The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-22
position. would he please discharge


position. would he please discharge
the managing editor?
The young woman who was now the
city editor was really qualified for the
fob. The few remaining males who
now worked as onice boys and ship
ping clerks could be easily replaced
f0or the "Banner'-thO Banner
would become famous the world over
as a. paper run entirely by women.
Bennett Stokes read the letter twice,
then he looked intently at the be,
grimed ceiling OF his Office and lighted
his pipe. Then he laughed q little
grimly, replaced the letter In its tori
envelope, put It in his pocket and
stepped quietly to the door. opened It
and looked first to the left and then TO
the right AT the right he encountered
the eyes Of Olive CIaggett standing .
few feet away
'I couldn't help but Sse," she said.
Mr.. Stokes. didn't believe you were
capable Of doing such thing"
Then with \ sudden couraEeoUsneSs
Bennett blocked the passage a. Olive
tried to force her way BY.
GOOD night" she SAID. II hope when
you are quite through With Mr.. Ford
yce's letter you win forward It 70
him" BY this time Bennett had two
strong hands on Olives wrists and
was guiding her in spite OF herself
into the room He closed the door bo'
hind them and ordered her rather
than asked her to take chair.
Pm not going to discuss the letter
now - he said THE ideas a good one,
but I'm thinking about something else.
Ever since you've been here. Miss
CIGgEett you have avoided me and
have made me feel that you bore me
a ErudEe-and the funny thing Is that
I've been cur1ousIy drawn to you. It's
one OF those things that a man can't
helD-that sort OF foreoTdained witch
cry OF one woman. I'm not blaming
you-heayen knows you have fought
against exerttng It Il you ever were
aware that you had It I'm simply ask.
ing you to tell me the cause for your
anttpathy."
sBut It wasn't my idea to ask for
your resignation" Olive said. In sptts
OF herself she felt hot tears yelling
into her eyes. IT shall miss you very,
very much-more than you can posi-
bly, know I wrote the letter because
was delegated to do so, and knew
my duty was UfSC by C0e Banner. BE
sides, there are bigger things for you
to do" And then the business mana
ger broke down completely, and. bur
rying her face first Oh the side Of Ben
nets desk and then, as he gently
raised It on the rough exterior OF the
shoulder Of the editorial Office coat
she said exactly what she had deter
mined never to admit-that she her
self felt strange and compelling at
traction to Bennett
And when that sort OF attraction is
mutual there is only one thing to do
Bennett was saying. There Is nc
longer any question as to the success
OF the marriage"
There was a knock on the editorial
door and the voice Of the city editor,
suggested as Benefits successor, call
ed in inpatient syllables: "OliyO,
thought you were coming"
Olive quickly rose to 30, With a look
OF a guilty school girl.
But what shall tell them-about
Mr.. Fordyce and the letter"
"Oh, they might as well know" he
said. I'm Mr.. Fordyce. Running
small town papers is foolish fad OF
mine. Yes, tell them they can have
it and good luck to thsm-but they
must have Z new business manager"
-S~-