The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-03-23

PEGGY POINTER
By CATHERINE COOPE
By CATHERINE COOPE

Jane felt her color rising under that
feeting glimpse of recognition in the
Office boys eyes. He turned on his
heel and Jane braced herself to face
the woman who was ashamed TO use
her own photograph
This way"
Jane caught her breath and follow
ed the Office boy into a glass parti-
toned room.
She swept through the door with
her head held high and panic seized
her. She was standing before per-
haps 20 men ali of whom looked up
and remained looking up-for Jane
was beautiful.
She stood, seemingly rooted to the
spot and scarcely realizing that
very deep voice had addressed her.
Il am Peggy" he said and Jane
caught at her under lip to still the
laughter that threatened her. He was
all of six feet tall and he seemed to
Jane quite the best looking man she
had SEEN She made an effort to con-
troll her voice and cast a quick glance
around the room. She knew instinct
lively that every man in the room
|
photograph and that she had in some
way played up to her part in a huge
joke. That the joke was on the big
man standing dejectedly beside her
was also apparent.
Jane Harding did the only thing
possible under the circumstances. She
smiled a radiant smile that gave her
the instant homage of every man in
the editorial Office.
| Butt am very angry" she said as
if they had been talking long about
/ the unwarranted use of her photo
graph Il cannot make my friends
| believe that 1 am not Peggy Poyn-
ner," and because Jane found her po-
sitiOn more or less trying and be-
| cause the man at her side was so 81
lent. she fed precipitately from the
room.
| Jane was almost out of the building
when she discovered that Peggy, 9TH
erwise known as Jimmy Warren, had
followed her
She stopped and looked up at him
and tried to feel some of the anger
that had been hers a few hours be-
fore. She could only feel anger at
herself for letting this big man bring
color to her face
| Miss Harding" he said as he swung
into step beside her, Il want to ex-
plain and apologize First, the chaps
in the Office all dared me to do what
I have done-use your picture for that
of Peggy Poynter. and run the column
for as long as the public would stand
for it,
Stand for my pictured" Jane raised
wide open eyes and Jimmy lost a step.
My Lovers Nook" he said and
smiled. Jane liked the smile. For
nearly two years 1 have been what
the chaps called incoming over a pho
tograph that 1 found In the desk that
was left by my predecessor" Jimmy
Warren turned and looked at Jane.
but she had found something of great
interest straight ahead.
ST have spent the last two years
looking for the original of that pho
tograph and also for the reporter who
once owned it"
He did not own it," Jane flashed
quickly back. He promised to send
It back to mel"
which is more than I would have
done,' Jimmy calmly restorted- "I
knew if there was any way of finding
you. it was by publishing that pic
ture."
Which you did. And the whole Of
fee force has been waiting for me to
appear" Jane looked up accusingly.
THE whole world has been wait
ing" Jimmy said "At least it seems
to me as If the universe had begun
new revolution" He piloted her
| down a sidestreet. 81 am taking you
to lunch" he replied to the question
in her eyes. 1T is only right that
, begin to make amends at once"