The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-01-15
"A
Prompt Suitor
BY CECILLE LANGDON
Copyright, 1919. by the Western News-
paper tntonj

'"EhiS is no place for you, Miss Den
zil,' said Walter Richards, and Edna
Denzi regarded him :askance. eff YOU
will allow me to call upon you this
evening I will tell you why
Young Richards spoke in low,
impressive tone and as Edna nodded
SIS if in assent, went into the front
office of Moore & Allen, drew what
salary was coming to him and left the
place. Edna followed him with her
eyes. She confessed to a slight pang
of jealousy as Richards met a tlashy,
boll-faced girl of her own age who
NAL been of late quite a frequent Wis
itor to the office. On several of these
occasions Miss MARITIME made it a
point to parade her fancied beauty
and destinations for the benefit Of the
young clerk and student.
There was some mystery about this.
Miss MARITIME t:lat neither Edna nor
Richards had fathoned. When either
Of the partners consulted with her it
was behind closed doors. She wore a
certain air of aadacious superiority,
indicating that her visits to the firm
were of great Importance.
Edna puzzled her mind all the rest
Of that afternoon as to the reason
why Walter Richards had given up
his position. She has liked him from
the first moment she met him. He
was courteous to the point of gal !
lantry. He had walked home with
her on several occasions and Edna
was attracted and pleased by his
quiet gentlemanly ways. She was
glad that she had assented to his call |
ing upon her. for he was about the
only friend she had made since COM
ing to the city.
It WAS seven o'clock when Richards
appeared at the home where Edna
boarded ''If You don't mind" he
said. "SuppnSe we take a stroll to the
park. where we can find a quiet spot
to talk over things and Edna was
nothing 10th.
She went up to her room and re-
appeared dressed for outdoors. the
hnn'll,;S She usually carried in evil !
dencc. Richards insisted on reliev-
ing her of this. He selected Il re-
mote bench when they reached the
park.
You have probably been surprised ;
and my> fled as to my leaving Moore
& Allen so abruptly" he spoke. "Ion
Also perhaps wonder at what l said
about the office being no place for You.
7 an going to explain. have Il long,
hard road ahead of me before I be-
come a fnl1-ffcdged lawyer. and I may
rot readily find another place, but |
have learned enough concerning the
devious and tricky ways of my former ,
employers t" know that every hour [ j
remain I am imperiIing my reputa-
tion for the future
"YOu amaze me-" murmUred Edna.
last week they asked me to assist
in delu0ing a client whom they We're
willing to sell out for money con-
Sideration. This Miss MARITIME who
comes so often to the office is, I am
assured. mere adventures whom
they intend 10 use in some plot. the
details Of which I haze not yet
learned. But I shah learn conc|ud-
ed Richards, with determination. AS
to Yourself, hope yon will believe
that | am deeply concerned in your
well-heing, and if can find You an
other POSITION. with more honorable
men, trust You will resign from your
present one" =
Edna murmured vague assent. He
the fervor Of his apparently unselfish'
interest in her touched and Influenced:
her Then at the door Of her home
Richards handed her back her hnn'l+,
bag and asked permission to call again,
at the end of the week.
Edna had pleasant dreams that
night. She decided to trust tx Rich
ards as to changing her. position.
Just as she was ready to start for the
office next morning SHE made a dis.
covery that annoyed and worried hers,
She had carried in her handbag with
her other belongings, a. key t" the
office door and one to metal cabinet
where Moore & Allen kept their pri-.
vate papers. They were both missing.
She had left the house about square:
E.si!ind when Richards met her.
81 hope ! have not made yMr
anxious" he said. 'but did YOU miss
your Office keys?"
"Why, yes" assented Edna.
Here they are" said Richards ex-
tending the missing articles.
She awaited him expectantty the
following Saturday evening. There
vas noticeable vivacity in his :,a'i-
nor as she greeted I'm. II have q
Strange Story TO tell yUu, Miss D>lizfs.
rather Edna. Now do not become
offended, because l hope soOn the
right TO call you that. I took your
keys purpoScly."
"Oh, Mr.. Richards" cried Edna in
tone Of dismay.
les. to visit the office and pry into
the private papers of Moore & Allen.
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