Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-11-16

effore to cope with hts nStng emo13noD
and merely shook his head
"Come inside, both Of you," said M.
Branscomh, and the two eulpftts -
lowed him into the directors' ronm
Nov. what's all this aboutr - -.
peatef
We'll" jake commenced "be callsd
me outer me name. Amt dat rishtr
He turned to James Walsh for corrob-
grafton, since he deemed 1t best b
make common cause against the loas
Of their Jobs. James nodded sulk1E.
49," Jake went on, we got mad
an scrapped."
Mr.. Branscomb sat down at his desk
with an air Of decision. You'll both
leave on Saturday" he announced
I'VE can't have any loafers fighting
around here"
The two unfortunates fled out, ex-
changing malevolent glances, and pass
ed into the anteroom. They sat In d.
lence on opposite ends Of the bench for
q quarter Of an hour, when Jake rose
to his feet and walked rapidly into tho
directors room. He had made brave
resolve and was afraid to give himself
thinking time.
"Mr. Branscomb," be commenced,
kin I say sumpin'T
The second vice president waved his
hand In permission.
NOW, amt got no kick comm b.
cause gets fired, see," he continued,
but James Walsh, outside, is up
against It.
How soT Mr.. Branscomb asked.
"Well, he's engaged" said Jake.
"EngagedT
Oats right, Mr.. Branscomb; he's en-
gagged to Miss DOty."
jake looked hurt at the peal Of
laughter with which Mr.. Branscomb
greeted his announcement. Several
minutes passed before the second vice
president recovered his composure suf.
fcient to annunciate.
Call him In he said.
In response James shambled into the
directors room and blinked solemnly
out Of his one open eye. His snub
nose was swollen to such dimensions
that It We'd even with Jakis's Hebraic
organ.
James" Mr.. Branscomb commenced
grave,y. "what Is this hear aboos
your proposed allianceT
"HuhT James Walsh grunted.
~ understand that Miss Doty Is ~
fortunate lady" his employer eoot
ued.
The rest Of James Walsb's punsd
features assumed the hue Of his nosa.
"Say, Mr. Branscomb," he protested
II don't know wot dis kid has BEEN
givin' yer, but
ITO put 1t more plainly" Mr.. Bssn:-
comb interrupted, "he says that be
thinks I ought to give you back your
Job because you're engaged to be mar
Eed to Miss Doty."
Jaw, he's daftyi" james Walsh
blurted out
jake turned an astonished face 70
ward his confrera
"why." he exclaimed, ''ain't youss
engagedT
Jaw, cut It outr James Walah ~
Joined and abruptly left the room.
jake shifted from foot to foot In bis
embarrassment He certainly bad
made a mess Of It, he cogitatsd;. bat
then again, weren't their actions those
Of an engaged couple?
II guess you'd better 60 outside"
Mr.. Branscomb interrupted, "nnd tell
Miss Doty I'd like to see her"
sorrowfully jake departed and Do
livered his message. Then he repaired
to the outer office to sit with the sulky
James Walsh. whose presence alone
stemmed his impending tears. How
was he to know that Miss Doty and
james Walsh were just friends and
nothing more? Surely appearances
were against them; but then Miss Doty
was such lady, nicer than the teach.
or Of Ga grade In the Mangtn Street
school Yes, she certainly was a.
Here the tide Of his reflection was In.
terrupted by the person herself, who
bounced into the outer Office with her
lat pinned on awry. As she passed
by Jake she hissed the one word
Sneak and to James Walsh the
equally offensive term "Idiotw Then
she banged the hall door behind her
and was gone. Mr.. Branscomb follow
ed on her heels, smiling grimly.
James," he said, you're a pretty
good Judge Of women for a boy your
age. On your way home tonight stop
In at the International Typewriter
company and pick out homely Ste
nographer. Tell her to come early TO-
morrow morning."
He turned from the hulking James
Walsh to jake, whose eyes were
bright with unshed tears.
"And you, jake" he said, the next
time you want to fight pick out man
your own size" He started to enter
the inner office. "Oh, by the way"
he called out, II forgot to say that
you both keep your Jobs until further
notice"
jake sat on the bench swinging bis
legs, too stunned to realize bis good
fortune. Soon he recovered his wits,
and again the thoughts chased one an.
other through his brain. II Miss Doty
and James Walsh embraced, be reflect.
ed, It must have been on account OF
motives Of friendship. On the other
hand, he was friends with many girls
In the neighborhood Of the delicatsssen
store, but never once had he put bis
arm around them. Then, like q thun-
derclap, the true significance Of the at.
fair overcame him. he had spoiled
It all.
"Say," he croaked, "youse two wus
secretly engaged. Amt dat right"
James Walsh surveyed the agitated
jake with his remaining useful eye.
"shurrup," he beloved, "oP III lift De
face ofrn yer!"
And when a few moments latee Mr..
Branscomb departed for the day be
found them sitting on opposite ends Of
the bench, giving vent to their emo
tions In comforting tears.
CouIdn't Tell.