The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-11
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
What Could You ExpectI
BY DORA NOLAN.
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure

tfat one more chair, making four In
stead Of three, would bridge the chasm
between penury and prosperity in the
aspect Of his new Office.
Putting the telephone receiver to
his ear, with the number OF the towns
one furniture emporium on the tip OF
his tongue, the Hedging attorney
heard q shrill voice calculate: But
what can you expect Of a girl who
was named after pocket handker-
chief? What - you didn't know?
yes. her mother picked it up at an
auctfon-had belonged to German
countess. she said. The name was
embroidered on it and she went
and wished 1t on the kid. Ever hear
Of such a thing?
Realizing that he was listening In on
"a telephone visit, Lamb automatically
hung up the receiver. Then he wished
he hadn't-Hor he'd rather like to know
what sort Of thing 1t could be that you
should expect Of girl who had been
named after a pocket handkerchief.
He might meet one some day. II he
aid, would she be square and substan-
TALLY built, like mans, dependable In
emergencies? Or mere froth OF lace
and fllmy muslin, as much real use as
q cobweb overcoat?
The clock in the town hall spire
struck twelve. The expansive grin
that had spread over Lambs counte-
nance during his rumination faded.
1t wouldn't do to be late to one OF
Mrs. Noyes' excellent dinners.
He grabbed the receiver. This time
the line was clear. He placed the
order for the chair, seized his hat
and rushed OF to Mrs. Noyes, girls
and handkerchlefs quite forgotten.
Potter put in the early part Of the
afternoon fitting the new chair into
the equipment of the office. Then,
when he had exhausted all possible
combinations, and stood in the COR
ner each time to "see how the effect
looked" as the old lady said, and had
finally decided upon one of the ar
rangements as beyond Improvement,
there was nothing left to do but sit
down and await the coming of clients
He prayed that they might come soon;
he had his living to get. Living! What
an indefinite word! 1t might mean any
thing from a butler-sized establish
ment and a steam yacht to carrots the
neighbors brought in. The briefless at
torney stood long time at the win
dow watching the trickle Of traffic in
the street below and rolling innumer-
able cigarettes.
At dusk the happy thought came
that brisk walk before supper might
add even more zest to his enjoyment OF
Mrs. Noyes' culinary achievements.
He took his hat down-then hung 1t
up again and flung himself down at
his desk where q book Of Ohio reports
lay open.
There were steps on the stairway.
Came a tap at his door. Potter Lamb
opened it and girl walked in. Mo-
mentarily she gazed about the room
with frank show Of curiosity. Mo-
mentarily also the lawyer gazed at his
collar. His first clients
A slim young girl. CARRIED in blue
serge with gray tam perched at
fetching angle. With a calm self
possession she finished her scrutiny
of the room and turned her eyes upon
him. They were unusually fine eyes,
Potter thought.
"You are Attorney Lamb?"
Guilty" admitted Potter, Just the
least frustrated; and 1t was not every
girl who could upset Mr.. Lambs
lawyerly poise, even mere trifle.
81 have two thousand dollars here"
the girl said, patting bag, land l
wish to put it in your hands to do with
as / direct"
Il shall be most happy" said Lamb,
and there was inquiryEp his tone.
you have been in town two days;
so you have probably heard how |
acquired 1t"
The young man shook his head.
'HCan it be possible! Well, I'll tell
you, It's breach of promise money"
"You-that is-do l understand"
Potter, to whom this information had
come from this extremely interesting
girl, like a shrapnel shell out Of q
Christmas cornucopia, was founder
Exactly. deliberately shared an
honored and wealthy citizen of this
town into proposing marriage to me
got it in writing. Then with malice
atorethought scared him of = and
brought a suit that Melted me this by
way OF settlement" The girl drew
from the bag a roll of bills and placed
them on the table. 1--WE come to you
because you're stranger here-and
nobody in this town must have the
satisfaction Of knowing what do with
it,
gHow did you get rid of him? \
don't see how any" Potter, deter
mined to be utterly professional, didn't
mean to say that at all; but 1t popped
sNaggsd him" The girl laughed
suddenly and heartily. 1t was an In
tedious laugh and Potter, joined in
without in the least knowing what at.
stu, a fellow could imagine-fatuous
DID fool, to think young girl like
his
Instantly, almost, the girl was Sc
ous again There's an old man." she
resumed. HE worked for this pros
porous citizen for thirty-five years:
ave all OF himself to his work-anl
llways for the meagerest wages. Then,
when he grew too old to kork any
onger, his employer refused to pen
sion him. And he's destitute. | got
4 for him-that's ALL His name and
sddress are written, on the paper
wrapped around the money. want
lou TO see that he gets 1t, in small
amounts, as he needs It; and that