The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-10-17
Happy
Blunder
By Charles Verone Hawthorne

| ne ulSCONer0u Mucous DluHueE Hc
Iihd made. 1t was his mission to pick
mp all the stray items of local interest
he could run across. This free lance
opportunity resulted in the accumula-
ton of great bulk of notes when he
came to prepare his copy for the news
paper, sitting out the best.
A banquet was his last assignment,
well ordered, decorous; but he was not
yet used to strong cigars and his head
was muddled as he sat down to write
up his various "stories."
Through some hocus-pocus of an
added brain Ned got things woefully
mixed Thus, instead of announcing
che engagement of Miss Rosalie Dur
ham and Mr. Acton Bell, he stated that
of Miss Adrianne Percy and Harvey
Revere. Then, to make the situation
still more complex, he manufactured
an item stating that Mr.. Acton Bell,
prominent in Liberty bond work, had
placed Miss Rosalie Durham in charge
of an office in the Central building
with a corps of lady assistants, TO
make a "bond drive among down
town buildings.
The names he had exactly reversed!
| He had secured the real engagement
item from friend who was authorized
to furnish the same. The Liberty bond
item he had attained direct from Mr..
Harvey Revere. All unconscious or
his error Ned went home, his labors
concluded, and the afternoon issue OF
the Daily Record went to press.
"Thunder!"
/ The word rang out like an explo-
sion, and Harvey Revere, seated at his
i desk in his brokerage office sprang to
his feet, crushing in his hand the news
paper he had been reading. clapped on
| his hat and strobe from the office,
] much stirred up and indignant indi-
vidual.
For he had just come across the
item that announced his engagement
TO Miss Adrianne Percy! Now. Har'
vey had met the young lady in question
that very morning, when he had In.
stalled her as manageress OF the
branch office In the Central building,
and it was because ne had been at
tracted by her that he felt eagerly
anxious to remedy the publicity which
naturally would cause her chagrin and
embarrassment. Harvey had but one
impetuous thought in mind, to seek
Miss Percy at once and inform her
that he had no hand in the announces
ment. The branch bond office was To-
IL. ~ hn Nnf1ff
building. Harvey found the door
locked. He was turning away when
a key clicked, a knob turned and Miss
Percy confronted him.
"The others went home at five
o'clock" she explained. II remained
to transcribe some new entries. Won't
you come in, Mr.. Revere? / think
need some details as to deferred pay
ments on the bonds"
The object of his mission passed en-
tirely from the mind of Harvey during
the pleasantest hour of his life, passed
with charming, attractive compan-
ion and Miss Percy seemed to appre-
ciate his courteous. enlightening direc-
ton as to business affairs. He had
thrust the newspaper into his pocket.
AS it rustled from movement of his
hand he was about to breach the
theme of the unfortunate announce
ment when Miss Percy rose suddenly
to her feet.
"There is smoked" she exclaimed,
quite startled. Sand listen"
Harvey hurried to the door. AS he
opened it a great gust of dense smoke
rushed into the room. Echoing from
below were mingled excited shouts
out in the street. The elevators had
ceased running. He tookin the situa-
ton calmly, but with precision.
Don't be frightened" he spoke.
"There is fire somewhere on the low
er fioors.'' And she placed portfolio
under her arm, locked the office door
and accompanied him as he led the
way to a staircase running to the roof.
Within twenty minutes an incipient
blaze had been extinguished. Harvey
saw Miss Percy to her car and won
dered what glamor had prevented him
from referring to the engagement an
nouncement.
SIN in trouble" said Ned Sadler,
appearing at his Office the next morn
ing. II am directed to see you and ex-
plain the awful blunder I made.
have apologized already to Miss Percy.
They are going to fire me for my
blunder-headed stupidity"
'What did the young lady say?" in
CURED Harvey, with active interest.
ooh, she blushed divinely and all
that, and felt sorry that had got into
| trouble"
"H'm!" muttered Harvey. thought
fully. "See here, you stay here in my
office. Eve got an fdea." %'
eft was "a daring one. Miss Percy
looked. bewildered, embarrassed, star
! tied, all at once, as Harvey entered the
I branch Office and wondered if they
q could not find some basis for saving
the position of the unfortunate young
i journalist. Sooner or later he knew
he would tell this peerless creature
4 that he loved her. Why not now? He
rejoined young Sadler. radiant.
"You come with me to your newspa-
i per people," he directed, buoyantly,
i and Ned Sadler retained his position,
for Harvey Informed his employers
Il that the engagement announcement
need not be refuted.
Among Uncle SAINTS units are jus