The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-21
CHAPTER xxvI.
The Usual Thing.

fA rf R.. MAGhE postponed Gn0 pro EMl test on the tip of his tongue, | H Ell and, climbing the gloomy stairs that newspapers always affect, they came into the city room of the | Star. Though the paper had been long | on the street, the excitement Of the greatest coup of years still fingered in the place. Magee saw the deferential l smiles that greeted the girl and watch ed her as she made her way to the city l editors desk In a moment she was | back at his side
 sI've got my assignment she smiled l ruefully. They descended to the street ssIt's wonderful she went on, s'how curt city editor can be with any one who pulls of good story. The job l Eve got now reminds me of the expe rience of an old New York reporter who used to work on the Star.''
 With difficulty they threaded their way through the crowd and moved along beside the green decked win dows.
 ssHe was the first man sent out by his paper on Park row on the Spanish war Assignment" she went on, ssand he Behaved rather brilliantly, | believe. sWell, he came back after the fight was over, all puffed up and important, and
 
 him. They're going to send me to the Philippines he told me he thought as he went into the presence. When the city editor ordered him to rush down to two alarm fire in Houston street he nearly collapsed. know how he felt I feel that way now"
 tsWhat was it, a one alarm fre?" ask ed Magee.
 s.No,'' she replied, "a sweet little sto- ry about the Christmas toys. I've done 1t to death every Christmas for three years Oh. well, can do it again. l But it'll have to wait until after Mrs. 1 Norton's lunch. ?
 She led him into street where every house was like it's neighbor, even to the etRoomss sign in the windows, and up the steps Of one she could have rec ognized only by counting from the cor ner They entered the murky and stereotyped atmosphere of a boarding house hallway, with it's inevitable hat rack and the uncollected letters of the homeless on a table. Mrs. Norton came breezily forth to meet them. swell. MT. Magee,'' she said, .1 ger tainly am glad you've came. Pm busy on, that lunch now. Dearie, show him into the parior to wait" MT Magee was shown in. That rooning house parlor seemed to moan dismally as it received him. On an easel was the sad portrait of a gentleman, undoubtedly the late la- mented Norton. His unfnteresting 1 nose appeared to be turned up at the constant o6ior of cookery in which it 1 dweit.
 Mr. Magee stared round the room zI and smiled. Was the romance of real T isL-- his dreams? Where were the dim flights, where the distant waltz, where the magic of moonlight amid which he was some day to have told a beau tifuI girl Of his love? Hardly in Mrs. Norton's parlor.
 I She came and stood in the doorway l Hatless. coatless, smiling, she flooded the place with her beauty MT. Ma I gee looked at the aabby angels on the 1 wall. expecting them to hide their l faces in shame. But mol They still rode brazenly their unstable clouds
 .sCome in!' he cried Don't leave me alone here again, please. And, tell < me, is this the gentleman who took the contract for making Mrs. Norton happy ??
 "-I can't come in" she said, blush ing. She seemed to wish to avoid him.
 "Yes, that is MT. Norton.s She came nearer the easel and smiled at the late lamented's tonsorial crown ssI must leave you-just moment
 You're never going to leave me again. he cried. Don't you know that? thought you knew. You're mine. I love you. I love you. It's all
 can say, my dearest. Look, at me
 look at me, please"
 .sIt has happened so quickly, she
 murmured. Things can't be trae
 when they-happen so quickly
 "A woman's logic," said MT. Magee.
 .sIt has happened. My beautiful girl. Look aE me-
 And then-she looked. Trembling, flushed, half frightened, half exultant, she lifted her eyes to his. My little girlr' he cried down al her.
 A moment longer she held of and then Imply she surrendered. And Bill
 ly Magee held her close in his arms.
 ssTake care of me,''s sshe whispered
 1T love you soi'' Her arm went tim l idly about his shoulders. "Do you
 want to know my name? It's Mary Mary what? The answer was seem ingly of no importance, for MT. Ma gee,s. lips were on hers, crushing the : word at it's birth.
 So they stood, amid Mrs. Norton's
 gloomy objects Of art And presently , she asked:
 How about the book, dearF' But MT. Magee had forgot. .sWhat bo0k?'' he asked 'eThe novel you went to Baldpate te 5 write Don't you remember, dearest ' no melodrama, no wild chase, no
 love?''
 ! eWhy''- MT. Magee paused for . T moment in the joy of his discovery 5 in his arms.
 n !, "Why, darling" he explained gently
 sthis is it.
 THE END.