The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-18
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In the Absence Of the Agent
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EDN4EERBER

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
cspgrightEby BREEDER
This is a love story. But tits q love
story with a logical ending. Which
means that in the last paragraph no
one has any one else in his arms.
Since logic and love have long been
at loggerheads. the story may end bad.
ly: Still, what love passages there are
shall be left intact.
Since 8 a. m, when she had IN.
locked her Office door, Mrs. Emma Nc.
chesney had been working in lunches
OF six. Thus, from twelve to one she
had dictated six letters, looked up
memoranda passed on samples of pet
ticoat silk, fred the office boy, wired
spalding out In Nebraska, and eaten
her lunch. Emma Met hesneysw en-
gagged in that u~erve.racking process
known as getting things out OF the
way. When Emma Mcchesney aimed
to get things out Of the way she did
not use a shovel; she used a road.drag.
Now, at t%hree.thirty, she shut the
last desk drawer with a bang. locked
It, pushed back the desk:phone, dis
covered under 1t the inevitable mis-
laid memorandum, scanned>it hastily,
tossed the scrap of paper into the
brimming waste.basket, and, yawning,
raised. her arms high above her head.
The yawn ended, her arms relaxed.
came down heavily, and landed her
hands in her lap with a thud. It had
been a whirlwind day. At that mo.
ment most Of tho lines in Emma Nc
c%hesney's face slanted downward.
But only for that moment. The
next found her smiling. Up went the
corners Of her eyes. She was still
dimpllng like an a%nticipatory child
when she had got her wraps from
the tiny closet. and was standing be-
fore the mirror. adjusting her hat.
The hat was n Of those tiny, pert,
'head'hugging tritles that only<a very
pretty woman can wear. A merciless
little hat, that gives no quarter to a
blotched skin. a too large nose, color.
less eyes. Emma M%cChesney stood
before the mirror, tho cruel little hat
perche4 atop her hair, ready to give
IL the final and critical bash which
should bring 1t down about her ears
where It belonged.
1t was at this critical moment that
The office door opened. and there en-
tered T. "A. Buck, president Of the
{. A. Buck Featnerloom Pe%tticoat and
Lingerie company.
"Hello!" said T. A. Buck. width.
err" and laid a sheaf, Of businesslike.
looking papers on the top Of Mrs Mc.
~Ghesney's we'll cleared desk.
Mrs. McChesney, without turning,
performed the examining process sue.
cessfully, SO that her hat left only
4 sub;halo Of fluffy bright hair peep
ing out from the brim.
Then, Playing hooky," she said,
go way"
7. A. Buck picked up the sheaf. Of
papers and owed them into IN inside
.oat pocket "As president Of this
large and growing concern" he said,
i want to announce that I'm going
along"
Emma McChesney adjusted her furs.
AS secretary of said firm l rise to
state that you're not invited"
T. A. Buck, hands in pockets, stood
surveying the br~lght-eyed woman be
!ore him.
IF the secretary of the abovemen.
Toned company has the cheek to play
aooly at $3.50 p. m. in the middle Of
November. l fancy the president can
demand to know where she's going,
ind then go too"
mrs. McChesney unconcernedly
fastened the clasp Of her smart Eng.
ish glove.
Didn't you take two hours for
unch? Had mine off the top Of my
lesk. Ham sandwich and a glass Of
milk. Dictated six letters between
bites and swallows"
A frown OF annoyance appeared be-
:ween T. A. Bucks remarkably fine
syes. He came over to Mrs. McChes-
hey and looked down at her.
Look here. you'll kill yourself. It's
III very well to be interested In ones
business, but l draw the line at ruin
ng my digestion for it. Why in Sam