The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-09

way with an Inquiry upon her face He
nodded. She thrust the paper he had
given her into the top drawer of her
desk. "All right, Sammy; tell them
to come in"
With a gravity like that of the
sphinx, but with CLINT of malice sat
isfied in his small eyes, the fat boy
ambled heavily to the door. With
voice as disproportionate to his years
as were his calves, he cried invitation
to his mother and his sister. It was az
if they waited on the other side of a
wide stream and he was battling
bowling tempest with his tones. His
All right, MON, come on in,' rasped
Broadway's nerves; the fact that he
had failed in the delivery of the brief
eloquence which had been fruit Of mid
night and past-midnight oil at the un-
! speakable Grand, certain feeling
(such as all of us have had) that he
was doing worthily while getting less
than proper credit for it. made him
hate Sammy at that moment.
He wondered if he might not throttle
him in some deserted spot before the
day was over, looked him over careful
ly, observed the size of his columnar
neck, and hopelessly abandoned
thought of it. His hands would never
reach around it! The visitors ap-
peared.
While attention was distracted from
her, in answer to an irresistible i'm
| pulse, Josie took from the desk draw
er the paper Broadway had intrusted
| to her, and thrust it into a sacred, Sc
cret place within her shirtwaist.
Mrs. Spotswood, filled with the fine
excitement of the matron who is GER
tain that romance is working in her
neighborhood, was devoured by that
modification of the spirit of the chase
which sends the ladies, rich or poor,
good or bad, upon the scent Of such
elusive news with all the zest of sports
men after squirrels or elephants. She
was inclined toward worry in regard
| to Jonesville's fate and also inclined
! to confidence in it because she had
known Broadway since he was little
boy (ah, what errors have good women
made because they have known some
one since he was little boy!) and
knew that while he might be wild" he
was not wicked, for his baby curls had
been so sweet; pleased beyond ex
preston by the deep impression which
| her own delicious Clara had made up
on Broadway's affluent, well-mannered,
| plainly competent friend-animated by
these various emotions and not less
than twenty others which l have not
! mentioned. Mrs. Spotswood wore a
! fluttering smile as she accepted her
| baby-mastodonic sons infant fog-whis-
tie invitation.
Good morning, JOSIE
Josie smiled at her, although she
had regretted her arrival almost as
much as Broadway had. She had so
wished to read the words upon the ho-
tel letter paper which her new en-.
| ployer had spent half the night in
writing.
Mrs. Spotswood's smile expanded till
it fairly beamed at Josie before she
turned her eyes to Broadway, and then
she started with surprise. 1t was be-
cause she had been certain he was
there that she had come; visit from
her to the factory was an unheard-o of
thing; she had distinctly heard his
voice as she had passed outside the
open door, but now her deep astonish-
ment because he was within the room
| seemed almost overwhelming.
"Oh, hello, Broadway"
| He smiled nervously and hurried for.
ward. Things had not gone as he had
wished, but he was not resentful. New
er had he been so humble. Had he
not, the night before, defaced that pa
per with the tale of his humility and
the details of his good resolves? Be-
sides, had not Mrs. Spotswood guard
ed him in childhood against wrath at
home on more than one occasion, and
had she not, the previous evening, with
the understanding and good humor of
an angel, prepared for him that lemon
ade which held the magic touch for
which his system yearned?
I'm awfully glad to see you here in
the plant" she earnestly assured him.
and meant every word of it. Then:
did you have a good nights sleep?"
Even the question was nervous
shock, but he smiled bravely, although
he shuddered slightly as he asked In
answer, How do l look?"
Grand" she exclaimed.
Now his shudder was not slight.
Don't mention the name, please"
"You must come to our house to sup
per-"
Believe me, shall be glad to get
it." he said fervently.
Now her soul paid tribute to that
subtle hint OF romance which was in
the air. 'You, too, JOSIE"
"Oh, thanks, Mrs. Spotswood."
rs the Judge here?"
She knew perfectly we'll that he was
not; she had seen him through the
window of his little oneroomed, peak
rooted oflce building just across the
street as she had turned into the