Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-02-09
A Cut For
A Cut
, Copyright, Puck
BY ELLIS o. JONES.

e ONWARD sTAcKHAM'S regret over
IL starting home at the close of his
brief vacation was sweetened by the
thought that he was carrying with
him the friendship, if not the incip-
lent love, Of Elizabeth Turner
The last long stroll along the wide
boardwalk the night before he left had
assured him of that fact Although it
was late In the season, the night was
comfortably warm. The girl at his
side. the clear moon above. and the
waves splashing almost at their very
feet, made him think of stories he
had read.
''Will you write to me?" he asked.
why, certainly" she replied, mer-
1ily. "At least, I'll promise to WRITE
she added with a bewitching laugh,
"but I'm not very good at writing let
ters Mother is at me all the time to
make me keep up my duty correspon-
dence. But love to get letters, and
for that reason always try to answer.
OF course we'll be returning to the
city soon ourselves, so there will not
be much time to write letters"
Most assuredly you may call.
shall feel dreadfully If you don't. You
must come to see me often. 1t will be
such fun to talk about the good times
we've had"
Stackham reached the city just in
time to get to the bank before it
opened and take up his duties at the
paying-teller's window. 1t was hard
day for him. blue Monday" is pro-
close of a vacation the blue deepens
into indigo. Although he was sustain
ed by the mental vision of Elizabeth
Turner, he was not thereby assisted
In his work, for certain times he
caught himself dwelling. and in check
ing up at the close of the days bust
ness he found that he had made a
number Of inexcusable errors
After dinner he withdrew into the
,sanctity of his own boudoir to indite
q long letter to her, which kept him
up until long after midnight. In clos
ing, he asked her to address him at
the bank so that he would thus get
1t more quickly.
For several weeks, with perhaps
:, essening zeal, Stackham kept close
We on the postman, but no answer
anne. Then one day he saw in the
L, ociety column that she had returned
the city
ON the following evening he prepar-
cod his toilet withed his toilet with
anreat care and set out to call upon
furr. He approached the house with
!. tSlch trepidation. He had commenced
i this time to feel uncertain in his
ind as to whether or not she wanted
10 continue their acquaintance. But.
,shen he came in front of the house,
saw upon the drawn shade the clear
nd unmistakable shadow Of her pro.
bile cast by the lamp within.
Taking heart, he walked dignifiedly
Up the steps, rang the bell, asked the
maid for Miss Turner, handed her his
hard. and sat down to wait in the
C.eception-room, his heart beating a
yively tattoo against his well-starched
shirt-bosom.
When the maid returned and said
that Miss Turner was not in, his
spirits fell violently. He was deeply
Inundated His homeward journey
was gloomy. but there was sense Of
relief, for the growing certainty that
it was, but summer Irritation otter
all, was rapidly erasing the lingering
vestiges of doubt.
He decided, under the circumstan-
ces, that he would not risk another
call, but neverless he made 1t a
point, in his stroll the following Sun
day, to pass by her house.
AS he was within block Of where
she lived he saw her come down the
steps and turn in his direction. He
smoothed his gloves, adjusted his top
coat. Strengthened his tie. and tried
to look unconcerned az the distance
between them rapidly diminished
He looked at her, and she looked d.
-ectly at him. He waited for her, and
she looked directly at him. He waited
fo- her to speak. but she gave no
sign or recognition. He passed on,
rather more ughtheaSted than for
many Wc0k6, lOT Nj VO0Ut uoV vdA'
Ashed. He dismissed the epiode from
his mind. for Stackham was no molly.
Coddle.
The following week. while Stack.
ham was busy counting out money at
the paying-teller's window, he glanced
up and his heart jumped to see Eliza
beth Turner standing at the writing.
desk. She was blotting check which
she had just endorsed.
In fash the situation outlined 1t
ltself to him. She was not customer
of the bank, but through some irony
tof fate she had been given check
drawn on that particular institution.
and she had come in to cash it. She
had, perhaps. not thought Of him at
all. A diabolical idea entered his mind
and hardened his heart. She stepped
10 the window and looked at him with
q slight smile Of recognition. He was
not flattered. It was the patrcnizing
Amile Of a superior to a subordinate.
he thought. Accordingly the look that
he returned. while courteous, gave NO
evidence that he had ever seen her
before
nj, H.