The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-15

: with all OF his employees, even t1s
new stenogrupher: shy little
mouse OF a girl, thought he was a
wonderful man.
1.-THE old mans queer olh
bird" said a smart young book
keeper one day as he lighted a CT
saTette in the office.
~ Marion Clews looked distressed.
At,Please don't smoke in here MI.
Finney, she pleaded. You know i
Is against the rule-Mr. OaSes---
u Finney laughed. what has the
Wooden Man preached aboGI now?'
he scoffcd.
aNo ijlhts about the pIlce-no
smoking said the girl sobeTly.
And don't, like 70 near you speak
Of Mr.. Onkesin that manner-when
You have been, here longer
,Hear-hearh he laughed. Zip.
PANTY. 1.-THE mouse defends the
non! There I'll be good, Miss ClewS
see. I've thrown my cigarette
away"
He tossed it from the window and
turned to her.
How about the movies tonight?
There's good show at the star.
No, thank you've promised u
4 AFork tonight-Mr.y Dreams is get.
s sas out his balance and shall
'Foolish ohild-well. SO long
don't work yourself to DEATH"
He wandered OUT of the office,
ausIng in the yard TO light another
7aS ibis endless cigarettes. The door
LOT MN Cakes private office opened
and he emerged tall, gTave!y pleas
SYon lare late tonight, Miss
Il have brought some supper
with ne-AMr. Dreams asked me 10
help on the balance.
Don't stop too late he advised
and putting on his hat went away
with courteous good night.
Marion looked after him with
starry gray! eyes. HE would be so
handsome II he smiled sometimes
sha told heerself and then blushea
roSily as she resumed her work.
The settingI sun added glory 10 her
pretty fair tlair and made dimpling
shadows In her rounded chicks.
She was sweet and good ana
thoroughly unspoiled. She lived
with her. father and mother In q
pretty cottage not far from the big
house on the hill.
Sometimes she was frightened be-
, cause OF her dreaming about Har-
iAley Oakes-he was ga strong, so
Sy1fet, SO sure OF himself and SO
Nkrave, as II all the gladness had
been lost out Of his life.
- The Wooden Man. What an un-
worthy name for her hero.
Harley Ookes returned TO his
.Mlonely house and his solitary meal.
afterwards he read the eYtning pa
per and wrote some personal let
Eers. At half past eight he finished
and went into the garden for last
smoke before going to bed
The wind was blowing from the
south and with 1t came an arid
smell OF smoke-his eyes hardened
and he raped out his pipe against
the sun dial. He looked keenly in
the direction OF his lumber mill
near the water and thought he
could see no sign OF smoke there
suddenly burst upon the evening
calm the wild clamor Of the fire bell
and the fire whistle attached to his
own mills.
The mills were on fire.
He dashed down the avenue bare
headed and flew down the village
street like a man pursued. Forgot.
B ten muscles came into play and he
felt thrill of youth as the blood
coursed more rapidly in his veins.
~ i have been petrifyinE," he
thought as he ran. II don't wonder
the boys laugh at me-"
q Now the office building was send
ing up spirals of smoke while the
fire engine was extInguishing the
flames OF pile OF lumber near by.
Hastily formed bucket brigades
untouched by the conragration.
The office building was a small
structure and-his thoughts over
leapsd his feet-the bookkeeper
there and little Miss Clews-he
thought OF her soft eyes, her sweet
smile and his heart contracted.
He thought OF Finney and his
endless cigarettes and then forgot
everything else save the human
lives in the building as he plunged
into the burning structure.
,Brams!" he called.
There, sir" and the bookkeeper
staggered out with his arms full of
the books he had been working on.
Miss Clews-where Is she?''
gasped Cakes for the SNAKE was
!, choking him.
"she went upstairs to get the
plans OF the new m1ll-I told her
S5not to go-I thought she had come
doWn--don't go, Mr.. Oakes, you
4IFkFGh / q . kOuGs
~ Dreams staggered out into the
yard while a crowd gazed at the
upper windows where Harley Cakes
stood holding the limp body OF Ma.
rion Clews.
A ladder was placed against the
wall and in a moment he was on
the ground. His hands were burned
Z and his shoulders, for his coat was
: wrapped about the unconscious girl,
y saved her, boys" he shouted
1oyfully and the people said It was
the first time they had ever seen
him look really happy.
Months afterwards when he was
married to Marion Clews and the
mill sad been rebuilt some one who
had been absent came back TO the
viNage once more, What became Oh
the wooden man I" he asked,
There isn't any Wooden Man
ow. laughed the postmaster.
sThey call him Smiling Harley
Cakes now, since he's married."