The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-29
Cause for Thanks.
BY e. RAY BAkEF
NcopJright. 1918. BY the Mcclure

SEIaE E4&aC ABOUT MS ueSAS WeCSA
ppplng OF the end OF his nose He
cared at a taxtcab that pushed
Enough the mud, spiashiug some Oh
e on the curb. The occupant OF the
car, a girl with q rather attractive
face, canght his eye and as she did so
she tilted her chin upward and turn
ed her head away.
Maurice hunched his shoulders and
battered down the raip-coVered side
walk, unuindful Of the dowupour-
"The business woman across the
court" he Sneered- She can't even
give fellow decent look"
Fifteen minutes later found him en-
ferinE his room In the Century apart
Inent house. His left shoe uttered re-
sentful sQueaks with every step, and
he sounded like cripple and tett Ike
drowned rat as he threw the turkey
on the table and stood surveying 1t
With q baIeful eye
The paper wrapping, soaked with
water, had become dlsarranged and
the 1ifeIesS bird lay exposed. Its head
dangling below the table edge.
you look Ike n turkey" Maurice
observed as he sank into chair, but
in reality you're a white elephant
What a man like me wants with a
turkey don't know. No place to cook
Il, and nobody TO help eat 1t anyhow
I ought to have let the relief society
keep It, even II I did get the lucky
number. What's a turkey dinner on
Thangtving day without lot OF other
good things 70 so with it and a con-
genial companion or two"
Unfortunately his eyes wandered
across the court to another section OF
the Tat building. where the business
woman" had apartments along with
two other bachelor girls. AS he looked
she entered the room, approached the
window and looked out dlsconsolately
at the sheets OF water that swir1ed
down. Maurice discarded his sour ex-
preston and smile flickered across
lis countenance. Here was the girl he
had been trying to get acquainted with
ever since he came to the city two
weeks ago. What better opportunity
than now. he thought, and rose to his
feet. The movement caught her eyes
and she looked toward him-and
pulled down the shade Of her window.
Maurice struggled out OF his wet
garments and into dry ones. His
change completed, he recalled that the
man carrier was about due and that
there might be letter from home. He
stepped into the hall.
IN the apartments OF both sides OF
the ban dishes were rafting and the
odor of cooking Viands found its way
70 his nostEilS, while bursts OF merry
iauRhter reached his ears.
Arriving ct the entrance VeSGbUle
he disceFned something white through
the glass OF his mail box and it made
him feel q little more cheerful. He
opened the box. took cut the letter and
GAS about 70 tear it open. when he
discovered that the name on the en-
velope was:
Miss Laeouel1n Dietz.
"The, mail carried got it Ia my box
BY uaistake," Maurise unused. 1T says
APARTMENT seven, and mine is nine.
The business woman occupies seven
Somebody remembers her all right to-
day, but I'm left out in the cold
He reached out to place the letter
N box seven, and as he did so he
kicked an oblong package that rested
on the door. Curiosity prompted him
20 pick It up, and he saw that 1t bore
the same address as the letter.
Eyes, she certainly does fare WELL -
he mUttered, and was about to replace
the package when footsteps sounded
on the stairs that led up into the other
section or the building.
shes coming for her mall he de-
eided, and q daring thought entered
his brain. With the letter in a pocket
and tho package under his arm he re-
treated hurriedly up the stairs that
the first landing.
Looking back, he saw the business
woman" approach her mail box and
look around with an expression OF dis
appointment. She hesitated q mo-
ment, looked out Into the street. where
the rain stil1 was beating down, then
walked slowly back up the stairs she
had just descended
Maurice Teraced his steps to the
vestibule. He waited for perhaps five
minutes. then reached out and pressed
the bell above mail box seven, his
mouth and eyes expressing something
akin to desperation
He GIamped his ear 20 the speaking
@be and presently heard q feminine
voice respond with q Hello"
Maurice made his tones as gru6 as
possible and spoke into the tube:
Fl have q letter and q package for
you. IN bring them tight up" He
didn't give her a chance to tell him
she would come down.
In q few moments he was uShered
into her room. When She recognized
him she attempted to assume a haugh-
q demeanor. but the attempt failed
because her eyes were red.
= got these by mistake he said
she smiled q tired little smile and
received the package and letter
SIN 50 glad to get them" she said.
I've been miserable today because
I'm al alone The other girls have
zone Ecme for the holidays. I knew
Che package was coming and It was a
rEy'of hope 20 look forward to. When
dn't 6lnd & downstairs was just
heart-hrokeu
Snfffed and dabbed her eyes
handkerchief. he stood there
toolis6 and wanting 20 sly,
e tofrzme an excuse.
sed tie pEclrage fron the