The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-06-23
ONE ROMANCE
TO ORDER
(Copyright.)
By EvERALD }. APPLETON

l
shifting from one foot to
the other. watching the busy electric
preference to the uninterest-
Ing human beings that filled the room.
Ahead of her were numerous other
noon lunchers; behind her were more.
Presently she reached the counter
on which were piled black and bat
tered tin trays.
Her small. persplring palm held an
unpunched lunch-check, and Mary
Eleanor Edith's eyes scanned automat-
ically the familiar bill of fare print
ed on the wall.
Day after day she waited for tray. |
named the food she could afford, but |
did not want.
Automatically she ate; automatical-
~ she would return to the factory.
Her whole life was as methodical and
automatic as folding machine! Moth
ing ever really happened. Mary Flea
nor Edith longed for unreal adven-
lures. and she expressed 1t thus:
Gee. don't this Job give girl the
williesy
Suddenly the man in front Of her
lurched forward. Mary Eleanor Edith
caught at his arm. He regained his
balance, looked accusingly at the bit
Of potato on which he had slipped, and
turned a reddening but smiling face
! upon her.
Thanks" said he, though she had
merely pinched his arm when she
grabbed at him.
Flows the veal today, BELIEF"
Tough" mumbled Belle, glancing
coverry in the cashiers direction.
"Safne old thing, then" Mary Flea
nor Edith sighed; 'but gimme a piece
of coconut pie for a vacation"
Not until she had flicked a napkin
Off the pile in the center Of the table
and on it wiped the knife, fork and
spoon, did she look up-and into the
frank blue eyes of the man who had
slipped.
'Kinder drift together. don't WEI"
ne commented easily, stirring his cot
fee industriously. "Come here reg
Llar7"
Mary Eleanor sawed at her sand
witch. Don't get new" she advised
crisply.
He brIstled. "You should worry
, I'm no chicken-thief. Can't thank
you for saving me from busting my
head, thought? Mary Eleanor Edit
. frowned.
Maybe it ought to "a been busted,
, she offered.
They ate in strained silence for fiy
minutes. Then putting both hands Of
the edge Of the table. he pushed bacl
and spoke.
!, "Say"-and there was honesty Il
= his tones as we'll as in his eyes-"yo
look tired. / bet you are tired. Sic
to death of your Job. whatever it /:
;. Would give a weeks wages for
sure-'nough adventure. Sod I. Their
wasn't any run for me at the car-bar
= today-rm a sub-conductor-so l &c
my day of without pay. I'm goin'
q a movie show, and maybe to the Whit
City afterward. I gOtter report agai
I at seven O'Clock this evening. WIFI
: do you say"
q "You don't have to report
mel" retorted Mary Eleanor Edit
% "what've gotta do with it?"
3 II wondered" he returned. IF &c
10 wouldn't 60 with mel"
y ION the level?"
If "Sure! Come on and pretend v
" know each other, anyway. It'll be
ut change"
,e "I'n co." said she. Then the thr
ID Of them-Mary Eleanor Edith, R
s, nance. and the frank-faced your
It man-passed out into the crowd
n. street and the smoke-impregnated su
OF shine and heat Of the city.
" Mary Eleanor Edith, clinging DE-
he perately to the hand of Romance. mt
I'd INJURED: "Wonder what tn bunch
az the bindery'n think"
NJ "Will they fire you?" he asked. S
d nodded.
%, 81 euess so, but I don't care"
-. II know how you feel" he co
-. forted her. "And there's other jol
- They had reached the picture thu
y. ter, and he caught her elbow respe
" fully. Here's where we start"
whispered, laying down his money
the tickets. "Two!"
Two of the three reels-all iii
VI runs" and real thrillers"-had iii
ni cred their way through. when q co
ler motion down the aisle drew their
az tention away.
'ef "Firew shrilled a voice. and Ms
Eleanor Edith stood up. The
ed pulled her down again. "Sit still
ne it's only a fghtw he ordered.
, as they rush, it is safer here than In
M. aisle.
on They rushed, and when Mary Ell
IA. nor Edith could see again she "
lat looking up into the homely face OF
lon sub, whose body had unwittingly
the tected her from the senseless par
me Her hand was cut and bleeding.
that was all.
ace "The rummy that stepped on yo'
I'd kill him II I had the chance
ian breathed her protector heavily.
an "And get pinchedl" she add