South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-09
CindeYeILa;S
Rubber
BY PETER GREGG.

For the twentieth time that morn
ing Eric Spencer looked up expect
antly as someone entered his private
Office. and for the twentieth time he
sank back in his chair with a sigh.
All morning he had been expecting
someone, but as the hour reached
noon he almost gave up in diepairs.
With each new arrival at his office
came disappointment. There seemed
to be more coming in than usual. and
their business was so trivial it irri
tated him. He would have gone 10
the club to get away from it all if
it hadn't been for the chance Of
missing her. 1t would never do for
him not 20 be there when she ar
rived.
For the glitch time ne pulled
open the top drawer of his desk and
took out a rubber for a woman's
left shoe. What a very small rubber
it was, he thought as he placed it
beside his own big fot. Carefully he
placed the rubber back in the draw
er and took out folded, mud-be-
smircheds paper, opened it and read
the typewriter words on it, his face
lighting up with pleasure as he read
and re-read il.
IF l could only find her, he ejac-
ulated, as he put the paper back IN
the drawer with the rubber.
A newspaper was the next TO take
his attention. He pulled it from his
pocket, opened it at the classified
column and found the advertisement
he was looking for under Lost and
Found" There was no mistake in
the insertion. 1t was printed just
as he haG given it to them, for a
wonder lie read it aloud 10 make
sure:
Found A ladys rubber, for a
left high heeled shoe. Picked up
just as lady boarded Belt car yester-
day The owner can have same by
making personal application TO Eric
Spencer, Spencer's. Limited"
The office door opened again. 1t
was just "Geordie" Grant. GeOrdie
was bubbling over with a joke. as
usual but for once Eric wasn't in a
humor to hear it. His welcome was
curt and business-like, but that did
mt dampen Geordie's ardor.
well. have you found hero
Geordie asked, as ne sat on cor
ner of Erics desk.
Whom ?" asked Eric, assuming
innocence and hiding his annoyance.
Why, Miss inderella. the lady
who lost her slipper-Or, pardon me
rubber. It's a rubber this time,
isn't it," Geordie's laugh was alto
gether too loud. but Eric would not
let him see he was angry.
Don't be an ass! l don't see the
joke. Can't 1 advertise the thing
find ?"
sure thing; but people don't US
ually spend more money advertising
in every paper in the city than the
article they find it worth, do they?
Come on. now. loosen up on the ro-
nance. Did Miss Cinderella leave
her rubber in your car. or did she
throw il at you. or what? The boys
all want 10 hear about it, It's the
joke of the club. and youll have TO
offer some explanation.
Eric's anger had about reached
the boiling point but ne was sensi-
BILE enough TO know il would be
wasted on Geordie Grant He
thought it over for "a minute. There
was nothing IN it but 10 explain to
Grant. That was the best way to
get the talk stopped at the club.
If you'll sit down like a sensible
creature. III explain TO you, Geordie'
ne began You know what a terri
bly, wet day yesterday was. Well
my chauffeur skidded my car and
broke an axle, and l had 10 walk.
was crossing the road in front OF
Willer's when a young lady ran out
in front OF me 10 catch a Belt line
car The car had commenced TO
move. but she risked catching IT. She
struck a slippery mud spot in the
road and fell backward But l was
jU.t behind her and managed TO
catch her and keep er from falling
into the mud. The conductor had
seen her and stopped the car, and
helped her on. As the door closed
after her l noticed she had only one
rubber on. I looked back where she
had slipped. and there sticking in
the mud was her rubber. l stopped
10 pick it up, and beside Il was a
folded piece Of writing paper that
she must have dropped. / picked
them both up. and here they are"
Eric pulled out the drawer Of his
desS and brought cut The rubber