Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-08-15
The Magnet
BY R. RAY BAKER

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Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure Nsws-
| PAPER Syndicats.)
For three years Leah Wellington and
Grover Gary were true to each other
which might be considered a remark
able record.
| BY this 1t is not meant that the pres.
ent generation Of men and women Is
so ruled by fickleness that three years
of being true Is out Of the ordinary, al.
though you will find soured-on-the-
world cynics who will assert that such
is the case.
One Of the extraordinary things
about the fealty Of Leah and Grover
was that during the three-year period
In question they were in different cities
and yet did not exchange letter or a
postcard. But the feature that really
justifles the use Of the world remark
able" is the fact that the young lady
and young man concerned never had
formed an acquaintanceship-did not,
In fact. know each others names.
Leah was clerk In the magazine,
cigar, popcorn. candy, postcard counter
at the Union station in city Of some
100000 souls in Illinois. Grover was
one Of those hustling young men who
can convince you that not to take out
insurance on your life is rank treason
against the human race.
Grover arrived at the station one
evening, weary from slow, humping
ride on a local train that appeared to
scorn the rails and insist on traversing
crouch which he directed against the
railroad, the insurance business and
the world In general-until he spied
Leah.
Leah was not in a joyful mood. She
was obliged to work overtime because
the night clerk at the stand was sick
and she had to miss q theater party
with four girl friends. She scowled as
she sold fat man q package Of gum,
but when she looked up from the cash
register and saw Grover wreaths of
smiles adorned her countenance.
"There he is at last" breathed Leah
1.-THE handsome man I've dreamed about
so often. l always knew I'd meet him
some day."
by George! That's the girl I've
been waiting all these years for"
Grover told himself. isn't she the
pretty thing?"
As a matter of fact, neither of them
was beautiful or handsome, although
each possessed the normal amount of
attractiveness.
Grover at once approached the stand.
She smiled welcome at him, somewhat
timidly, for her experience with men
had been limited, as had his with girls.
He was far from being at ease, and
somehow he could not decide on what
to purchase from her. Naturally, when
q stranger approaches a place where
things are sold and stares at a clerk,
the clerk expects to sell something he
argued, and still he could not think of
q thing he needed.
He looked over the magazines, finally
selecting one, but when he thrust
hand into his pocked he found that his
purse had vanished. She was rolling
up the magazine.
mo, l don't want that after ALL" he
faltered. Il have read it, come to think
Of it."
She laid it back. He ,ransacked his
brain for the name Of some magazine
that he did not see on the stand. 1t
was useless. The supply laid out be-
fore him apparently included every
publication in the world.
She was waiting and he was being,
tossed helplessly on stormy sea of
distress. He f1dgeted and perspired. At
last, desperately, he blurted out:
1.-THE magazine l want is The Mag
net Have you the last issue?"
The smile left her face and disap-
pointment crept into her eyes. She
wanted to please this stranger, to fur
nish him with the article he desired to
purchase. She had failed.
mo, sir" she answered, 1--WE don't
keep that magazine. In fact, I never
heard of it, and thought l was an au-
thority on periodicals"
He thanked her and trudged home
ward with a curtain Of gloom settled
over him. He had made a mess Of 1t,
he ragged, and he went to sleep to
dream that he had met the girl that
was meant for him, and that, just as he
was about to lead her to the altar to
make her his bride, witch descended
from the clouds and transformed him
into a donkey.
However, on thinking it over Grover
saw that his laundering had opened the
gate Of opportunity for further con-
versations with the girl that fate had
selected to become his partner on the
Of life. So at least three times
4 week he appeared at the station and
asked II the Magnet Magazine" had
appeared. Every time Leah was obliged
TO confess that she had been unable to
get track Of 1t. If It had been possible
she would have obtained it for him, for
she had made a search which included
all the agencies In town.
II Grover had used the same tactics
In love that he used in selling insur- |
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