The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-24

LIE RlCk1MOND 6AAA
Ev1ns oxet-l cnC x cerdned to fneSt 1t!
Rodney at his desk sat quietly ab-
sorbed. he rustled few papers now
and then. and used his rubber stamp.
hut its impact on the pad and paper
lacked the usual vixor. Even Peale's
head. Nary noted. dropped little -
be wrote his +adS.--ads. that would be
born to blush unseen il money could
not be raised somehow, somewhere, to
pay for them. ....
As the hour OF drew near Mary
began to make some long drawn out
preparation for going home. This last
quarter OF an hour Of time must be
killed and done to death by fair means
or by foul. A resolution had been
slowly forming In her head aud now
took definite shape. She shut down
her desk with delightfully."- loud noise
and stood up.
she said to Rodney as she began put
ting on her hat .rs
tAll right" said the president mildly.
Rodney too looked as II something
were working In his mind. and no won
der. Mary thought, with their situa-
ton what it was. Mary knew him like
a book, but this time she would ask no
questions and keep her own counsel.
She was going straight up to Mr.. Mar
tins on Fifth avenue and have a long
talk and argument with him. He sim
ply must let them have those extra
$1,000 cakes Of soap for Brown &
James.
She scurried over to the Third Ave
nue. elevated and climbed the stairs of
the station at Worth street, her brain
working all the time. In a curious.
detached spirit she saw her nickel
slide into the groove made by so many
previous nickels on the hard wood sill
under the of1ce window and dropped
her ticket delicately IN the ticket chop
per's glass box.
Several local trains passed, all crowd
ed, and, being tired and enjoying the
fresh air. Mary was disposed to take
her time and wait till she got the seat
she wanted. 1t gave her q luxurious
feeling to let the trains go by and not
run after them. as people usually did
in New York.
A woman came presently and sat
down beside her, with an evident In
clination to talk. She was young.
though her peroxide hair made her look
older. There were two types Of wom-
en- with dyed hair like this. Mary had
nOted-the fast and the sentimental
Her neighbor was obviously the latter,
and Mary's looks had probably appeal
ed to her. Without insolence she look
ed Mary over thoroughly a moment US
II appraising her.
Are you a business woman?" she
asked after little pause.
Mary was good natured and a good
mixer. and. seeing that the woman suf-
fered only from human curiosity, she
answered. Yes" adding just for fun:
I'm vice president and secre-
tary. Our company has offices on Broad.
way"
The woman looked quite impressed.
What line are you folks in?" she
pursued.
Soap" said Mary.
Married." asked the woman.
mot yet" said Mary.
well. you'll get a husband If you
want one said the woman. with a
crisp laugh. "A pretty girl like you
usually gets what's coming to her"
I'm engaged" said Mary, amused.
"You see?" said the woman. Nov.
I'm bachelor maid. as they call them
nowadays. myself Most Of my girl
friends have too much trouble with
their husbands. None of your married
life for mine. No. sir. No matter how
swell little home l might have. 1t
wouldn't appeal to me! When are you
going to be married?' the woman in.
quired.
''Oh. l don't know" said Mary. Il
suppose We'll go down to the city hall
some day and have it over with
You'd like nice wedding, though,
wouldn't you.'' the woman continued
alphabetically. with white satin and
a wedding veil and all? l know one
girl who's never got over it because
she was married in a brown Dress
The woman with the dyed hair rush.
ed of presently. shrieking. "Oh, there's
Mayme." and Mary was left alone
again. The local that she waited for
came along. and she got aboard at her
leisure.
Mary alighted at Seventy second
street, keeping her courage at the strik-
ing point. and pressed the bell button
on Mr.. Cyrus Martins front door.
johnson, looking surprised. but pleased
to see her, let her in and showed her
into the little reception room down
stairs to wait while he took her name
up to Mr.. Martin.
@hAn-ED ~N