The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-29
Mr.. DOOLING
BY ELIZABETH SMITH.

3 S!heeF. through the opened sliding
! windows in the partition, which sepa-
! rated her sanctum from the counting
room. she could plainly hear Paymas-
/ ter IrueSdale and Mr.. DOOling, the
! bOokkeeper, Strengthening out the pay
roll. There was also an occasional
word from the travelling man, Mr..
0 Bangs
"Oh, dear !" unused Mary. signing. as
she caught glimpse Of herself in the
large mirror over Mr. RObey's desk
: across the room. I'm surely getting
old. yet I'd do IL over again just the
same. Anyway. mother had every COM
fort while she lived, if we did live in
two rooms. Therell always be COM
fort for me in the remembrance Of
! that. No. 1 have no regrets, but ! can't
deny that | am very lonesome"
Mary was getting old. She had just
ripened into full wOmanhOod with no
/ more plumpness than that which be-
! longs to the well-rOunded curves of
twenty-eight. Always attractive, with
her perfectly matured grace and poise,
she was now positively beautiful.
And so the young men in the count
Ing room must have thought, for all
of them had proposed during her years
at the plant. On being refused, they
had one by one found a life partner
elsewhere.
NO" Mary had told them. "While
mother lives my sole duty is to care
for her" And she had cared for her
most tenderly until the end, which was
now a year back.
Miss Greeley" called Truesdale
through the partition windows, "have
you heard whether we're to have time
off to see the PRESIDENT I believe he
is to land at eleven at Commonwealth
pier"
yes" smiled Mary sweetly. "But I
hear Mr.. Robey talking just outside
our door. He has just been to tell the
department heads. Here he is-hen
tell you himself"
The engineer, who enjoyed the same
princely salary as the general manager,
was, owing to the absence Of the lat
ter, in full charge. He opened the door
and announced:
They are going to knock off at IL 80.
advise that you go to the other end
Of the works. You can see the presi-
dent plainly from the windows there"
'All right, thank yOu." came from
Truesdale. But we have q little more
to do"
Mr.. RObey, short, stout, austere ap-
pearing little man, with steely cold
blue eyes and a closely trimmed van
1yIy
print.
What a pity" thought Mary, her
eyes running casually over him. What
a queer person he is, to be sure-nving
in lovely house with no wife-only q
man for cook and hOusekeeper. And
no golf, no tennis. no club, except the
yacht club, and only speed boats for q
hobby. Well, he is a bachelor at thir-
ty-five. I suppose he'll always stay
single"
well, 1T is IL 30" announced that
gentleman rising, watch in hand. ST
think I'll move down to the other end
of the building"
When near the office, Mary met Mr..
RObey, who smiled at the coincidence
of their both returning. "I am going
for a cigar" he explained. Then he
cOurteously opened the door and they
entered. Crossing the soft carpeted
floor they went to their desks for the
sOught-fOr articles.
Mary had picked up her knitting
and was rising to go, and Mr.. Robey
had just found his cigars, but sat
glancing at a blueprint when:
"Robey is boob!" 1t was Trues-
dale talking.
Nothing less" agreed Bangs.
The engineer and his secretary both
held high ideals. Although they alb
hOrred eavesdrOpping, their surprise
held them spellbound.
'Why, Just think Of It." expatiated
Truesdale, as he struck light for his
cigar. Here is a man thrown into the
daily companiOnship of the loveliest
and warmest-hearted girl in all Boston |
and he hasn't known enough In all |
these years to make love to her. Ugh ! |
I'm disguised with his blindness"
Same here!" offered Bangs. "He |
sees no beauty in anything but a con-
founded old engineI"
IF I were he" came from Dooling,
81 wouldn't wait minute. I'd say.
Mary. will you marry mer"
Slam! went the door.
As the young mems footsteps grew |
fainter down the corridor. Mr.. Robey |
looked up from his blueprint and |
across the room at Mary, who had |
slumped into her chair with her head |
bent forward and her eyes resting con-
fuSedly on the desk.
Crossing the room the dapper little |
man laid one hand very tenderly on |
Mary's shoulder; with the other he |
took her right hand and raising II |
to his lips declared.
ut was pretty queer, Miss Greeley,
but it was true. You heard what Dool-
ing said, I'd say, Mary, will you marry
meT Now | intended TO ask you this.
ask you now. VIII you? Oh. will
you. dearT'
Mary. still deeply srimsoned, looked |