The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-15
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
SHORN LOCKS.
DY BARBARA KEEN.
(CODyTiGht, 1918. by the Mcclure
EOWS9Rper syndicatOD


Soe whether any collections had come
CoF AiS department.. His chief was out,
bat lying open and spread out on HIS
desk was the following remarkable
but sOli-OZplaaatoFy telegram:
Deaf let GEosScup 70 pay five
thOuOaAd worth It appearance asset
d OGieO.'
A. Ms eyes dsvouTed II and the
OeDBN Of Il soaked In he could hardly
hold hIRself together. Why Why
tive thousand Is twice what asked for
THY have al least realized what
I am WORTH 10 them Al, Percy. you
handsome dog--tbis means-----' and
ehuekllHg to himself. he ran his hand
through his curly hair gentle flush
oVOgSpread HIN and, glancins slyiy a.
ne stOnogrOpher. he buried cut.
Getting into lis coat, hastily catch.
Ina 10 his nat and swaFger stick, he
hailed the down elevator Smiling e.
hls OXultGnt cCuntenance in rs little
nai1ROP, be threw back his head to SET
3 refractory curl out OF bis eyes,
OtESiehtened his hat, and half audiDly
ehue'lled TO his reflect!on--- Ap'
peaTanoc3 asset Of Office
Jaw, wot'S satln' ye? Pretty Percy
Must be 4 klSSin bug, the way ye're
Ioosiu' Al yerscli'' snssred the ele'
VaIor boy.
4 bush spread over PsTcy's face a.
he bowl OF dGriSive laughter from the
boy. ~ another time he probably
would have given him a good shaking,
but now be was busy formulating his
plans which must be executed quickly,
90 he had no time to teach the boy
manners to his better5 That could be
attended 10 later: there was other and
ploaSanteT business on hand
The telegram was a. good as actual
money. The firm was never known 70
50 back on = pledge. He would 30
ana bind the bargain with little down
payment on q certain bungalow tina,
be had admired-and so had she
then be could speak OF II as bis; also
he would have set aside for him a GER
tain suite Of livingroom furniture in
B downtown window that he had had
hiS eye on; then he would 20 and tel
the girl and aGk her to name the lay.
II Is quite wonderful how smoothly
business runs when the man who has
the price sets out 10 buy. He was 80
lobilaAt that he was almost beside
himself, but he managed either to sup.
press the outward signs, or to grin be.
hind Ait hand SC as not 10 provoke
any more such coarse and unieellng
remarks 0S those INDUCED In by the
elevatoT.hop.
Milileent BeaUchamp lived with a
widowed mother in q little cottage at
che edge Of town and helped out a
smAll income by teaching primary
music classes She was a wholesome
modest girl with sterling womanly
qualities So when she saw Percy
coming. she wisely decided that she
would not run away TO change her
dress, but would meet him as she
would any other caller at that hour in
che morning. Very sweet and winsome
she looked as she swung the door open
and asked:
And what brings Mr.. Grosscup out
% early? Do we owe that firm OF
yours anything? Aud were you afraid
YEA movO?"
Be It said 10 the credit OF Percy
hat, despite arrogant egotiSm, he ap.
pgeeiAted her worth. and for Just a
Minute The question almost formed Il.
self 10 his mind as TO whether he was
really good enough for her. He an.
sweted her Laughing question
II you DO owe us anything" he re.
turned joyously, that pink Bingham
dress would just about settle IT," Then
almost before he realized IT, he was
asking her TO throw herself into the
bargain.
"ArO-are you proposing to me-
orOOthlesSly esked Millicent. And
Percy swept her into his arms to as.
sure Der at closer range that he was.
The patter OF staccato steps in the
ball brought the people down to earth.
pitenRakinE herself. Millicent in a
Aushed little voice halt whispered:
IT'S mother!
But Percy was in one Of those eG.
ultant impciuous moods that carries
I'll before II, and turning hastily, he
caught AillIceut'S rather chubby little
mother IN an scstatic embrace and.
kissing her on the cheek with all the
pr Of happy, teasing son. repeated:
Us mother" Then releasing her, .
little Tuotuliy, he begged pardon, neat
y apologised and blamed his !mpetu
oUSlty, and the fact that he had not
asked her consent al first, all to TIE
pink gingham dress.
Mrs Beauchamp. very much per.
turbed, and with two tears that threat.
oned 10 overflow their banks in spite
q much winkIng 10 force them back,
smiled q little tTsmulouS consent 10
everything. then fastened out 10 take
care Of the robell!ous tearS AMI LETT
TIE young people 10 their wonderful.
occupation Of planning = speedy mar.
Rage.
Wei. now that'I settled. and Unjust
eot back. 70 WolH or might lose nv
JOB, said Percy alphabetically, after
relating his good fortunes and listening
Q unstnted praise Of his unusual bus.
hess ability.
UPon reaching the office he walked
llto bis chiefs presence and awaited
tie news.
What, tuSt got IN: Late aSain!"
aDked his eAiei Is he jumbled hiS d.
ooEs Q little a. though looking for
something. He hated to tell oroSseup
Wat was coming to him.
Picking up the telegram, be coughed
slightly and sid: Mr.. GroSscuD. the
president thinks that We can dispense
With your services after the first Of the
month"