Smyrna times., 1919-09-10
Mr.. DOOLING
BY ELIZABETH SMITH.

Ni I0H years SHe naQ typed for the en-
gineer. Through the opened sliding
windows in the partition, which sepa-
rated her sanctum from the counting
room, she could plainly hear Paymas-
ter Truesdale and Mr.. Dooling, the
oookkeeper, strengthening odt the pay
roll. There was also an occasional
word from the travelling man, Mr..
Bangs.
"Oh, dear!" mused Mary, signing, as
she caught a glimpse of herself in the
large mirror over Mr.. RObeys desk
across the room. I'm surely getting
DID, yet I'd do it over again just the
same. Anyway, mother had every COM
fort while she lived, if we did live in
two rooms. There'll always be COM
tort for me in the remembrance of
that. No, have no regrets, but can't
deny that l am very lonesome"
Mary was getting old. She had just
ripened into full wOmanhood with no
more plumpness than that which be-
longs to the well-rOunded curves of
twenty-eight. Always attractive, with
her perfectly matured grace and poise,
she was now positively beautiful.
And so the young men in the count
ing room must have thought, for all
of them had proposed during her years
at the plant. On being refused, they
had one by one found life partner
elsewhere.
mo" Mary had told them. "While
mother lives my sole duty is to care
for her" And she had cared for her
most tenderly until the end, which was
now a year back.
Miss Greeley" called Truesdale
through the partition windows, 'have
you heard whether we're to have time
off to see the president? l believe he
Is to land at eleven at Commonwealth
pier"
YES" smiled Mary sweetly. "But 1
hear Mr.. RObey talking just outside
our door. He has just been to tell the
department heads. Here he is-heIl
tell you himself"
The engineer, who enjoyed the same
princely salary rs the general manager,
was, owing to the absence of the lat
ter, in full charge. He opened the door
and announced:
"They are going to knock off at II 80.
I advise that you go to the other end
of the works. You can see the presi-
dent plainly from the windows there"
''All right, thank you," came from
Truesdale. "But we have a little more
to do"
Mr.. RObey, short, stout, austere ap-
pearing little man, with steely cold
blue eyes and a closely trimmed van
dyke, now busted himself with q blue
print.
what a pity" thought Mary, her
eyes running casually over him. "What
a queer person he is, to be sure-llving
in a lovely house with no wife-Only a
man for cook and housekeeper. And
no golf, no tennis, no club. except the
! yacht club, and only speed boats for a
hobby. Well, he is a bachelor at thlr-
ty-five. 1 suppose he'll always stay
single"
"Well, it rs IL 30" announced that
/ gentleman rising, watch in hand. 81
think I'll move down to the other end
of the building"
When near the Office, Mary met Mr..
RObey, who smiled at the coincidence
of their both returning. Il am going
for a cigar" he explained. Then he
cOurteously opened the door and they
entered. Crossing the soft carpeted
floor they went to their desks for the
sought-fOr articles.
Mary had picked up her knitting
and was rising to go, and Mr.. RObey
had just found his cigars, but sal
glancing at blueprint when:
"Robey is a boob! 1t was Trues-
dale talking.
Nothing less" agreed Bangs.
The engineer and his secretary both
held high ideals. Although they alb
horred eavesdropping, their surprise
held them spellbound.
"Why, just think of it," expatiated
Truesdale, as he struck a light for his
cigar. "Here is a man thrown into the
daily companiOnship of the loveliesi
and warmest-hearted girl in all Boston
and he hasn't known enough in al
these years to make love to her. Ugh
I'm disgusted with his blindness !"
"Same herew offered Bangs. "Ht
sees no beauty in anything but con
founded old engine!
"If I were he" came from Dooling
81 wouldn't wait a minute. I'd say
Mary, will you marry me|"
Slam! went the door.
AS the young mems footsteps grew
fainter down the corridor, Mr.. Robey
looked up from his blueprint ant
across the room at Mary, who haC
slumped into her chair with her heat
bent forward and her eyes resting con
fusedly on the desk.
Crossing the room the dapper LITTLE
man laid one hand very tenderly OF
Mary's shoulder; with the other NJ
took her right hand and raising l
to his lips declared.
"It was pretty queer, Miss Greeley
but II was true. You heard what Dool
ing said, I'd say, Mary, will you MARI!
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