The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-26
kELLEY-CUPID
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.
Copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper Union

Copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper Union.)
Kelley stood hands in pockets, look
ing from the window Of the office build
ing down into the street. There was
the limousine belonging to his boss;
presently the boss daughter would
emerge and go running up the entrance
steps. In few moments she would
come into the room glancing anxiOusly
about, as was her custom lately. Be-
fore she and her fathers secretary
had their "smashup," there were no
anxious glances.
Miss Helen Hazen had been wont to
pass confidently into the inner office
as one sure of welcome. The secre-
tary would return from escOrting her
to the elevator after her departure, In
blissful humor which included the
entire Office force, just as his gloom
now pervaded it.
'Them. two was bugs about each
other" Kelley muttered, IAN now
what the"
His meditations were interrupted by
the arrival of the young woman her.
self.
How do you do, Kelly?' she re-
marked with exaggerated ease. ia
Their in tOday?"
The office boy regarded her in ad-
miration.
mo, Miss Hazen," he replied, "yOur
father has gone for the afternoon, will
just stop In again before closing, go
in to directors meetin' after havin'
his dinner down town." Kelley paused,
and raised guileless Irish eyes. mir.
Arsdale has gone too" he said.
The daughter Of the boss flushed,
adding unnecessarily to the rose color
Of her cheeks. Then with frown be-
tween her pretty brows, she passed
into the deserted office and seated her
self before her fathers desk. For a
time she fingered, her eyes seeking
wistfully farther vacated desk.
Kelley" she called at last, and
"Kel." came.
Miss Hazen seemed to have difficulty
in broaching her subject. "Mr. Ars
dale is very good to you, is he not?"
she asked.
use to be-" Kelley corrected, "be-
fore he got on this crouch Of his"
"Grouch?" questioned the girl, why,
Kelley, what do you mean?"
"Well, as near as kin remember"
answered the boy, ut happened after
you come walkin' in here one day with
that Knowlton swell. Mebbe you've
forgot it. but" Kelley paused elo-
Quently, "he amt"
Miss Hazen did not speak, she was
drawing scraggly lines upon the pad
before her.
after all, Kelley" she said, "you
may be wrong about that crouch.
And" her chin tilted proudly, zone
should at least explain ones lack Of
courtesy. Courtesy" she repeated,
'why the man has been positively I'M
civil"
With an abrupt laugh she bent over
the desk, land we won't talk any more
about people who treat us shabbily,
Kelley"
Impatiently she dashed the tears
purse, finding one of her engraved
cards; she turned its free side to
scribb1e message to her father.
But its wording was difficult. She
had counted upon her fathers cham
pionship In rescuing her that evening
from a distasteful situation. Her
mothers purpose was very visible: she
had taken the liberty of accepting, in
her daughters name, an invitation
from Horace Knowlton.
At eight o'clock he would call to
take her to the opera and without her
fathers Intervention, refusal would be
useless. She had been through it all
so often Horace, because Of his wealth
and station was. in her mothers eyes,
all things desirable as a husband for
her daughter. The girl sighed. Dad
was so different, with his own wealth,
there was but one thing he wished for
his daughter, the old-fashioned happi-
ness.
II have missed you at the Office"
Helen wrote. could you stop at the
house tonight before the directors
meeting?"
"Please give that to father when he
returns" she directed Kelley.
It was not the president Of the COM
pany who later returned, but the secre-
tary instead.
"Any business?" he crisply inquired.
The Office boy studied bit of card
board in his hand, then with q keen
glance passed it over. "Miss Hazen
left that" he said
The secretary's face went white as
he read the message.
"For meY' he asked unbelievably.
Sure" answered Kelley. Arsdale's
hand trembled as he turned the card
over and read it's engraved name; then
light shOne in his eyes, With one
stride he was at the telephone.
Shamelessly Kelley listened
Miss Hazen?" joyously questioned
the secretary. "Well, this is Arsdale-