Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-13

point.
will you tell me why you stop
ped me when l was about to throw
my job in old Premises false teeth?"
she demanded tempestuously. II
had hoped"-this with a note of Bit
ternesa in her voice-"that you
! would join me in saying that you
would resign if the school board
asked Kenneth to do so. I'm sure
most of the other girls would, and
when you gave me that signal l
could hardly believe my eyes.
Il have always found you to have
reasons for your actions, so l obeyed
you. But / can tell you that you've
got to put up mighty good argu-
ment to justify yourself. That old
pulled porpoise! If l could only get
the girls to walk out in body and
let him and the rest of the board
take their old school!'
Madge Speaks Plainly.
I stepped to the door, turned the
key and looked at my wrist watch.
We've got exactly two minutes
to settle this thing. Then we've got
to see to dismissing the pupils.
What did you tell the teachers?"
Told 'em to hold the pupils and
put them to work in their seats until
yor or I came around and formally
dismissed EN-" she said shortly.
Good! Now let's look facts in
the face. In the first place there is
not a woman here who would even
consider joining you in resigning.
You're overweight, and you think
the others look at things through
your spectacles. You see, under the
peculiar conditions surrounding this
thing, a woman ranging herself on
the side of Mr.. Stockbridge risks
not only her job but her reputation
which means her future positions.
They simply cannot afford to do it.
She dropped dejectedly into a
chair, all the turbulence gone from
her.
Il suppose you are right" she
said, her voice fiat and lifeless. II
can see your standpoint, and | can't
blame you. But with fash of her
former fire-"it is different with
me. I'm not going to let either JOB
or reputation get in the way of
my standing by Kenneth Stock
bridge. He shall have one friend.
And if they fire him, they fire me,
too"
And so add to the intolerable
burden he is already bearing" said,
throwing as much irony as could
into my voice.
What do you means" she count
cred, startled.
did he not ask, nay command
you to keep away from him, not
to attempt to speak to him or
send him any message until he gave
you leave?" I asked earnestly.
depend upon it, he has some good
reason for his request. You prom
ised to do as he asked, and here
would break the spirit Of that prom
Use irretrievably."
What She Promised.
She stared at me wide-eyed. /
saw conviction that I was right mir
rored in her face. Then she pulled
her figure erect, rose from her chair.
"All right, you win, for the pres
ent," she said tonelessly. Come
along, let's get this raft started for
home"
AS if she had buckled on an ar
NOR, she went through the trying
hours of dismissal of the pupils, and
settling up of the affairs of the
school for its three days closing,
with white, inscrutable face and stiff,
naughty manner, which repelled all
advances from her colleagues. Even
the summons to the coroner's in
quest, which she had expected. did
not appear to affect her. She came
I'D to the assembly room where l
was working and laid it before me.
Il shall have to 60 in two hours,
she said tonelessly. Il suppose you
will have to stay until the regular
time for dismissing school"
Something in her voice made me
put my arms around her unyielding
stiff figure.
81 shall stay here until you come
DdCk, II IL DC lillulliSAlS o'oNAS ~
her.
"You know you will be wreck
after it, no matter how things go,
and the last place you want to go
will. be home where you will have
to put on a brave front, and mask
your real feelings"
II know all that better than you
do" she retorted.
"All the more reason why you
should come to me-" / countered.
Now promise me that the minute
the thing is over, you'll come
straight to me"
She waited a long minute before
answering. I guessed that she was
still harboring resentment against
me. unjust though she herself real
lied it was, for my attitude toward
her proposal to resign her position.
But at last her face cleared.
"I'm a beast and you're DEAR"
she said "Of course I'll come back
here-and I'll have good news, too"
she added defantly.