Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-21

pei SynOiC1leJ
Frances K simply detested her
alarm clock. Every morning 1t brought
her back from dreams of green fields
and babbling brooks to brick tenement
houses and city noises. Furthermore,
It impressed on her that R & Co.
expected every clerk behind the coun-
ter at 80 sharp.
Although the mirror said her face
was getting thinner. Frances blamed
It on the new style of h~airdressing. In
another ten days she would have her
weeks vacation. while afternoons In
the park would soon put the color In
her cheeks again, she told herself.
She wondered II David B. the
new manager, noticed. Frances smiled
afterwards. Just as II be could keep
track Of a half thousand salesgirls'
tired looks.
Surprising he did ask her to share
his umbrella to the elevated station the
last rainy evening-tt merely showed
he was a gentleman. Nevertheless, she
knew she was about the last girl to
leave the store.
Guess you'll have Il set your alarm
clock a little earlier" was Mrs. rs
greetings rs Frances came down late
to breakfast.
Scarcely ten minutes after her ar
rival at the store, David B ap-
preached the counter. Miss &"
he said. 1--WE are having a special sale
on alarm clocks today. Miss M Is
out sick. Will you please take charger
Frances had no recollection OF reply
ing. She next remembered B. ex-
planning how to regulate the clock. and
Try her utmost she could not keep the
flaming color from her cheeks.
All that morning she wound and re-
wound the alarm device for prospec-
i've customers until now II seemed
rs IL her head would burst with pain
from listening to the ringing.
For lunch she had an ice cream.
hardly no%urishing to . tired clerk.
During the afternoon how her head
throbbed. Would the public ever stop
buying alarm clocksf "Yes'm." Frances
remembered saying. "this alarm rings
every 80 seconds. then stops. then
rinRs"-how warm everything seemed.
the store was getting dark. It's funny
the lights are out. didn't the alarm
sound far sway and then-total
darkness. She thought she heard
David B's voice. but oh, 50 family.
Frances opened her eyes In q room
she had often read about. a room that
existed for her only In story books
cretonne curtains, q little enameled
bed. cool white paper and a nurse.
Surely. this was 4 dream. The nurse
explained that R & Co. had re-
served a room II the hospital for any
Of their clerks 'wAo might become III.
This was news indeed. for the Arm
never had the reputation Of being over
kind-hearted.
When she next awoke II was early
evening. while the corridor lights &C
centuated the growing darkness Of her
room. Suddenly. the smart trim fg-
ure OF the nurse appeared Ia the door
way. followed by David B. Frances
was conscious that he was standing BY
her bedside. Slowly she opened her
eyes, while the nurse switched on the
lights.
at was nice Of you to come. Mr..
B." she began. II am very thank
full TO the firm. also" With q nod
B dismissed the nurse.
"Mlss H." he said In q low modu.
lated voice. "rm awfuliy sorry I put
you on that alarm clock counter, but
! didn't know you weren't feeling
we'll"
Frances smiled family. "It was fool
ish Of me-" she began, but b In
~terrupted.
please let rs not talk about that
now" he said. but after q little while
I hope you'll be well enough to 20
down and stay with my mother. Our
home IL much too large for the two OF
Us, besides-a rest would"
"oh. but I couldn't, MI. B;
you see. IL"
snow. I know you are going to say
You don't know me, but you do. al.
though you've long forgotten"