The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-01-30
RING FOR FRANCES
BY MARGARET !. FEELEY.
1919. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

Frances K simply detested her
alarm clock. Every morning it brought
her back from dreams Of, green fields
and babbling brooks to brick tenement
houses and city noises. Furthermore,
1t impressed on her that R & Co.
expected every clerk behind the coun-
ter at $3.50 sharp.
Although the mirror said her face
vas getting thinner, Frances blamed
1t on the new style Of hairdressing. 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 if David B., the
new manager, noticed. Frances smiled
afterwards. Just as If he 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-it merely showed
he was a gentleman. Nevertheless, she
knew she was about the last girl to
leave the store.
"Guess you'll have to set your alarm
clock a little earlier" was Mrs. rs
greetings as Frances came down late
to breakfast.
Scarcely ten minutes after her ar
rival at the store, David B ap-
preached the counter. "Miss K"
he said, 1--WE are having a special sale
on alarm clocks today. Miss NJ 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-
tive customers until now it seemed
as If her head would burst with pain
from listening to the ringing.
For lunch she had an ice cream,
hardly n%ourishing to a tired clerk.
During the afternoon how her head
throbbed. Would the public ever stop
buying alarm clocks? "Yes'm," Frances
remembered saying, "this alarm rings
every 80 seconds, then stops, then
rings"-how warm everything seemed.
the store IA getting dark. It's funny
the lights are out, didn't the alarm
sound far away and then-total
darkness. She thought she heard
David BIS voice, but oh, so 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 a dream. The nurse
explained that R & Co. had re-
served a room at the hospital for any
Of their clerks >wHe might become III.
This was news indeed, for the firm
never had the reputation Of being over
kind-hearted.
When she next awoke It vas early
evening, while the corridor lights ac-
centuated the growing darkness of her
room. Suddenly, the smart trim fig
TIRE of the nurse appeared in 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.
1T was nice Of you to come, Mr..
B." she began. II am very thank
full to the firm, Also" With a nod
B dismissed the nurse.
"Miss K.."' he said in a low modu-
lated voice, "I'm awfully sorry l put
you on that alarm clock. counter, but
/ didn't know you weren't feeling
WE'LL"
Frances smiled family. ut was fool
ish of me-" she began, but B in
terrupted.
"Please let us not talk about that
now," he said, "but after a little while
I hope you'll be well enough to &c
down and stay with my mother. Our
home is much too large for the two OF
us, besides-a rest would"
"Oh, but I couldn't, Mr. B;
you see, IL"
"Now, I know you are going to say
you don't know me, but you do, al.
though you've long forgotten"
"Are you sure?" Frances inquired
her voice trembling.
"Am I sure?" B answered. "I'm
going to tell you something, then you
may decide for yourself"
"You remember John NJ IL
Northwood?"
Frances nodded.
"He was my uncle" B contin
ued, "'and one summer along about five
years. ago I went down to visit him or
his farm. He was a pretty cranky sor
Of a fellow, but good hearted, just thu
same. There was q family down thu
road who used to supply him will
milk. A little dark-haired girl USED
to deliver 1t every morning. One morn
ing she was late. He was terribl!
cranky; he told her that she ought t.
buy an alarm clock to wake her up
In her haste and confusion she drop
ped the milk. ! felt sorry, but
knew my uncle's disposition, so I hat
to keep still. l left the next day, bu