Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-12-31
SOME CHAPERON
BY MARGARET L. AHERN.

promptly at one 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, usual
ly 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, as he called Helen Carroll,
had their weekly party-the lady finan-
cling the affair. for Jimmie's present
remuneration did not permit Of such
lavish expenditures for luxuries. Hell
en- Carrolls kindness was one Of the
pleasant 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 wait
ing 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 pretty blush, o lunch-counter
and the movies. I'm all ready, Jimmie.
Come along. Good afternoon, Mr..
Spencer"
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 Ju-
dith Spalding!
Meanwhile, Helen and Jimmie were
hurrying up the street merrily dis
cussing what they would have for
lunch.
passing soldier diverted Helen's at
tention. She stopped abruptly to gaze
after him.
Doesn't he look lonely, Jimmie?"
she said, with pity in her voice and
eyes. "And hungry, too. Perhaps he
hasn't any money for his lunch. Oh,
Jimmie, do you suppose we ought to in
vite him to go with US? I've just got
paid and I have plenty Of money with
me-"
Jimmie was all enthusiasm at the
idea. Without waiting for another
word from Helen, he ran after the SOL
dier and tapped his arm.
"N1e and my lady friend want to
know if you'll eat with us. She says
you look hungry" he spluttered excit-
edly. "And maybe she'll take you to
the movies, too"
Jimmie introduced his new friend
without much ceremony.
"His names Jimmie. too, and he's
got three service stripes, and he says
he's hungry, and he'd love to go to the
movies"
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 complexion like apple
bIossoms-an an irrepressible young
ster-helped him to precarious perch
on a stool at a lunch-counter. The
young lady, with tender solicitude, IN
sisted that he have something substan-
tial to eat, but ne 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. AfteYYards
they had gayly 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 FIVE o'clock they said a regretful
"good-by" in front Of the theater, 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
home from overseas, was starting IN
his career as junior partner in the firm.
When the young man in uniform, walk
ing with crutches. was introduced TO
his fathers secretary, she was so OBJ
yiously startled that explanations were
in order.
Jimmie was too. excited by the turn
O. events to do much work that day