The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-23

could write the typewriter? Didn't L
learn how before L came East-when
was takin' that correspondence
course in journalism? See here, young
lady, 1 never had Il girl beat me at
anything, and L don't kind o. like
havin' yJu sit there and laugh at me
as if l was some sort O. new strange
animal that they had just annexed to
a geological park. The boss of this
paper has appointed me to the job,
and so far as 1 can see all you've got
to do is to give me line on what's
to be done and then stand back and
watch me do it. You said you wanted
man, didn't you? Well, I'm a life
size man, amt 1 ?''
please, Mr.. Heppleton. it isn't that
l don't think you can do It, l am not
laughing at you I'm just laughing
because I don't see why you ever left
the ranch to go into this stupid news
paper work. Why, if ever got out in
that wonderful ranch country with all
the air and sunshine there isn't a
newspaper job in the world that would
tempt me-"
You're right there. The sunshine
and the sky are all you say they are,
but you'd get lonesome same as 1 did.
You'd quit, too, if you were out there
all alone. Well, I'm going right over
to get the clothes I need. Write it out
what to hand me. The boss will foot
the bill, so don't get nervous about
how much it will cost"
1t was a week later and Bronco
Bill was on the job when Margaret ar
rived, at eleven in the morning. In
fact, he had been there since an early
morning hour. Ranch life had accus-
toned him to early rising, and the late
hours of the newspaper routine had
not changed his habits.
Now, don't be offended because
I've got my stiff collar off, girl he
said pointing to the multi-colored
handkerchief that he had loosely tied
around his collar band. "I'll keep the
boiled razor-edged one on when I'm
'coverin' things. And right here in our
office it doesn't matter"
But suppose some society woman
comes in with a dinner list or some
thing. Suppose Mrs. Vandevere-''
The telephone rang and the assistant
answered.
YES" he shouted. What do you
want. Go on, fire ahead. I've got the
pencil handy. Say, spell the names,
lady. Not 80 fast amt no dicto-
Margaret snatched the receiver from
the hand of her assistant. "Oh, yes,
Mrs. Vandevere," she cooed. Yes,
this is the society editor" Margaret
scowled meaningly at the assistant
over the phone and then, putting her
hand over the mouthpiece, said: This
is the way you ought to answer
Yes, Mrs. VandeVere. Your dinner
guests for tonight will be-yes. thank
you. 1 am sure it was very kind of
you, Mrs. Vandevere, to let me have
the names, and please don't be cross
with the office boy who took up the
phone. He is very green and he was
just trying to help"
Call me an office boy again.
shouted Bronco Bill, jumping to his
feet Say, look here. girl. I like
you. Pm darned fond of you and
just for your sake L got into those
swallowtails and that burned walters
outfit and I've been hanging around
at Irish wakes and Dutch picnics and
bal Mosques every night for week.
and every afternoon I've been watchin'
a lot of palefaced tenderfooters waltz
in around till 1 was so mad 1 wanted
| to shoot the town up. Gosh, why
them fellows don't get out and work
in the daytime is more than 1 can see.
And I've just had enough of it, I've
gone to the last barbecue. 1 kinder
wanted to help you out cause l
thought YOU We're tryin' to handle a
! job that was a little too much for
you. but you turn round and call me
an office boy and you and I part COM
pany. Either / stay here as the boss
of the ranch and you be the assistant
and do it my way, or 1 quit. I'm nc
greenhorn."
Suddenly Bronco Bill stopped very
| still. For the girl at his side was
doing what he had never seen another
woman do in all his life-weeping like
a child.
BILL she sobbed, 81 like you, too
Honest do, and I'm grateful to you
for all you have done and 1 know you
have tried your best, but society is nc
place for you. You're a regular mar
and ought to have a regular mans
job
Bill. instinctively. but timidly. put
his arm around the girls shaking
shoulders. I'm sorry I yelled at you
girl he said. But you kind o'hurt
my feelings. Ever since I heard yoJ
say that about the sky and the air the
first day 1 saw you 1 knew that you
were the girl that could make Twin
on a ranch heaven. I'm wonderin
whether you would care to marry
rough guy like me and be a rancher?'
Really" was Margaret's way OF
conserving. do you know I've Away.
been waiting for a regular man like
Newspaper Syndicate.)