Middletown transcript., 1914-05-09

at her; Il was thinking Of you as
passed the drug store just now"
She laughed, delighted. That's
strange. I've been thinking of you
tool"
Have you really?"
"Yes. Oh, those chocolates were
inel ate them all before went to
bed" Then, reproachfully, but you
shouldn't be spending your money the
way you dol"
He was unconscious Of any mad ex-
penditure of which she could be cogni-
zant and, therefore, was surprised.
''What?"
''Mr. Jones told me that you were a
regular spendthrift."
This from Broadway, the most IA
nous spendthrift of New York's recent
years! when did he tell you that?"
he asked, endeavoring to hide the
meaning Of his smiles.
Just little while ago. He said you
spent over twenty-five dollars one
night"
For second this extraordinary
statement almost choked him. He had
been with Broadway when that sum
would have been regarded as a modest
tip for head-waiter
"Oh, did he tell you about that
night?" he asked, still carefully en-
deavoring to conceal the nature Of his
smiles at least.
And as he smiled IL came upon him
that for reasons which he did not un-
derstand as yet he should be sorry to
have this particular girl learn details
Of some nights which he and Broadway
Jones had passed together on the IA
nous street they knew so well.
"Yes," she said, prettily admonish-
ing, "and you mustn't waste it in that
way any more"
She shook her finger at him playful
ly, but with serious light Of eyes be-
hind the playfulness which seemed to
indicate proprietary interest in him. It
amused him-but he found it unmis-
takably pleasant, too.
The excited Sam came in. Sam al
ways seemed to come at just those
moments which without him would
have been more interesting.
Hes - shaking - hands = with -
everybody" he volunteered.
who? Mr.. Jones?" asked Clara.
Eyes = Gosh! - He - Was-afraid
to = make = - speech! Il bet
Il wouldn't = be = afraid! #
ever II - amount - to - anything
= the - first = thing = I'm = going
= to = do - s. to = make a
speech = about - myself"
Wallace laughed. You've got the
right idea, Sammy"
You = bet = I've - got = the
right - idea! I've = got - darned =
good - ideas - If Il ever - get -
- chance = to - use - 'em!"
Clara was reproving. Sammy, stop
this constant talking about yourself!"
Stop - your own talking! You
= don't = understand - me. I've
= got - brains Il have!"
mo one can tell" said Wallace.
Maybe he has"
I'll = surprise = you - all - some
= day!"
Clara smiled at Wallace. "Ain't it
funny. He really thinks he's going to
be big man."
well, maybe he will" said Wallace,
considering Sammys bulk redectively,
"and then, again, he's liable to fall
away to almost nothing"
She laughed, delighted at his humor.
"Oh, l see what you mean! You're
always joking, aren't your"
Aren't I the cut-up, thought" he
gently guyed her.
It was very silly, and he knew how
very silly it was, but, none the less,
the city man enjoyed the persifage
with this red-cheeked rural maiden. In
the extraordinary ebullition of his spir-
its he reached out his hand for hers,
found it, and stood swinging it. She
blushed, he laughed. He was really
burlesquing a Irritation, but she did
not know it, nor was the impulse of his
foolery entirely burlesque. He was
very much confused when an amused
cough from behind them told that
Josie had come in.
He whirled. "Oh, good morning, Miss
Richards!"
How do you do, Mr.. Wallace?" She
smiled with definite satisfaction 'Mr.
Jones is causing quite a sensation in
the works.
$50 understand"
Shall tell him you are here7"
asked Clara.
81 wish you would, if it isn't too
much trouble, Miss Spotswood."
Not at all. I'll be only too pleased" |
She smiled at him. Nobody ever calls
me anything but Clara"
Wallace felt that he was most en-
phatically in clover. "Oh, you Clara!"
He was a large young man, with a
large, smooth-shaven face, particularly
broad. 1t was one happy smile.
She was giggling as she hurried to-
ward the factory. "I'l tell him, right
away"
Wallace turned to Josie. HAS Mr..
Pembroke called?'
mo; Mr.. Jones was saying he ex-
pected him at eleven o'clock"
We'll, it isn't quite eleven, yet"
HE told me of the advice you gave
him. We have a good deal to thank
you for. I'm sure of that"
Il don't see why" he protested.
He's only doing what is right Any
man with conscience would do the
same. OF course my influence may
have had some bearing on his decision,
~~-~~-~~-~~-~-~------~-
lie place, it will be unsafe for a man
to offer the sIirhtnrt nirri1itu q ~