American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-03

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bowls into his d~ictaphone. No stenog-
rapher could keep up with him.
Now, temperamentally Tom vas not a
fast talker. 1t was an acquired habit.
and his idea of a happy home to go to
after working hours was a home where
there were not five sisters and aunts
and things, and where one could talk
as slowly or as little as n chose. 1t
was because he had so often thought
how restful such a home would be that
he began TO think about matrimony,
and with matrimony on his mind and
so thoroughly delightful a young wom-
an as the new telephone operator In
ones office, no one with Toms prefer
ence for round blue eyes and smooth
brown hair and a gentle, persuasive
feminine voice could long stay GU OF
love. But though Tom could talk
chopping bowls and other business
matters f1uently enough, when it came
to telling this young lady of his state
of mind and heart his lingual talents
forsook him. But he went on dream
ing and even priced household furnl-
ture and consulted a real estate agent
or so regarding small apartments.
Sometimes he got some small conso-
lation in telling other people what a
wonderful telephone operator he had,
and expounding his theory that 1t paid
to have a really irst-class girl on that
presidents son, Mr.. Dawson, of this
theory.
"But you know" began Mr.. Dawson.
"that young woman didn't come from
the agency; "you see"
"She didn't come from the agency?'
"No," said Dawson; "you didn't give
me a change to explain, and you didn't
give her a chance, either. You see,
Mrs. Dawson"
Tom swallowed hard, and 1t seemed
as if the sun went into a temporary
eclipse. 81 congratulate you on a rare
treasure" he gulped. "She is wonder
full
"She has a high opinion of you, too"
said Mr.. Dawson, and somehow Tom
thought this was an especially inappro'
pirate remark. He didn't want to be
thought well of by the woman he had
loved in vain. He would rather have
her detest him, now that he knew she
was married.
"We'd like to have you come to din
ner some time-make up a little fam
lily party" said young Dawson, land
somehow the conversation closed here
and Tom went back to his Office tC
talk chopping bowls to his dictaphone
but the words would not come. In fac
for days and even weeks Ton lost his
power of CAB, and sales went dowI
and business began to slump. He wal
working his ingenuity overtime trying
to think of a way to get the charming
Mrs. Dawson out of his office. Instead
of seeming like a nice, %straightfor
ward, round, blue-eyed girl as she hat
I seemed, she was a vampire In dis
guise to him now, and every time sh'
l beamed on him as he came n went
7 he imagined cruel thoughts lurking be
; meath the sweet charm of the smile.
"Billy wants me to get you to com
[ home for dinner some time with us,
: she said to him one day. "You hav
I been so cross lately I wouldn't as
/ you. Only we were such good friend
, to begin with before you knew / wa
! a Dawson, and / don't approve of LEI
. ting misunderstanding creep up be
: tween friends in that way"
. And poor Tom accepted for dime
I that very night and the blue-eye
7 young woman telephoned home
u some one named Nora-the cook,
l course-that she would bring hlI
home for dinner and please have musl
rooms and beefsteak, for she had hear
him say once that he liked then
n When 8 80 came and 1t was time to 6
t Tom waited for young Bill Dawson.
"Won't your husband call for L
e here?" he said, and then as the blu
d eyes drew up in a pucker of question
ing-"Yes, Mr.. Bill Dawson, your hui
e band"
h "Why, Bits my brother" said tn
l. girl, and though 1t was late on a du
+ afternoon, the sun came out of a clou
e and the whole world was suffused wit
d happiness for Tom.
l. "You see, you didn't give me
e chance to explain. Nora, BilPs wifi
e backed out, and 1 took the job instea
Ye 1 came that day to ask If I'd do, b
e you didn't give me a chance to say
Ie word" She looked him frankly OF
IS of those round eyes. TON, you''
been so blue and miserable lately
and she actually took his hand In h
d. two and he had to hold on to the de'
20 with the other to keep from hoatlI
g into the seventh heaven. tom, has
L been because you thought | was ma
% ried-has 1t been because you cared
E. And Tom, the man with the tong
a. that wal hung in the middle, cOuldI
1t do more than gasp a meager Eyes"