The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-23
THE EVENING STORY
Jones Gets a Jolt.
Rv Jeanne Olive Liozlaux1

(By Jeanne OnNe I1OZIauX.)
In the private office the junior part
ner, John Lawless, and Miss Bessie
Compton, the head stenogra pher were
deep in what looked like private con-
versa ton At least it looked like it
to Jones. Jones delicately withdrew,
leaving his mere business matters for
a season more convenient. Jones was
head manager, but he was not what
Bub, the office boy, called a ''buttin-
ski Jones was observing, romantic.
1t was q half hour before Miss Bessie
with her golden head and her upright,
slim figure, her reserve, and her note
book, emerged again into the COM
mon herd of workers. Jones looked
up from his desk and sighed-for a year
he had been signing whenever she came
into Sight-or into mind. Thus far his
signing had done him no good-nobody
knew, nobody cared. Jones was mod
est.
Now, he secretly searched the girls
face for signs of unhappiness-and
thought that he found them in her
pallor, the faint violet shadows be-
meath her long dashed eyes. From
plying himself he began to pity her.
No, she was not for him, but if she
wanted the Junior partner she should
have him. He, Jones, would see to il
that Mr.. John Lawless took due note
of her.
So Jones began his interference man
fully. Things began to work for Bes-
sic, mysteriously. One hot August
morning a fresh red rose lay on her
desk when she came to the office
She seized it, daintily loved it, Won
dered audibly what perfectly dear
person had dropped 1t there, and final
ly set it up before her in a bottle of
fresh water; Jones brought her the
water. He smiled but he shed no
light on the matter of the giver.
Later, when ne privately talked
plans with Mr. John, he carelessly Of
fered that gentleman a fresh red bud
for his coat lapel. Mr.. John was pleas
ed, but busy. He thanked Jones, thrust
the blossom into his buttonhole,
promptly forgot it, and went on talk
ing about the advertising campaignJ-
but Bessie that the mate to her
rose was in his coat. She flushed.
Jones saw her, and she met his eye
and flushed more deeply.
Later she found a box of chocolates
in her inner drawer, and then a small
but perfect bunch of ViOlets. From
day to day these offerings multiplied.
They cost Jones money, but he was
willing to make the girl happy if he
could He noted that now she said
nothing about these mysterious gifts,
but bore them slyly away when she
went home. She was hiding her ROM
ance from office eyes, but he saw her
give an odd look now and then at Mr..
was perfectly serious, searching and
not particularly pleasant.
His harder task was to find out
where Mr.. Lawless stood. Lawless
was no snob-he would marry any
girl who pleased him. He was not yet
very rich, belonged to family no bet
ter than that of Bessie, and was very
decent fellow Jones knew this, and
went on scheming. First he complain
ed of the crowding of the middle office,
second he got better position Tor MISS
Hemingway on the quiet, ana
since her successor was green Miss
BESSIE had to take all the Junior part
ner's dictation. Finally he managed to
get that gentleman to have the SirIs
desk in the private office. When she
moved in. Bessie did queer thing-she
stouped at Jones' desk. leaned over it,
and looking straight into his shy but
delighted eyes. remarked tersely:
You're an awful big fool, Herbert
JoneS!"
Jones curled up like a caterpillar on
a hot shovel-but he had seen the quick
tears in her eyes as she turned away.
He was perfectly sure that she thought
the Junior partner infinitely her super
ior He would fix that up-the Junior
partner would have to see what was
what that was all. Any sweet girl,
reflected Jones, is superior to the aver
age man.
Jones did not suspect that MIR. Law
less enjoyed him immensely as a char
acter,'' for his naive goodness, his sim
plicity and unselfishness, or that the
gentleman often led him on in con-
versation to get the unworldiness of his
viewpoint. = Late one hot afternoon
when business was slack, and after
Jones had spent all his week pocket
money for a box of expensive French
bonbons left surreptitiously in the
IDOLS desk Mr.. Lawless called Jones
into the inner office. He told Miss
Bessie Compton that she could go
home. and started conversation. He
wondered what Jones thought ABOUT
all sorts of things they touch
ed woman-in business Mr. LaWless
was wise and cynical-but Jones stood
his ground-he deplored the necessity
of a voman's presence in an office.
.oThey belong in homes, he per-
sisted Look at any girl-well, Miss
Compton, for instance. Shes pretty,
nestle l know her folks, sir. So
do vou-your father knew hers. She
has to work-but-she'd be perfect
as a wife. 1 know she would
! She
Jones grew crimson, while Mr..
tIawless looked out of the window and
blew some smoke rings into the sui
try air. He turred and gave Jones
a peculiar look.
you are perfectly right Jones.
She would make a good wife-she
ought to be married this minute.
There's no sweeter girl on the earth,
1 am sure" His voice was dreamy.
Yes, she ought to be married. Say
Jones, what about giving Boardman
& Vesey that new contract, eh?" He
changed the subject with lightning ra-
pidity Jones smiled to himself a
wan smile
And the next afternoon, when the
heavens opened with almost a flood
Mr. .aWleSs did an unIleard-of thing
waited until the whole force was
he hnr,