The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-28
THE PEAcEMAkER
BY ELLIS BROWNE.

agency.
All right, Miss Rankin, said Walk
er, referring to the card. Here
book with our form of letters in it. and
each one is numbered; SO when say
a certain number, you'll know how to
proceed. Be ready for work In five
minutes"
I'm ready now" was the surpris-
ing reply.
The work progressed uneventfully
until, Just before closing time that
afternoon, Walker had difficulty in
getting a telephone number he want
ed and as he slammed the telephone
receiver on to its hook he almost
sw0re at the stupidity Of the opera
tor and of women in general.
OUCH" said Alberta, holding both
hands to one cheek as if she had been
slapped. You must have got stung
good and proper by some woman to
acquire such an ingrowing crouch
against all OF US,
Look here, young woman! Who do
you think you are, and whom do
you think you're talking to, I'd like
to know" Numbered Walker.
We'll, as for me, I'm human be-
ing, and suggest that you remember
it when you speak to me. AS for you,
why you're human, too, | suppose,
under that bearlike disguise you
put on when women come on the
scene"
Alberta concluded this astounding
remark with an audacious laugh, but
she looked SO frankly into the frown-
ing eyes of Walker that before he
knew it he was beginning to smile
himself. Then she added: Nursing
grievance always makes 1t grow,
you know; besides, maybe that woman
who stung you had a grievance,
too. You know a difference between
two people has got to have two
sides to it or the difference just isn't
there"
by George" said Walker, pushing
his papers away from him and turn
ing in his chair until he sat square
ly facing Alberta, Il believe I'll just
tell you a thing or two about that diff
ference"
Then he told her Of having been en-
gagged to a stenographer few years
before, and of how they quarreled
because the girl became active in
a club of Office women who spent most
of their Sundays on long cross-coun-
try walks, taking their dinners and
suppers at roadside hotels or farm
houses.
That might have been smoothed
out all right If l hadn't happened
to be on an interurban car the next
Sunday and passed that gang of wom-
en-, and what were they doing but
walking along in row, each one with
her hands on the shoulders of the
one in front of her, and the one at the
very rear called out to my-to Alice,
who was at the head of the line: Get
a move on you, Alice. If you expect
to make that Walker of yours go all
the gaits you'll have to learn to 60
some YOURSELF" Then they all cackled
like the lot of hens they were, and l
never went near Alice again, and don't
know what has become of her."
Toward the latter part of his nara
tive Walker had been fumbling with
a paperweight on his desk, and when
he looked up at Alberta he was sur.
prised and embarrassed to see her
shaking with suppressed laughter.
And to think" she said, that |
was the innocent cause OF this crouch
striking so deep! was the very girl
who made that fool remark to Alice,
but I'll vow 1 hadn't thought OF it
since and l don't suppose she has
either. l feel crushed to think l didn't
make enough of an impression on you
to make you remember me as we'll as
my silly talk
Walker was too much surprised to
do anything more than stare for few
moments, and Alberta presently be-
came more serious than he had
thought possible for her. Why, Mr..
Walker, you've done that girl seri-
Gus injustice. She went into the walk
ing club because the doctors had told
her that outdoor exercise was all that
would prevent nervous collapse. and
rather than burden you with nervous
wife she went in for everything she
could afford. Now. you see,' she con-
cluded. there are two sides to a diff
ference. Don't you feel pretty much
ashamed of yourself?'
YES" he said slowly. I'm enough
ashamed to tell Alice so il 1 thought
she'd listen to me. Do you suppose
she wouid?"
"Oh, no telling what girl will do"
laughed Alberta. Il wouldn't forgive
you to save your neck, but Alice
III telephone Alice right now and fix
up some scheme to bring you two to-
gether. Shall IL"
IF you can manage it; but how on
earth can you?"
"Oh, pshaw, Leave that to me-"
Alberta reached for the telephone and
called for number. May speak to
Miss Mills? Hello, Alice, this
it Bert. just happened TO stumble
on to something today that you lost
and forgot about ages ago. I'm going
to bring it by tonight and let you give
IT the once over Never mind
now; no questions asked. No,
you could guess from now till
doomsday without coming anywhere
near it. Once upon a time la
nave said, It's bear. but that ex-
preston is out oil date now. I'll bring
it over at eight o'clock tonight. Good.
by"