Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-10-31

AANNAANAL - ~ k-NAANs
well, dad. how do you like herr
breezed Dick cheeriiy.
Suppose / was to tell you that the
girl couldn't take a short letter from
dictation," be said dryly.
Great Scott, fatherg'
ION what grounds did you hire Miss
Falrlle5'
Dick writhed. How could be tell bis
matter Of fact parent that he had
trusted to chance in the selection7 He
had merely counted seven girls from
the end. and. 10. II was Miss Fairliel
No use talking. be wasn't cut U for
business. II bis father had only per
mitted him to stick down there on the
Long Island estate and become a gen
tleman farmer-that was what he
was fitted for. All the Channings had
been farmers. His father was the only
professional man among the lot.
well. Dick. may l inquire why you
selected Miss Fairlie from twenty 9TH
err girlsl Was It because she Is the
most incompetent or because abe 10
more glOriously beautifulT'
well. dad. I guess I'll have to con-
fess II was pure chance" he admitted
ruefully. "You zee, / had interviewed
nine, and ] couldn't stand any more.
They all looked alike and sounded
alike, and l got horribly mixed. So I
simply chose the girl that sat In the
seventh chair from the door"
"WhatY' Mr.. Claiming almost
bounced out OF bis chair with astonish-
ment
Dick repeated bis remarks and went
into detailed explanation Of how from
a little lad be had decided many i'm
portant questions BY resortng to the
lucky number seven
I'm sorry it's failed. Really, IT'S
the nrst time the charm hasn't work.
ed" he said sheepishIy.
Mr.. Channing's shoulders were shak.
ing with suppressed merriment as he
replied:
you can 90 back to the farm. Dick.
but you shIl remain in the firm II you
care to come back to your Office now
and then. AS for Miss Fairlie, I have
discharged her"
"You have? Well. I'm sorry," muir.
INJURED Dick, conscious OF a PERSONAL
loss somewhere. Somehow In this mo-
ment OF Miss Fairie's dismissal the
prospect Of the Long Island farm was
not so alluring. Il wonder what she
will do now. II she Is incompetent she
can't get another job. and she looked
poor"
she won't starve," retorted Mr..
Charming grimly. she's going back to
the farm, toO-so she says"
"WhereY'
Long Island-oh, SheercHfre, II you
must have It."
Then she's near our place." Dick
was on his feet pacing the door. Z"
wonder
Wondering II I will object TO nav.
ing a s~tenographlc daughter-in-lawY'
asked Mr.. Channlng dryly.
Something like that" was Dicks
cool retort.
my dear boy. she isn't even a good
stenographer." said Mr.. ChanDinG
mildly. and Dick was surprised that be
'aA1 ~ AAOANs
"Tm not looking for a stenographer;
| want a wife," said Dick bluntiy.
when did you make up your mind2"
Il don't know. / guess It was when
chance decided upon her. and now
there can't be any other for me-"
You have my permission to try your
laughed Mr.. Claiming. but
hail me as the disinterested ia.
Their, for, you see. I've known Alice
Bairiie ever since she was a child-in
fact, I've been her guardian since the
death Of her parents. II you paid
more attention to business. Dick. you
would know that the Fairlie estate is
largest client. Alice happened In
10 see me the other day and found a
Deat among your applicants for the OF.
Ice position. and you chose her, and
was 20 proud OF her smatterIng Of
commercial education. picked up
don't know where, that she accepted
The Job. Poor Dickerman was nearly
horrihed to death"
Nj. Claiming drew his breath and
at his agitated son.
Dick was red and pale by turns, and
ne turned a furtve eye on the door Of
he little office where Alice Fairlie sat
70 demurely.
Alice Fairliel OF course l remem.
'er now" muttered Dick at last.
Why, when she was seven and ! was
line we were engaged to be married.
used to call her Carrots" he ended
n an awed tone.
go in and call her Carrots now"
Urged bis father. "she's a lonely girl
educated abroad and no time TO make
riends yet and not a relative In the /
world. I'm very busy just now" He
waved his son away.
Dick pushed into the little ONCE,
where Alice Falrlie was pinning on
Ter hat. She glanced at him from
nischievOus eyes. On the little finger
( n slender hand cleaned a little
ing OF twisted gold wire.
hello. CerrOts" grinned Dick hap
ny.
Hello. smartyr' dimpled Alice sau.
fly.