Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-03-18

she would enter on her task with the
confidence of a novice.
He could trace the gradual growth
of disappointment at her lack Of sue
cess, the dwindling of the scanty funds
and finally the abandonment to DESPAIR.
And then. Would she go back to the
squalid home-or would she stay?
1t all seemed so real to him that
she returned before he remembered To
put back the paper. She gracefully az
cepted his apology and rendered its
longer use in we'll chosen words. but
he blunderingly thanked her and re
tired in confusion to the diner for ii
lunch he did not care for.
He braved the smoke from the drum,
mers' cigars until the train had pass
ed Newark. Then he went back to his
seat with his mind made up.
But it WAS not until the train had
crept into the shed at Jersey City and
they We're hurrying down the platform
between the tracks that he at last
found coura e to speak.
81 beg your pardon" he stammered
as he raised his hat. II suppose you
will think me meddlesome, but could
not help seeing that you We're interest
ed in the want advertisements
They had passed the gate, and she
turned and faced him, polite inquiry
in her expression.
you see he hurried on, 81 don't
suppose that you-that is, your friend
realizes that most of the places ad-
vertiSed are already filed Now, if
er-your friend is looking for steno
graphic position there is a vacancy in
my office. If you will call-that is, If
your friend will call-tomorrow after 8
perhaps it might be arranged"
II thank you" she said gratefully as
she took his card. lat 3, you said?"
until then"
He raised his hat and turned away
He congratulated himself on that fc-
ton of Il friend. 1t had made it very
easy for him to speak. and he saw that
she understood.
They needed another typist in the Of
fee. Within twentyfour hours she
would be installed in his employ.
What might not the future bring
forth?
Cosgrove had never known time to
drag so slowly. The hands Of the big
clock behind the chairman's little bal
cony seemed to stand still as he
moved impatiently about the floor Of
the exchange Once when Sugden met
him and had begun to complain of his
typewriter Cosgrove had mentioned
the paragon he was to have in his en-
ploy.
He was ashamed of himself minute
| later, but the damage had been done,
| and when the hands at last reached 3
and the gavel fell Sugden headed del
egation that would not be shaken off.
They burst into the outer office OF
Carman & Cosgrove and came to q
dead halt. Cosgrove gasped, but went
forward to greet replica of the old
woman of the station.
She was younger, and the plaid
shawl was replaced by a badly cut
Jacket but she was her mothers
daughter. Cosgroye would have known
her in a thousand.
He hustled her into his private Of
fee and turned over the card she hand
ed him. 1t was his own card, and or
the reverse was written, Introducing
Mrs. Behrman, in whose behalf yor
we're kind enough to speak last night.
1t was some satisfaction to find thai
she was a capable worker. with ortho
dox ideas of spelling instead Of hel
own system of simplification, and witt
brief arrangement as to terms Cos
grove rose to indicate that the inter
view was over.
Mrs. Behrman looked up.
"And it is really that am engaged? ?
she asked.
"Of course" was the impatient re
spouse.
The flood gates Of her tears wer
open, and she raised her voice in home
~ expressions Of gratitude to him ant
to Helen Westervelt.
Cosgrove gasped as he heard tn
name. 1t was at least q mercy tina
he had employed his fiction" Of
| lTleuU. DIG uuu SuppooCu IAdI uc uA
derstood. for she was the prime leade
Of all movements for working girls
and it was only natural that she shoul
suppose that he knew her by sight.
The woman sobbed out her story
She had run away from home to MARI
Behrman, who had deserted her a
soon as he had obtained possession Q
her slender savings. Her mother woul
not forgive, and Miss Westervelt, i1
;. terested in the case. had acted as an
), baSSadreSs.
1t was Mrs. Behrman's satchel sh
was carrying, and she had been large
!, ly accountable for the mistake he ha
. made, and it was with Mrs. Behrman'
o forgiveness and promise to join he
daughter that Helen was returning t
;, town
i Cosgrove rang for one Of the othe
l. stenographers to look after the weeI
ing woman and went out into the Of