The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-14
BY HI AKERS
Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.)

rather wilful daughter, you are MAX
ing a mistake not to accept Mr.. Brad
bury.
81 Think" answered Jean, 81 should
be making a bigger mistake to marry a
man 1 didn't love-"
well, you certainly can't help re-
speeding him. The love will come in
time. He is steady, energetic, a hard
worker, and is getting along finely in
the Hardness firm"
Eyes, 1 know all that" said Jean.
"And just because you do know all
that, you'll throw him over for some
snowy spendthrift who isn't half the
man he Is"
"Don't you think all this is rather
premature, inasmuch as Mr.. Bradbury
has not yet p%roposed?"
well, you know he will. It's q fore
gone conclusion"
Eyes, he seems to look at it that
way" said the girl. THAT'S a part of
his colossal conceit."
Il have never noticed any conceit,"
said Mrs. Martin with considerable ir-
ritation.
She was silent for a minute or two,
then she added: "Jean, 1 have never
said much to you about our circum-
stances. For a girl of nineteen, you
have seemed rather Indifferent, l might
say, almost obliviOus to the conditions
of things
"Why mother - exclaimed the girl in
a sudden alarm, what has happened?'
"Oh nothing, especial. Only you
know the rates of interest have de-
creased so that u income has gone
down one-third, the cost of living has
gone up about one-half. If things get
any worse
Il see" said the girl thoughtfully.
81 wonder l didn't think before. 1 must
find something to do. What can l
earn money at, do you suppose?'
81 don't know I'm sure" was the ex-
tremely discouraging reply.
You remember" said Jean. before
father died, 1 used to type things for
him. Now there's the typewriter in
the storeroom. 1t is a good machine,
and l a start in and practice so as
to get up speed. Perhaps l can get
a place in an Office"
Here Mrs. Martin put up a wall, even
lnpsing into tears at the thought of
her daughter becoming, as she called
1t, "a shopgirl." But Jean was deter
mined, and the clicking of the type
writer keys began to be heard for sew
eral hours each day.
Mr.. Bradbury one evening found Miss
Jean at the machine, and Mrs. Martin
contided to him her wilful daughters
determination to help with the family
income. Mr.. Bradbury seemed a trife
surprised that such a course was neces-
sary. Mrs. Martin explained very
much as she had to her daughter.
Il should hate to put a mortgage on
the property she said. st was my
husbands wish that the home should
always remain unincumbered."
"Oh, by all means" exclaimed the
young a He had for some time
looked with a longing eye on the fine
old house with it's pretty grounds. De
cidedly there must be no mortgage.
He concluded he must bring matters to
- - NNb oNth pei olSlNllll9 Slilt-
tracked his endeavOrs, so the next best
thing was to help her to a position.
He was quite sure she would soon tire
of the hard work, and be willing to be-
come Mrs. Leon Bradbury. To throw
her into the numerous temptations of
an office with all kinds of men, per-
haps those who would make themselves
AQPpnDhln fn hnr Xvo nIf of tho nt,nr
ton, so he watched his chance, and
when one of the girls in Mr.. Hank
ness office left, got for her the vacant
place. Hardness was a bachelor over
forty, and seasoned and confirmed in a
single life. Bradbury had no fears of
him as a rival. Besides he would have
Jean quite under his eye; and as he
told her mother would 'look out for
her"
The first day Jean took dictation
from Mr.. Hardness she made several
mistakes.
q" am sorry" she said. 81 will try
not to have it happen again. But If
| make you too much trouble, you can
discharge me-"
DuL Jtuu WIS hot discouraged. Sne
seemed so anxious to please, and i'm
proved rapidly in her work.
One day when Bradbury was walk
ing home with Jean he asked, "How
do you get along with the old MANI"
qucried.
why, of course"
Il don't call him an old man. He
cant be forty; and at any rate his
heart and soul are young"
"0hW said Mr.. Bradbury with a 81
lent sheer, 81 didn't know a mans
heart and soul came to the surface
In his office. Rather unusual, isn't
itg"
"Yes," answered Jean, "the kind Mr..
darkness has is unusual"
Mr.. Bradbury was ~dumfounded.
was no installing the earnest
of admiration in the girls voice.
Was il possible she was falling In love