Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-18
Spug for a
Day
~
BY James Osborn
BY James Osborn

and their friendship was OF the sort
that could not be altered. even when
Nancy went to business school and
later took n stenographer's position In
a business office. and Clarice. through
her fathers acquired fortune, became
one Of the most sought after young
women In what chose TO be called. and
was called Society, with q capital $.
Clarice did not give Nancy her old
dresses. nor did she try 10 persuade
her TO attend the parties she gave, 10
which only folk with very much more
money to spend than Nancy had were
invited. When she asked Nancy to her
house II was either to enjoy her alone
or with q few Of the old friends with
whom Nancy could be most at her
ease. Thus Nancy was never made
conscious Of the fact that fortune had
dealt less kindly with her than 1t had
With Clarice. II indeed 1t really had.
When Ciarice nrst met Robert Har-
row and somehow unwittingly charmed
and then cspuvated that inveterate
man Of business, she did not tell him
that Nancy Smith his private score
tary. WAS oae Of her best friends. Ii
was not in the least because she was
ashamed OF her association, but be-
cause she liked the idea Of having a
means OF seeing Mr.. Harrow from an.
other angle than that OF society and
country club activities without his
knowing IL. Carice. truth to say. was
drawn 70 Harrow almost as soon AS he
was TO her, for there was something
about this rather rough strange mix
ture of a man that charmed women
quite as much as II he had been most
courteous and cOurtly. Sometimes he
seemed the broadcast Of men In his
large grasp Of events that Claries dis
cussed with him. and sometimes the
narrowest In his point OF view. that
seemed 10 see only his own business
Interests Sometimes he seemed the
most generous and unselfish. and then
the least generous and most selfish.
Drawn though Clarice vas 10 this
much discussed and almost eccentric
young man. she planned 10 surrender.
alton. She had planned not u lose a
single trick in the love game she wns
about 10 play with this man. who I'D
become accustomed 10 having thor
generally his own way in the uth,r
games OF life
II hns been said that mans sten.
ographer has an opportunity 10 know
him even better than hts own wife. 'ur
she sees him NOR, ho4r~ uf fha g
usually and can study him wthoHf
personal prejudice Of any sort Nancy
Smith surely knew Robert Harrow bet
ter than he knew himself. and IL W.
perhaps not strange that she suspected
he WAS In love before he was willing
10 admit that fact 10 himself. much
less 10 Clarice. She had heard from
Carice Of the friendship that had
sprung up between her and Mr. Har-
row, and with infinite care sounded
her regarding him and 50 found out
how the ground lay.
Once Clarce, with an attempt at
seeming casual, asked Nancy what
-Vib Va huDOAhd Sht NhOt&ht AAt
Harrow would make.
81 cosld be hAs stenogravAsr ali my
life and eojoy it," explained Nancy,
but I could never endure him as a
husband. Bot with a girl like you. II
would be di6srent. Yoa would COL
lapse after a day in his once; but with
all the little feminine witcheries 70
fall back on you. or a girl like you. !
should say. might find him a perfect
hWband"
"One thing Mr.. Hnrrow's wife would
have to remember. though" added
Nancy, and that n that she should
never once let him take her for grant
ed. II would BE- IKE tanning q lion
once the beast knows his power, the
tanner II lost. Some women are cut
out for Just that sort Of thing. you
know. and never In q lifetime let their
husbands know what meek. tame
hearts they have"
Nancy and Clahce thus discussed
Mr.. Harrow over the chocolate cups
one day at luncheon. late In December.
WuSu CiufiCc nuu Bouo ooVntONu IOt
Christmas shopping.
That afternoon Harrow gave the
operator grun orders to
the effect that he was TOO busy to be
and then sat at his desk.
with no one but Nancy sharing his
looking blankly into space for
q full hour. his head bent and his arms
akimbo. He started to his feet when
he reused himself and paced the floor
Take this" he threw at Nancy. |
Memo for the cashiers ofice-'Ow-
Ing to war conditions and necessity to |
curtail every possible expense. we
shall give no gold pieces at Christ
mas"
Nancy took the words down in dots.
curves and dashes. and recalled as she |
did so that In the firm Of which Har.
row was president war conditions"
had meant Is per cent greater profit
than usual.
Take this" he threw out again. 1T |
Is for my housekeeper, Mrs. Hawkins.
Owing to war conditions, I have found |
L inadvissbls to dispense with any ad. |
ditional money In the wages to the
this year And when you