The Harrison times., 1916-04-08
BRUNETTE PREFERRED
~ HOPE AiksliE.

- AA," the dcster said with dignity.
"A brsHstls 10 more rslAsls and sta
BILE In tispositioA, Nelson; that 10 ell.
! want . girl who can take hold Of d
cottage and handle IT, Put brunette
preferred in the ad, and III pick her
ost when they begin TO arrive"
Nelson drew sigh and typed the
cd to catch the mail. Three days later.
even while answers by mail were pill
ing up for him to select from. the
down train from Beauchamp left q
yourg woman on the platform. and
after one quick survey OF the barren
landscape she headed for the low
brick factory buildings down near the
river.
She's got red hair, doc" Nelson
announced gently, as he hunted up
the doctor and told him of his visitor.
She had. Undeniably red, and her
hazel eyes, brimful of determination,
overcame the doctors aversion and
got ner tnc position.
She talked little When she had oc-
casion to come to the Office, Nelson
heard her humming to herself all the
way along the corridor.
Now. even Nelson was aware that
he was not an ordinary looking young
person. He was nephew to old Rath-
burn, the owner of tho Rathburn
Msilesble Iron works. II had been
his idea and suggestion to tai e the
hospital department out Of the build
ings and build decent cottage out
at the end OF the yards, where acci-
dent cases could be handled.
Doctor O'Fsrrell had backed him up.
While he held his own practice in the
small manufacturing town he was
under contract to the works to patch
up the accident cases. Sometimes q
week went by without any.
Louise Hall was her name. She
came from northern New York. Nell
son found that much out the day the
big belt caught at her dress skirt as
she passed its lower shaft, and he
pulled her away.
Don't use this passageway," he
told her sternly. "One of our boys
was caught here and landed up against
the wall yonder."
"You ought to have the belt pro-
tected," she answered coolly. Where
upon, thinking 1t over, Nelson went
to his uncle and had the belt pro-
tected. So in one way and another
she introduced better and more care
full system into the works. Life was
precious thing she taught even the
doctor, while he smiled and wished
her hair we're few shades darker.
Red hair was . sign OF preponder-
ance Of executive ability he told Mel
son on the quiet. Still she was doing
better than he had expected. Then
came the day when Big Kalmuck, the
foreman over in the gray iron division.
tumbled over with the heat and when
he came to attacked the doctor.
There was no one in the hospital
cottage when It happened but the
nurse and couple of patients, but
somehow q cone soaked In chloroform
was pressed over Kalmuck's nose
from behind and he dropped in q
quiet, innocent heap at the doctors
feet.
BY the time Nelson answered Miss
Halls phone cal! the doctor had
slipped down beside him, protesting
that he was not hurt, but KalmuCk'B 8
knife still remained neatly plugged
between his ribs and he became a pa
tient at the cottage under the COM
panys care.
1t was the end of the first week and
Nelson was saying good night. The
door into the little side room was ajar.
but the doctor had been sleeping, and
she stepped out for a glass Of fresh
water. There Nelson held her hands
in his, and the glass was forgotten
while he told her all she had been TO
him ever since she had first come.
And the tears came into her eyes 40
she listened to the boy.
I'm sorry, Nelson, l know it should
be you, bat it isn't. You're everything
that q man should be to win q girl.
but that cross, self-opinionated, fault
finding, irritable creature yonder"-
she brought out each word between
her teeth, and each one had nod
from the white cap-"he's the man /
like best, and heaven only knows why"
After Nelson had gone she stepped
back into the room, and the doctors
eyes were open watching her.
81 heard every word you said," he
told her, bit brusquely. you should
not have refused Nelson. He's O fine
fellow and will inherit money"
ITS time for your powder she an
swered with professional indifference.
81 prefer brunette" the doctor
went on thoughtfully, but with twin
kle in his eyes.
"You are gaining strength" said
Louise, coolly. You can still rebel"
"Confound it, don't you know" ex.
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