The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-08-12
Just Friends
BY l.. ROTHBLUM
l@ l9aO. BY Meclure Newspaper syndIeale.l


girl. Physically she was very attrnc-
i've. Mentally she was a constant de-
light to every literary society In town;
the nope of every hostess anxious
about table talk" at dinner; the
mainstay of Ferry 4 Co.. with whom
she held a very responsible position.
ana the boon companion OF Randolph
White.
None ever explained the erratic
temperament OF Randolph White bet.
ter than he did himself by his opln.
Ions and impulsive actions. lie had
known Geraldine some FIVE years. dur
ing which period she had learned his
pet idiosyncrasles so well he hardly
realized how dependent he had be.
come upon her for sympathy and un-
derstnndng.
III was peculiar experience that
led to their friendship. At the time
he was selling n device for sealing
| letters and had got tip through
some magazine In which his firm ad-
Nertised that Ferry 4 Co., Inc, were
going TO install some such equip
ment.
Randolph White was not the type
or salesman to permit his card, when
ne called to demonstrate, TO be re-
turned TO him with too busy to
see you" announcement. lie flung
open the swinging gate between the
reception room and the inner Office
ana, with evidence of courage more
seeming than felt. knocked at the door
OF the private sanctum which bore on
Its pane the legend purchasing
| Agent"
Hardly waiting for the invitation TO
enter, he stalked In and, somewhat
ebashed, halted In his tracks as he
faced the young lady Mt the desk.
Geraldine Blake was charming.
II beg your pardon" he apologized.
may I see the T.. A.r
II am busy right now" came the
response In dulcet evenness of tone
which somehow carried cutting
edge.
Randolph White for the first time
In his business experience backed wa
ter and tried to make a graceful exit
from the office. As he turned to leave
he was detained by very reparative
but II you will be seated | shall be
| glad to talk to you I'm moment"
Gingerly, because he was nonplused
to find the ogre OF purchasing agent
TO be lovely young girl, he placed his
hat beneath the chair on which he
seated himself. Vaguely he wondered
II she hnd reached her majority and
inconslstently he now hoped she would
detain him more than the moment
| promised that he might have the bet
ter opportunity to observe this re-
markable parsonage.
Randolph White got the order but
he afterward admitted to himself that
he had never before been called upon
to exhibit such intimate knowledge
concerning the product he was sell
ing.
That was five years ago. OF course
Randolph had TO call many times on
Ferry 4 Co. Inc In order to Instruct
their clerks In the proper operation
Of the sealing device; and. finding
with ench visit n growing taste for
the society of the purchasing agent, he
gladly permitted such increased com
patability to ripen to the point where
he felt privileged to ask her to lunch
con-
1t was not long after that an In
vitation to dinner was forthcoming.
and then naturally the theater; since
no considerate host has ever asked
the one without the other.
But, strangelye the two had man.
aged to keep sentiment out OF their
friendship, as II they feared affection
ate regard might prove detrimental
factor TO the continued harmony OF
their companionship.
Now, | dol't see why" remarked
Geraldine one summer Saturday after
noon, as they leisurely strolled
through park grounds. 'men and
women can't be just friends without
getting foolish about II. and'--then
hesltatlng for moment, she contin-
ued, failing In love"
Randolph called, "Bllly, Billy" to a
squirrel who scampered Off with tail
held high. "That's just the way feel
ABOUT IL, ne answered. We're pals, |
good pals; but our palship." he added,
'is purely platonlc."
They sat down on q bench and ate |
popcorn out of the same bag. Ran
dolph went on airing his Views to a |
sympathetic audience. IF we were 10
fall In love with each other and get
married and all that sort of STUFF
this last with dramatic flourish of |
his hand filed with the white, fluffy |
edible-"we'd bore each other to death
inside Of a month";"
Geraldine laughed. "oh. don't
think II would get that bad. but 1t
seems difficult for woman TO wax
poetic about the sunset. for Instance.
before the man who watches her wash
dishes"
"No, II can't be DONE" assented Ran