Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-30

the inner office. He told Miss Bessie
Compton that she could 60 home, and
started conversation. He wondered
what Jones thought about all sorts OF
they touched woman
| in business. Mr.. Lawless was wise
and cynical-but Jones stood his
ground--he deplored the necessity OF
woman's presence in an Office.
"They belong in homes" he per-
sisted Look at any girl-well,
Miss Compton, for instance. She's
! pretty, she's sweet and good. And
she's domestic. I know her folks,
sir. So do you-your father knew
hers She has to work-but-she'd
be perfect as wife. know she
|would-she-"
! Jones grew crimson, while Mr..
Lawless. looked out of the window
and blew some smoke rings into the
sultry air. He turned and gave
Jones peculiar look.
| "You are perfectly right, Jones.
She would make good wife-she
ought to be married this minute.
There's no sweeter girl on the earth,
il am sure" His voice was dreamy.
I"Yes she ought to be married Say,
Jones, what about giving Boardman
& Vesey that new contract, eh?"
He changed the subject with light
ming rapidity. Jones smiled to him
self, wan smile.
And the next afternoon, when the
heavens opened with almost food,
Mr.. Lawless did an unheard-of thing
waited until the whole force was
ready to leave the Office, and then
he got Miss Bessie under his UNI
brella and saw her into her car.
Jones dilated. He, himself, had
brought this about. Romance had be-
gun. He sighed lot those days,
worked like a Turk and showered his
divinity with gifts-sure that she
thought they came from John Law
less.
Jones's Jolt came suddenly at 9
o'clock on the sultriest morning in
August. Half the force was on va.
cation and the other half was men
tally absent. Everybody felt cross
after sleepless, sweltering night.
Miss Bessie had marched languidly
into the inner office, nodding to those
she pased-save Jones. Nowadays
she did not speak to Jones-nobody
knew why. She slammed the door.
Presently Mr.. Lawless, tall and lazy
looking, perfectly groomed, perfectly
good-natured, sauntered in after her.
He had a flower in his buttonhole
and a song on his lips, and they were
all irritated at his calmness. He,
also. shut the door.
In a moment came strange muir
muir Of voices. The murmur rose to
anger And then at length the door
opened. Mr.. Lawless spoke single
word from the doorway.
JONES' Jones, for once bit de-
faint, thoroughly tired and wretched,
obeyed the summons. Things were
now on his nerves. He entered the
room and stood like a culprit before
the angry Bessie. Her face was
blazing with wrath, but tears stood
in her eyes.
81 am not guilty, Miss Bessie! In
deed, know nothing about 1t! Jones
is manager tere-suppose you talk IT
over with Jones?"" Suddenly his
voice became strangely gentle.
Jones. l suspect, is sort OF fool,
at times. But he is the right sort OF
a. fool-he will straighten it out" Mr..
J L; wless could not repress little
i grin. Zones, I guess you kind of got
things mixed up in your IDEAS The
Junior partner walked out and closed
the door after him.
Bessie turned like little tigress on
the unfortunate Jones. "Tm tired OF
this everlasting sentimental trash in
NV desk! Where does it come from!
I've given the flowers to little Grip
pie neighbor girl. and the candy to
whoever wanted it. l wouldn't touch
it. I-you-I actually thought it was
Mr.. Lawless and pitched into him
about 1t! He says he didn't do It,
Who did,
81 did" Jones replied, calmly. but
not meekly. II guess am-a-otf
the track. You see. Bessie" he said
steadily. "I-love you myself. bu.
thought-you cared for him. I wanted
to help you. I-put those fittings
|there-I--"
Eyes and you-threw me straight
at his head. just had the satisfac-
ton of telling him that I wolldo't
liz I-love-you?' Jones, once he got
| have him if he was the only mall on
earth! I'm glad said it before l
knew that he didn't want me! He
was as fiat about it as |! A pretty
mess you've got me into!" Again her
eyes brimmed with tears.
I'm sorry" he murmured, but |
love you Then he caught the
new look in her sweet face. She
laughed once more, that tremu!ous
little laugh, and she held out her
hands to him. - .
"Oh, you-idiot of boy" she
breathed. why couldn't you ask me
point, always got it thoroughly.
There was no power on earth now to
| save Miss Bessie Compton from his
embrace.