News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-06-20
CUPID ON 1N- 7"o'N-:
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


posite, was trying his best to look a.
Ii railroad presidents and their satel
lites were customary visitors. HI
smoked one of his own 5O-cent cigars
a dozen of which he had kept in the
safe for months for just such a longed
for emergency.
On the table was a map of a certain
section of certain state with dotted
lines running over it like a dress.
makers guide, and here and there
great splotches of black ink that ev;-
IDENTIFY had something to do with the
present conference, for every now and
then the president or Mr.. Dill would
lean forward and trace around these
places with well-manicured forefngers.
Mr.. Stoughton was playing the part of
listener.
you see," explained the president,
lit wouldn't do for the people in
these sections to discover that we are
running these branch lines into their
country"
The telephone rang just then. Mr..
StoughtOn looked annoyed. There was
no office girl to answer it, for so far
he had not needed the services of one.
Legal papers, all that he had, could be
copied by the public stenographer
across the hall.
The president settled back in his
chair rs the phone with automatic reg
ularity sounded it's staccato notes.
There was no use in trying to compete
with it for the young lawyers atten-
ton. Mr.. Stoughton went over to his
desk and took down the receiver.
"Hellor
SIS that you, Jack?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing?"
"Busy."
"Oh, pshaw! You're always busy"
I'll call you LATER" answered Jack.
The president picked up his words
precisely where he had left off. He was
not accustomed to repeating.
ON account of the coal deposits.
So far they are not even aware that it
is there. But we have had experts
throughout the three counties for a
year and find that the whole district is
rich. The thing is that if we buy up
that property, even on an option, in
our own name"
The telephone rang again. Mr..
Stoughton's hands closed tight as if
he would like to choke it's metallic
throat. The president again sat back
in his chair and the secretary
drummed impatiently on the table.
"Hello!' called Jack, answering it's
insistent ring for the second time.
Jackie, dear! I'm so sorry 1 was
cross" came Marjorie's voice. "and 1
know you didn't mean to be rude. I've
been thinking about you all day, and
how lovely it will be when we're mar
ried and have our little bungalow up
on the hill. It's just like fairy tale,
isn't it, Jackie?'
"Yesw responded Jack, in as bust |
nesslike a tone as he could command. |
"Perhaps I'd better call you later-rm |
very busy just now"
"Oh-all right" coldly.
And again he returned to the table. |
there's going to be hold-up when |
we try to get our right of way the |
president continued. $50 our company |
has decided to engage the services of |
an attorney to handle the situation, |
get all options in his own name and to |
handle the situation generally. Our |
own lawyer would not do for the rea-
son I mentioned. Now as to a COM
mission-of course, it would mean"
The telephone rang again. The sec
rotary jumped up and walked the floor /
and the president this time looked very |
much annoyed.
"Hello!" he called for the third time
"Jack, don't be cross, please. but |
I've been crying, crying; think of it.
You've acted so queerly today I'm |
so miserable because 1 know you don't
love me any more!
"Why, do, dear!"
"Then you'll have to say it, the !
whole thing, ve-you-Marjorie, +
Just like, before I'll believe you"
He obeyed. 81 love you, Marjorie"
What else was there for it?
The railroad president pushed back |
his chair and got up, and when Jack
left the phone his visitors had their
maps folded and their hats, coats and |
sticks ready to depart.
"We had better take up the matter
at some future time when you're not
so busy, Mr.. Stoughton."
"Some other time, perhaps" was the
answer as he bowed them out. But
Jack knew that he had lost thousands
of dollars forever.
"Dearie,- said Jack that evening
when they were out in the garden, a
paradise of sweet spring fragrance
that was intoxicating, "we can't ever
build that bungalow if we aren't care
fui. 1 lost good chance today" And |
then he told her as tactfully as he
could what had happened.
'aThe Midway and Northernl Why, |
that's Uncle Ben! 1 told him to go to
you. and I'll just interrupt him all I
like. I'll tell him to go right back in
the morningl" And the rest of the
conversation doesn't concern US at all.
1Q17 Mcclure Keuer1- /