Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-07-30
THE AREA-WAY
BY EVA GILBERT.

ly tapping the keys of a typewriter
tapping them all day long, with her
ear to the dictaphone; without even
the respite of shorthand Rotten how
the progress of invention had to drive
pretty girl
For she was pretty, in a sweetly ma
ture way, as If she had known some
thing of the depth and breadth of life.
At least so thought stalwart young
fellow who bent over draughting
board just within window across the
area-way.
faithless because one had been so and
IT was like a breath of springtime to
glimpse such face. 1t renewed his
faith in womankind. He smiled wanly
as he caught her eye In a fleeting
glance-smiled with lips for days un-
used to smiling He would watch for
her leaving hour, and casually. Well,
he would find a way to meet her.
She was really sweet. Fact SO
conceded the dark-eyed youth of rath-
err generous proportions, sidewise, who
was putting up very good speed on
typewriter in another window across
the area-way. She was quite attrac-
tive, but he could give her some points
on lingering, q kink of his own added
to the latest business college method.
Yes, she was almost pretty, in gentle,
unasserting way. But for her perfect
poise she would have seemed shy;
(she had glanced out of the window
while her b. fingers were Keeling off
the lines, and catching his gaze, had
turned deliberately away. Well. she
had some spirit He'd like to work
with her. just to Jolly her along. Come
to think of it, that's the kind of a girl
that makes a good wife--and boarding
house fare does pail. He'd watch her
quitting time and get closed view or
her, somewhere on the way to the
street.
She was positively wonderful So
thought the red-haired giant who was
writing figures in great ledgers just
within another window across the area
way. SO nifty and neat, and still so
businesslike; SO dainty and feminine,
and still with such worthwhile air;
as If she could make an awkward
fright of q fellow comfortable, and
really treat him humanlike. She was
CHANGING his way-just casually, he OBJ
served-and there was absolutely no
hint of the fiippancy which most young
girls of the day consider quite de rig
ueur. She almost smiled, yet there
was not the slightest suspicion OF
amusement about 1t; just wonderful
| friendliness.
What wife girl like that would
make! Suddenly he felt the quick, de-
! testable color covering his face and
mounting to his temples; and he
| squirmed in his high-desk chair and
ran his fingers through the heavy hair
that he hated, and grinding his teeth
ne mutterel: I'm filming some movie
for her entertainment
Ii might be her sister, thought the
boy In khaki, In the STILL breathless
way he always recalled a certain nervy
little English nurse. He was just with
In another window across the area-way
instead OF flying! But the sight of
that sweet girl brought back the men,
DRY of the other, whom a thousand
poor devils worshiped In the field hos
pitfalls overseas.
She could marry but one of them
| n tai mn
satisfaction to the others. Maybe here
was another girl like her-a little. He
must get next to the force In her office
and some time perhaps in the distant
future he might be comfortel. He
looked at his watch, struck by sud
den thought. They quit at five, too
Meanwhile he Strengthened his Shout
ders, smoothed his hair, and very cas-
ually indeed turned toward the window
the sleeve that bore the one red and
the two gold stripes, and when she
glanced his way he frankly smiled.
At FIVE there was action in four Of
fees across the area-way, for the little
blonde typist covered her machine, as
sumed simple hat and modest fur,
and drew on pair of spOtless gray
gloves. She looked distinguished
Casually. oh, so very casually, a
stalwart youth, a red-haired giant, a
chap of rather generous proportions,
sidewise and soldier boy of gallant
bearing happened TO meet at the ele-
vators just as she reached them.
An odious, overgrown Office boy
from the floor below alighted from an
ascending car and she looked upon him
with the joy of possession as he hailed
her. This is what he said:
Hello, grandma; how'd you make
ut'