The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-27
won't you sit down 2"

won't you SIT DOWN.?
mo, thank you. At least, not
yet. l." accusing, 'am not ac-
customed to being cut, and if any
of my friends cut me, / want to
know why. That's why l am
here"
She was her fathers daughter
at that moment-straight, force
full.
But" said Bob eagerly, look
ing once more the way he used to,
before he had got into this sober
ing business of manufacturer;
that's just the point. You see. |
felt | had somehow forfeited my
right to be one of your friends. l
felt out Of the pale"
DO you thing you deserve to
forfeit the right"
"I-perhaps. | don't know. I'm
very confused about all that hap
pened at your aunt's place."
Was that the shadow of a
smile on the proud lips? Bob
wasn't looking at her. He dared
not. He was talking to a draw
ing of his device.
Perhaps you have heard of
that COMPOUNDED wager" he went
on. Il told you why II didn't
want to see you. At least, think
| did,"
Il have vague impression of
something of the kind" said the
girl.
And there you are," observed
Bob helplessly. 1T was an awful
muddle, all right. You certainly
punished me some, thought"
Did II" said she tentatively.
us that a drawing of 1t ON the
wall?" She was looking at the
device.
Yes. That's what I make"
Wont you show me around?"
Bob did, walking as in a
dream among the dingy workmen
who paused as the vision passed
Drinking deep joy of the moment,
Bob yielded to the unadulterated
happiness that went with being
near her.
Finally Miss Gerald got up to
go. They had returned to Bob's
office and she had seated herself
in shabby old chair.
Bob's face fell. His heart had
been beating fast and the old light
had come to his eyes.
rGnfnaOp IA L. 81
yes"
She put out her hand and Bob
took 1t, looking into her eyes.
Then-he never knew how it hap
pened-he had her in his arms.
Bang; bang! went Bob's hammers
below and they seemed to be COM
peting with the beating of his
heart. At length the girl stirred
slightly. She was wonderful in
her proud compliance to Bob's
somewhat chaotic and overpow-
ering expression of his emotions.
IL suffered, too, little, perhaps"
she said.
That nearly completed Bob's
undoing. He spoke burning words
of truth and this time they did not
get him into trouble.
Dad heard the news that night.
"Of course" he said. II expected
it," Then, with a twinkle of the
eye: "But I'm glad you got start
ed in life foE yourself first son.
l was afraid You would ask her
before you had the right"
you afraid? Then you did sug-
gest my doing it, just to try me.
to see what kind of stuff / was
made of? I thought so. I told
her So" Bob's eyes now began
to twinkle. Sure that's all you
did. dad, to find out II | was
real man or q sawdust one?"
perhaps I did misrepresent
slightly the state Of the parental
exchequer. AS a matter of fact,
I'm still pretty we'll off, Bob.
Though they did bounce me a lit
tie, was not so much ruined as
I let people think. l didn't deny
those bankruptcy stories, because
I wanted you to make good, dear
boy. And you llave!" There was
pride and affection in dads tone.
"But now that you have, there
will be no further need to contin-
ne that Japanese custom. I have
ample for my simple needs and a
l. IGA =