Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-09-26
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f. &Fay Three
IN Bertrand W Sindar
cgy49h A LITTLE. BRoW

a wv IN MS coat lapel, walking
slowly along the path that bordered
the pond.
His gaze wandered to them, and the
cool, well-bred stare gradually gave
way to a slightly puzzled expression.
He moved a step or two and seated
himself on q bench. Miss Weir became
aware that he was looking at her most
of the time as she sat casting the bits
of bread to the swans and ducks. 1t
made her self-conscious. She did not
know why she should be Of any partic-
ular interest.
"Let's walk around q little" she sug-
! gested. The last of the crumbs were
gone.
, Gall right" Barrow assented. "Let's
go up the ravine."
They left the log. Their course up
the ravine took them directly past the
gentleman on the bench. And when
they came abreast Of him, he rose and
lifted his hat at the very slight incli-
nation Of Miss Weir's head.
"How do you do, Miss Weir?" said
he. "Quite a pleasant afternoon"
To the best of Hazel's knowledge,
Mr.. Andrew Bush was little given to
friendly recognition of his employees,
particularly in public. But he seemed
inclined to be laxative; and, as she
caught a slightly inquiring glance at
her escort, she made the necessary in.
PRODUCTION. So for a minute or two
the three of them stood there exchang.
ing polite banalities. Then Mr.. Bush
bowed and passed on.
"He's one of the biggest guns in
Granville, they say" Jack observed
II wouldn't mind having some of his
business to handle. He started with
nothing, too, according to all accounts
Now, that's what I call success"
"Oh, yes, in a business way he's a
success" Hazel responded. "But he's
awfully curt most of the time around
the office. I wonder what made him
thaw out so today?"
And that question required to he1
mind again in the evening, when Jack
had gone home and she was sitting
in her W room. She wheeled hel
chair around and took a steady look
at herself in the mirror. A woman may
never admit extreme plainness of fea.
ture, and she may deprecate her owl
fairness, II she be possessed Of fair.
ness, but she seldom has any illusion
about n or the other. She knows
Hazel Weir knew that she was far
above the average in point Of looks.
She was smiling at herself just as
n had been smiling at Jack Barrow
while they sat on the log and fed the
swans. But even though Miss Weir
was twenty-five and far from unso.
ph1sticated, it did not strike her that
the transition of herself from a de.
mure, businesslike office person in so.
Der black and white to a radiant crea.
ture with the potent influences Of love
and spring Frightening her eyes and
lending a yelled caress to her every
supple movement, satisfactorily &C.
counted for the sudden friendliness of
Mr.. Andrew Bush. '
Miss Weir was unprepared for what
subsequently transpired as a result
of that casual encounter with the man
! aging partner of the firm. BY the time
she went to work on Monday morning
she had almost forgotten the meeting
in Granville park.
HazePs work consisted largely of
%dictation from the shipping manager,
letters relating to outgoing consign-
ments Of implements.
1t was, therefore, something of a
surprise to be called into the office of
the managing partner on Tuesday aft
ernoon. Bush's private s~tenographer
sat at her machine in one corner.
Mr.. Bush turned from his desk at
Hazel's entrance.
"Miss Weir" he said, II wish YOU
to take some letters"
Hazel went back for her notebook.
wondering mildly why she should be
called upon to shoulder a part of Nelly
Morrfson's work, and q trife dubious
at the prospect Of facing. the rapid-fre
dictation Mr.. Bush was said to infict
upon his st~enogrdpher now and then.
When she was seated, Bush took up
a sheaf of Letters, and dictated replies.
Though rapid, his enunciation was per.