The herald., 1917-07-19
JOKE ON MARY
BY RACHEL CAIN.
=

by old place. Mr.. Curtis with his bent
shoulders and shiny old serge suit har
monizrd 50 well with his time-worn
surroundings when he was present
that the sight Of the strangers brand
new black and white checked suit and
azure blue tie with its lapiS-lazuli pin
Jared di,cOrdantly on Mary's nerve.
i've come To pay Aunt Myra's fire
Insurance." said Mary.
- Jimmy Carter looked through the
wire lattice with its stingy little arch
way intended for the transaction Of
business. What he saw caused lwn to
slide down quickly off his stool.
"Certainly." said Jim aloud. reach
Ing for a pen. To himself "Not so
bad for jay town. Life is looking up
( n bit. Sumner, she is"
| What is the name. pIcasc?" asked
Jim
Miss Myra Grant" said Mary.
The ornate hand slid up one page
md down another in vain attempt at
/ finding the name.
Nothing doing" said Jimmy. az
I ''''' ~ III w 'N tblt " llllu III. HOW
do YOU spell it,"
"G-r-a-n-t." spelled Mary.
Jimmy flushed. Maybe Uncle Les
forgot to put it in"
"Oh, 1 don't think So" said Mary.
as Mr.. Curtis sick?"
"No-gone away for a three weeks
rest. I'm holding down the job till he
comes home"
IF you'll please give me receipt
for ii I'll not wait. l know the amount
It's four dollars and thirty cents.
I'm in good bit of hurry"
"All right" said Jimmy Obligingly.
Mary folded the recent and put n
into her bag. Then she opened the
door to 60 out. but before she closed |
II she said Sweetly "If you look in /
the large ledger with the mOttled cover |
/ think you'll find ii. You were look !
Ing In the school directory, you see"
She was gone! And Jimmy with |
curious mixture of shame and rage |
fumbled awkwardly for a cigarette TO
relieve his narrowed feelings.
"Smarty ~ he said two or three
times. "Smarty! Think you're real |
cute, don't yOu?" And then finding
the "mottled cover" he credited Aunt
Myra'S money and took the rest of the
morning for reflection.
In vain he racked his brain for
some way to make her sit up and
axe notice" as he put IT, What kind
II grandStand play would bring her
OF Jimmy was puzzled.
Then he found ii. Five towns were |
'etting together TO have a concert
real one, with opera singers in II
'lencoe' being the center, was chosen
S the place d'affair.
So Jimmy decided that to be on
ermS of Sociability with some Of these
right lights would establish him for
yer in the eyes Of Mary. 5
He decided on Gerrone. He had S
card that this famous soprano was
Dung, pretty and therefore most prob /
Oily approachahle. Besides. he had n
'lenQ who had a friend who knew
er and he wrote for letter of intro.
uctiOn. 70
The day Of the concert arrived warm
no beautiful. II was late spring and
he air was heavy with roses. Jimmy.
nspising the garden varieties. sent
eek's board to New York for a bunch Z.
hothouse ones, and armed with these II
nj his card he started for the hotel G
Jimmy's way led past Mary's. Mary u
as in the garden clipping roses. She p,
He'd him. Sc
Hello. Jimmy" :.
He was so dumfounded at the sweet "a
of her tone that he al as
oSt dropped the box he carried. Then as
recovered. The grand opera bust -,
'Ss was doing It's work. His fame 10
Id spread. az
Good morning, Miss Mary" His
ne was the least bit patronizing. Co
cant you come in?" she invited. @
Jimmy thawed. "Why, PERHAPS I al
n, a minute. l have an engagement to
d can't stay long, though" Of
Il won't keep you. l just thought ma
I'd sit on the porch a minute and III
We nice little chat. I've something hy
tell you" an
ne WAS curious. All right / have a..
minute, l guess" as
Suddenly Mary gave him an odd cor
TX and held out her hand impulsiye. tic
Jimmy. you're a dear, and I can't III.
1T just can't. We all like Won ito
nmy, but we'd planned a joke on in
and it's too mean. You wanted TO pro
me in my place and everyone re- In
lied 1t so. I'm Gerrone. Jimmy IN
1T you see? Yes, l really am. ito,
S born and raised here and came by
ne to rest when the season was A
II. I've worked so hard for wears VA,
L look so unsOphisticated?" it
gut Jimmy was SpeechlesS. Mary a aSq
ned forward wistfully. Jimmy. isia
IT you like me?" she pleaded. MAJ
Il was just thinking" he STAN y YES
red, that I'm afraid I've fallen in eve
e with you" tan
pyright. 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa- whe
per SyndiCate) thus
- shIl
Canada Plans Big Project. as
he hydrO-electriCal commission ~ in