to answer
Worse than rotten" she said
whimsically. I'm fired" He had not
been angry about himself but he was
about her.
But you do fine work-they all say
so in the office. You don't deserve it." /
he said angrily.
She FASTENED to explain. IT'S only
that I'm the newest at the Office, and
there is too much help for the dull
summer months. They want me again
in September. They just told me-
and l don't know where to get an
other place-it's dull everywhere
now"
He nodded comprehendingly. His .
own troubles dwindled.
Can you do anything but stenog-
raphy? Say why can't you go home"
The boy somehow mad a wistful idea
that all the world save himself had
even worse than his first question.
The white line about the girls lips
was worse than the threat of tears.
"I-have no home" she said short
ly. But all | can do besides type
write is-cook and do housework. But
| don't see how l can go into some
body's kitchen. I'm not-so very
strong, you see. But l suppose some
thing will happen-it always does"
She smiled and slid off the stool. "Iu /
be late if l don't hurry" She was nod
ding him goodby when he followed
her, took the check from her reluctant
hand, and paid it with his own Then
he walked back to the Office with her
It was Saturday afternoon, offices
taking the halliday off, every soul
who could get out Of town going, and
the rest yiciously cross because they
couldn't. Nobody cared whether the
circulation increased or not-save the
boss, the rival papers-and Jones.
TO do him justice, he worked like a
Turk but he accomplished little. At
five he returned to the office for his
check, and though the boss was not
there, he knew it was likely to be his
last $25 from that source. He would
be fired Monday. He set his teeth.
Just as he came out, Fannie was
leaving too, and a certain gay bold
ness came over him. He was only
twenty-one. and he had $25 in his
pocket, and his rent paid a month But
he lad never in his life had a good
time. He had no vices, no debts-but
he had never had a girl
He followed the girl and overlook
her She did not shrink from him
as she would have from some of the
men-his face was kind and good
and lonely He surprised himself in
what he said
Won't you go to supper with me
and then out to the park? There's a
good bill on, and 1t will do us both
good. I'm nearly crazy with being
alone VIII you?"
The girl hesitated a moment and