Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-05-18
WHERE SHE FITTED
BY VINCENT c. PERRY.
IyIo. BY the MCNIuTe NtWspa'
per Syndicate.)

AS a reporter Martha Fiddas was a
failure; everyone admitted it, 1t was
doubtful if Martha believed herself or
much value on the Telegram staff.
Why she was kept there was more
than anyone was willing to say, but
some of the boys hinted that it was be-
cause she was pretty and Phil Weekes,
the city editor, had weak spot in his
heart for all pretty girls.
Her good looks lad not been the
only thing he had seen. She was So
cable, had a winning personality and
was Il splendid conyersationalist-
qualities that should have made sue
cessful reporter. The first week was
enough to show Phil that there were
many things Martha lacked that she
should also have had, but he hoped eX-
perience would develop them. After
the first month he gave up the idea of
putting her on assignments that re-
CURED headwork. If there was story
that required data Martha would be
sure to miss it; she never spelled
| names correctly, always got numbers
and even the names of streets wrong.
| 1t would have been easier for him if
the managing editor had relieved him
| of the unpleasant duty of giving Mar
tina her notice-5ut just the same he
| did it.
IF you don't get rid of that girl and
! get somebody you can depend upon in
her place, YOU are going to run up
| against a tight place some time and
! get yourself in wrong over it," one Of
the senior reporters remarked to Phil
one day.
she's all right" Phil answered.
"She hasn't fitted in yet"
The tight place came sooner than
| they expected it. A lot of big things
doomed up all at once and every man
on the staff was given Il night assign
| ment. Phil left a convention meeting
| for himself to cover. He was the last
| to leave the reportorial room that
night and was just putting on his hat
| when the telephone rang. 1t was the
managing editor.
'"There is a big meeting in Platts-
! burg tonight to decide definitely on the
electric road. See that it is covered"
| he ordered.
| Phil knew the importance of the
story and decided he would have to go
20 Plattsburg himself. The next car
left at eight O'Clock, getting him there
| barely in time for the meeting. That
wouldn't give him time to touch the
! convention. He scanned his assign
| ment book. There was no one else who
could cover it. Nothing could be neg
! lected. How about Martha? He would
| have to chance her, but he hated to
! think of the story she would turn in
! the next day. Had she telephone?
She hadn't. She didn't seem to have
anything she should have had, he
thought angrily. She didn't room very
far away; he would have time to call
! and tell her to cover the convention.
| He could write out a list of the things
! for her TO remember to take notes on
and perhaps she would get a half de-
cent story for him to rewrite.
Martha looked her best when she
opened her door to his knock. Phil
couldn't refrain from standing back to
admire her. She looked lovely in a big
white apron and white cap.
"Come right in, Phil" Martha in
vited, as she opened the door wide,
| The room looked very inviting, so Phil
didn't refuse. After he had gone into
details of just what he wanted her ~
do, and had her write them out, Phi
prepared to go.
'AVon't you stay and have tea?"
/ Martha asked. 81 have a lovely supper
| all readv-steak, fried onions, seal
Hoped potatoes, homemade tarts and
| the best cup of tea you ever tasted.
I'm a dandy cook" Phil had been
| using his nostTils for five minutes, and
when Martha enumerated the things
he had been smelling he couldn't re.
fuse her invitation.
Il wouldn't have had time to so
home for supper" he said, so he sat
down at the snowy white table, "but L
hate to be robbing YOU
''You are doing nothing of the sort"
Martha smiled. II had supper pre-
pared for two, but the girl l expected
telephoned that she couldn't come"
1.-THE ungrateful girl, and a supper
like this :" Phil exclaimed, as he start
ed on the steak. "Wherever did you
learn to cook? This is the finest steak
1 have had since l left home. If the
supper is like this you can invite me
here as often as you like"
would you really like to Gomez"
she asked. Il have often been on the
point of asking you. but I hadn't cour-
age enough 10. You have been so kind
to me that wanted to show you that l
could do something right. You must
think that can't, for 1 know I have
appeared stupid TO you. l was never
cut out for reporter or a business
woman or anything but just a house
keeper. / think. I love cooking and
housekeeping. I seem to fit into it,"
! You certainly do he said. earnest