The midland journal., 1915-10-29
NO PLACE LIKE It
BY cArAARINE cRANMER.

per 6yuulcabel
On a pay day the president of the
6rm sent for Alfred Reed and informed
him that he had been promoted to the
position of assistant sales manager at
substantial increase in salary.
It was the day that Alfred long had
sought, and worked all the harder
because it came not. He felt deep
satisfaction not only because it was
the reward of his labors, but because
It would enable him to ask Mabel Ell
liott to marry him. Mabel was pretty
little auburn-haired stenographer in
another department Of the Office, and
although Alfred had paid her much at
tention and given her good evidence
that he cared for her he had felt that
he must wait until he had substantial
salary before he asked her to marry
him.
At the first opportunity after being
told of his promotion, he went over
to her desk to ask her to go to dinner
and the theater with him the next
evening. AS he approached, a blase
salesman of perhaps forty was just
leaving and was saying something
quite confidentially in an undertone.
Alfred frowned unconsciously, for he
knew the man was unfit company for
any girl, and to see him talking IA
miliarly to Mabel made Alfred want to
take her away where she would be
safe from such providers, as he in
Wardly termed the man.
HAS that old bloat been ogling you
again?" he asked. But as soon as he
spoke he realized that he had let
proprietary note get into his voice.
Mabel, being young and pretty and
auburn-haired, didn't like the idea
of being approached without due pro-
cedure according to the usual rules of
the game.
"If you're speaking of Mr.. Acton, l
think you're putting it rather strong,
for he certainly knows how to be nice
to girl. And just becat } wrote
two or three letters for him he wants
TO take me to dinner at the best hotel
In the city" Mabel was childishly
frank and only slightly resentful of
Alfreds remark. "And maybe don't
like to sail into big dining room
with man who knows just how to do
things. It's real adventure, AL
fred and adventures don't come along
every day to red-headed stenogra-
phers.'
Mabel, / came here purposely to
ask you to go out with me tomorrow
evening"" said Alfred. IF you'll go,
we'll make it as much of an adven-
4ure as I know how" And he added
q more explicit invitation, which
Mabel accepted with only moderate
enthusiasm, for there was in her
the spirit of daring that made her
want to throw of conventions and
accept Acton's invitation in spite of
its being sort of unwritten law
about the Office that stenographers
who went out with that type of sales
men were running a risk of being
undesirably classified.
The next evening, when they en-
tered the big hotel dining room,
Mabel was lovely picture in soft,
white gown, black velvet hat set
at the correct angle on her glistening
auburn hair and her eyes almost a
match in color for the violets she
wore. Alfred tried to make the grand
entry as though accustomed to it,
but the very effort made success i'm
possible, and he was painfully con-
scious that Mabel would realize that
ne was not man who knew "just
how to do things"
In some way, though, they man.
aged to get seated, and while looking
over the menu Alfred regained out
ward composure, though he was mn
pleasantly conscious of the proximity
and yelled scrutiny of the waiter.
Conversation Jagged somewhat and
Mabel cast many an admiring glance
at the bare-shouldered, soft-gowned
and sleek-coiffured ladies who Ian
guidly passed accompanied by men in
evening dress. Conversation seemed
to lag with many OF the couples. too,
but the orchestra played loudly from
popular light operas and occasionally
q high soprano contributed an aria.
isn't it lovely?" asked Mabel
I'm glad you are enjoying it; but
1t looks to me like lot of these regu-
lars are not enjoying it at ALL See
how bored this couple over here is?"
And he indicated with a glance a
handsome woman and broad-looking
man near by.
They must live here for that table
was held for them, and i saw them in
the parlor without hats or wraps
when we first came in" Mabel's OBJ
servation of all these details brought
slight smile from Alfred
well married people with no home
but a hotel are likely to be bored
with each other and with everything
else, I should think
Mercy! don't see why: l think
it's lovely to eat In hotel where