Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-01-09
JACKS AWAKENING
BY PETER BARNUM.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

The leather upholstered chairs O.
both sides of DR.. John Landrith's com
) Portable office were filled; and yer
prosperous looking occupants the
were, too. Doctor Landrith was cel
tainly busy and, Supremacy successful
The door, marked private, opene'
quietly, and small, unobtrusiv
young lady stepped out and closed i
again. Margaret Crofton was mode
of neatness from the top of her COLDER
crowned head to"the tips of her small
shoes.
With half bow she motioned to ,
gentleman on the opposite side Of thu
room. "Mr. Cornelius, the doctor il
ready for you now"
But before he had risen, richly
dressed young lady swept haughtil,
across the room and paused before the
closed door. "Tell Doctor Landritl
that Miss Harcourt will see him i'm
mediately."
She bowed and entered the room, {
moment later re-opening the door fol
Miss HarcOurt to enter.
A few days later Doctor Landrith
unbent from close study of bacteria
got up from his chair. He moved
quickly toward the window with the
energy characteristic of him. He
walked several times across the room
then pressed button on his desk. I'm
mediately the door was opened and
| Margaret came in. In her capacity
as secretary she was ready for serv'
ice at any moment.
''Miss Crofton," he said, IT am nerv'
Gus. can't concentrate on my work.
She slipped out Of the room and re-
turned in a few minutes with cool.
ing drink.
IF you drink this think it will
quiet your nerves. believe that you
are worrying about something. Per
haps I can help you"
Having drunk the beverage and re.
seated himself in his chair, the doctor
seemed little less restless. He
turned toward Margaret in a rather
businesslike way.
"Miss Crofton, am going to make
an unusual request Of you. am in
love. I wish to marry Eleanor Har-
court. Also, am very busy man.
I feel that I cannot devote the time
that Miss Harcourt would desire for
a proposal. You perhaps know that
she is very proud as well as a very
rich young lady. She would make a
fitting wife for man Of my position"
"Yes?' her cheeks paled slightly,
"Now comes the part I wish you to
play. I have found you very thought
full and devoted to my service. be-
lieve you are capable Of this greatest
service I have ever asked Of you. Miss
Crofton, I wish you to 60 to the home
Of Miss Harcourt and request her to
become my wife,"
"Why, Doctor Landrith."
"Oh, I know it's queer, but I'm not
original. Capt. Miles Standish did his
proposing by proxy four hundred
years ago, but will profit by the old
warriors mistake. He failed because
he sent man. Miss Crofton, will you
do this for me2"
She smiled lnscrutably at him. Il
will. When shall I go?"
"Now. It Is late afternoon and she
will surely be at home. will have
the car at the door for you in few
minutes"
He rose and nervously began to pace
the floor. But finding no relief he sat
down and attempted to work. Sud-
denly he dropped his microscope on
the floor with a crash Of splintering
glass.
For one moment he hesitated, then
tore the telephone receiver from its
hook.
"Give me. the Universal Taxi COM
pany-quick," he commanded. "Hello.
Is this the Universal? Send a car to
Doctor Landrith's, double quick. Ex-
ira pay for speed" ....
Dropping the phone he seized his
hat and ran down the steps. Almost
Immediately a car sped up and the
doctor sprang in.
"Going on. Drive up Kensington
avenue. If you get to the Harcourt
home in five minutes I'll give you
twenty-five dollars"
The chauffeur knew his business. At
breakneck speed they dashed up the
crowded thoroughfare. At last they
stopped suddenly before a large resi-
dence. The doctor jumped out and
ran up the shaded walk. He pealed
the bell violently, then pushed open
the door in the face Of the astonished
butler. Showing that worthy aside
with more force than politeness, the
intruder strobe down the hall. he
opened a door on the right and looked
in. Seated on a sofa was Margaret
alone. i-
'Thank God!" he cried hoarsely.
'Then you've not seen herr"
Margaret, darling, do you, think I
could ever be happy with anyone but
you? I know I don't deserve it., but
won't you try to love me just little
but-won't you, dearest?" .@
But she needed no second invitation
to test the practicability Of his Shout
der as a rest for her head.
copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
China Now Exporting Nation.
A curious development Of the war