Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-16
DAILY NOVELETTE,
JIMMIE As CHAPERON
BY MARGARET l.. AHERN

promptly at 1 o'clock on Saturdays
in the law Offices of Spencer and Boyd.
Notebooks were tucked away. and type
writer desks were hastily closed. Even
Mr.. Spencer, the senior partner, usually
hurried away to the country club for
lunch and an afternoon of golf.
But today he fingered at his desk, al
though Miss Carroll, his secretary, was
preparing to leave. Jimmie, the Office
boy, was bustling about, attending to
the closing of the Office with his Gus
tomary Saturday alacrity. For Satur-
day was the day when Jimmie and his
best girl. ss he called Helen Carroll.
had their weekly party-the lady
financing the affair. for Jimmie S present
remuneration did not permit of such
lavish expenditures for luxuries. Helen
Carrolls kindness was one of the pleas
ant topics of conversation in the office.
Where is it today, Jimmie?' asked
Mr.. Spencer. with an indulgent smile,
as the boy stood in the doorway waiting
impatiently for Helen.
Jimmie grinned and answered with
his after business hours familiarity.
"Oh. our car is waiting to take us to
the hotel for little FIVE course lunch,
and then to the matinee
(Which means.' Helen interposed,
with n pretty blush, "a lunch counter
and the movies. I'm all ready. Jimmie.
Come along. Good afternoon. Mr.. Spen-
GER
The senior partner sat in thoughtful
silence after their departure. If only
his. son had fallen in love with a girl
like Miss Carroll, instead of with Judith
Spalding
Meanwhile, Helen and Jimmie were
hurrying up the street. merrily dis-
cussing what they would have for lunch.
Jimmie would always begin by express
ing an ardent desire for broiled live
lobster and frozen pudding. but after
considerable mock debate he would
apree copdesccndingly to have hot
roast beef sandwich and apple pie ana
;cc cream. Their repast would always
be nreceded by nourisbing bowl OF
SOM. ordered by Helen and partaken OF
bv Jimmie. under protest.
A passing soldier diverted Helen S
attention. She stopped abruptly to
gaze after him ,.,,
she said. with pity in her voice and
owes "And hungry, too. Perhaps he
hasn't any money for his lunch Oh,
Jimmie. do you suppose We ought to
invite him to go with us? I've just
cot Maid and / have plenty OF money
with me-"
al hu Sir a
idea. Without waiting for another
word from Helen he ran after the SOL
dier and tapped his arm.
"Me and my lady friend want to
know if you'll eat with us. She says
YOU look hungry" he spluttered cx-
citedly. "And. maybe, she'll take you
to the movies, too.
The surprised man in khaki looked
from Jimmie to the girl in dark blue,
who was blushing with embarrassment
ms she realized the impropriety of her
bastv IMPULSE. As she watched, the
how and the soldier came back, engaged
in animated conversation.
Jimmie introduced his new friend
without much ceremony.
His names Jimmie, too. aud he's
got three service stripes, and he says
he's hungry and he'd love to go to the
movies
Helen and the newcomer laughed at
the boys frank statements.
That was the beginning of a most
wonderful afternoon for Sergeant Jim.
As charming a girl as he had met in his
travels. with golden hair and laughing
gray eyes and a complexion like apple
blossoms-and an irrepressible young
ster-helped him to a precarious perch
on a stool at lunch counter. The
Young lady. with tender solicitude. in
sisted that he have something substan-
tial to eat. but he explained that he
wasn't really starving. So he shared
their regular Saturday luncheon and
enjoyed the apple pie and ice cream
fully as much as Jimmie. Afterward
they had gaily purchased box of
caramels. Then they had hurried to
the movies There. while Jimmie gave
all his attention to the candy and the
screen. Helen and Sergeant Jim con
versed in low tones, for the most part
oblivious of the silent drama being
enacted before their eyes. He told her
something of his experiences abroad
and of the battle in which he had re:
ceived his wounds, from which he was
almost recovered. And Helen told him
softly of Jimmie, the Oldest of four
children, and how the lad manfully
trudged to and from work every day
to save carfare and carried unappetiz-
ing and meager lunches in order to
, turn over his pay untouched to his
mother.
At 3 O'Clock they said regretful
! good by in front of the theatre, but
not until after Sergeant Jim had man
aged to draw Jimmie aside for mo-
ment and persuaded him to reveal the
young lady's name,
The next Monday morning there was
an air of subdued excitement in the
office. Mr.. Spencer's son, recently
Ihome from overseas. was starting in
his career as junior partner in the
firm. When the young man in uni.
form. walking with crutches. was in
troduced to his fathers secretary. sh,
was so obviously startled that explana
tions were in order. Sergeant Jim told
his father, much to the latter's amuse-