Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-06-30
ONE ROMANCE
TO ORDER
tCopyright.)
By EvERALD J. APPLETON

SAotS EsitduOE fIslitu Wditeu NedTilf,
yawningly, shifting from one foot 80
the other. watching the busy electric
fans-in preference 10 the unlnterest-
ing human beings that filed the room.
Ahead of her were numerous other
boon lunchers; behind her were more.
Her small, perspiring palm held an
unpunched lunch-check, and Mary
Eleanor Edith's eyes scanned autOmat-
ically the familiar bin 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-
ly she would return 10 the factory.
Her whole life was as methodicaI and
automatic as folding machine! Moth
ting ever really happened. Mary Flea
nor Edith lOnged for unreal adven-
lures. and she expressed ii thus:
Gee. don't this job give a girl the
willies?"
Suddenly the man in front OF her
iurched forward. Mary Eleanor Edith
caught at his arm.
Thanks" said be, though she had
merely pinched his arm when she
grabbed at him.
"How's the veal today. BELIEF"
Tough" mumhled Belle, glancing
covertly in the cashiers direction.
Same old thing, hen" Mary Flea
nor Edith sighed; "tut gimme 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 * 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 we?"
ne commented easily. stirring his cot
fee industriously. Come here reg
lar?"
Mary Eleanor sawed at her sand.
wich. Don't get new" she advised
crisply.
He. bristled. you should worry /!
I'm 10 chicken-thief. Can't | thank
you for saving me from busting my
head, thought" Mary Eleanor Edith
frowned.
maybe 1t ought to a been busted"
she offered.
"Say"-and there was honesty in
his tones as well as In his eyes-"yOu
look tired. l bet you are tired. Sick
to death of your job. whatever II is.
Would give weeks wages for
sure'nough adventure. Sod /. There
wasn't any run for me at the car-barn
today-Tm a sub-conductor-so / gOt
my day off without pay. I'm goin' to
a movie show, and maybe to the White
City afterward. gotter report again
at seven O'Clock this evening. What
do you say?"
"You don't have TO report to
mel" retorted Mary Eleanor Edith /;
"what've ! gotta do with it?'
II wondered" he returned, eff you
wouldn't go with meT'
"On the level?"
"Sure Come on and pretend we
know each other, anyway. It'll be a
change"
'T'll CO." said she.
Mary Eleanor Edith. clinging des-
perately TO the hand of Romance, muir
INJURED: wonder what tn bunch at
The bindery'll think"
''Win they fire your" he asked. She
nodded
II guess So but I don't care"
81 know how you FEEL" he com
.orted her. And there's other jobs.
They had reached the picture thea
ter, and he caught her elbow respect
fully. Here's where we start" he
whispered, raying down his money for
the tickets. Two
Two of the three reels-all first
runs" and ''reul thrillers"-had flick
cred their wa through. when com
motion down the aisle drew their at
tention away
Fire." shrilled a voice. and Mary
Eleanor Edith stood up. The sub
pulled her down again. "Sit still
It's only a fight" he ordered. IF
they rush, II is safer here than In the
aisle.
They rushed. and when Mary Flea
nor Edith could see again she was
looking up into the homely face of the
sub, whose body had unwittingly pro-
tected her from the senseless panic.
Her hand was cut and bleeding, but
that was all.
1.-THE rummy that stepped on you
I'd kill him If / had the chaDeet"
breathed her protector heavily.
"And get pinched" she added,
81 seen his face" continued the
other. "and I'd know him again, all
right. He had scar on
his chin and cheek, his mustache was
red"
"And he had a fierce green necktie,
with a piece o ice In II as big as my
thumb" supplemented Mary Eleanor
Edith.
"Yeh!" said he. did you see
him?