Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-03-07

Oh DTedu anu cake INTO a paper Dag.
Barrow whispered to her: Lets go
down and feed the swans. I'd just as
soon be away from the crowd"
She nodded assent, and they depart
ed hastily lest some Of the others
should volunteer their company. 1t
took but a short time to reach the
pond. They found log close to the
waters edge, and, taking a seat there,
tossed mOrselS to the birds and chat
tered to each other.
Look" she said suddenly; there's
one of my esteemed employers, If you
please. You'll notice that he's walking
and looking at things just like us or
binary, everyday mortals."
Barrow glanced past her, and saw q
rather tall, middle-aged man, his hair
tinged with gray, fne-looking man,
dressed with exceeding nicely, even to
flower in his 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 slightly puzzled expression.
He moved a step or two and seated
himself on 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.
Lets walk around little" she sug-
gested. The last of the crumbs were
gone.
"All right" Barrow assented. Lets
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 HazeIS 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 exchaug-
ing polite banalities. Then Mr.. Bnsh
bowed and passed on.
Hes 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 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. wonder what made him
thaw out so today?"
And that question required to her
mind again in the evening, when Jack
had gone home and she was sitting
in her own room. She wheeled her
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 own
fairness, if she be possessed of fair
ness, but she seldom has any Illusion
about one 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
she 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-
phisticated. it did not strike her that
the transition of herself from a de-
mure. businesslike office person In so
Der Dlack ana Wn1te TO RADIANT creo-
ture with the potent influences of love
and spring Frightening her eyes and
lending a yelled caress to her every
supple movement, satisfactorily ac-
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.
Hazel's 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 stenographer
sat Mt her machine in one corner.
| Mr.. Bush turned from his desk nj
| Hazel's entrance.
Miss Weir" he said. II wish you
| to take some letters"