The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-03-04
PEANUT
BY RUTH WOLF.

cot from the day. Of her arrival. She
was a capable worker. however. and
very soon. made herself respected for
her gray mattcr" among the large
staff of clerks in the big office of
Wheeler &. Co. architects.
A too-familiar office hoy had smil-
ingly saluted her as "Eabe".o on her sec.
ond morning in the. Office, hut her
f%rcezingly disdainful reply. had put
an end to that Immediately. However,
after she had been there some time, it
was discovered that she had a great
fondneSS for peanutS-"Peanut." she
therefore became to the entire office,
of he chapter.
1t was Il rainy, slushy morning and
Peanut, almost late, made a vain eff
fort to put her umbrella on top Of her
locker to- dry.
Guess you need some help, child"
said a. CHEEKY masculine voice behind
her, and Peanut startled by unexpect
ed sound. wheeled around sharply.
The old locker. ut hest none too steady,
lurched forward and crashed to the
floor.
With a warning cry. the man leaped
forward, and with M arm shooting
out. sent Peanut sprawling and safely
out of harms way. Not so fortunate,
her resclcr. however. for the heavy
locker. as it.feIl, caught him before he
could get OUT of the way. and sent him
to the floor, his leg pinned fast.
"Oh.. please. please lie STILL" she
begged. land I'll Try to get you ont"
and in spite of his pain the young
mans Eyes twinkled-for the locker
was like II mountain beside the girl.
Guess youll never move that thing"
he said: but III he quiet, and you run
downstairs and get some one up here
to help" And Peanut rushed away.
.' 1t proved to he nothing worse than Il
wrencled ankle that resulted from the
accident. II was a very subdued Pea
nut VIII" clicked at her typewriter keys
all that morning. and although the
news of the accident had spread like
wildtirp. all over the office, no II as
yet had been able to learn the name
of the hero.
ut was no one l had ever see
around here before" contide1 Peanut
to- the other girls in her section. "but
I'm going into Mr.. Wheeler'S at
noon to inquire about him. I feel that
It's my duffy"
so she raped timidly at her EN-.
plOyer'S office door, and in response
TO a ]low-voicel Come in," Peanut en-
tered.
She stopped short in .amazcment n
the sight which met her eyes. There
sat her reScucr of The morning. com
fortably leaning back in a big office
CHAIR. smoking Il cigNr-hiS bandagef
foot resting on Il low stool. Opposite
him sat Mr.. Wheeler (rcgarded a S q
most stern and nnapproachable mar
by all the Office f0rce) Just rs cOmfOr
tably seated. and smoking just as con
tcntedly. Peanut gaZcd from II IL
the other, her confusion growing great
er every moment. and sending a mos;
becoming flush into her cheeks.
"I-er--I came" she stammered.
"And am very glad you did" fin
ished the younger of the two men. slnil
ing. "Now, dad, you can properly in
trOduce me to this young lady. whom
I handled somewhat roughly this morn
ing"
"Ahem. this is Miss Marjorie Pierce
Ted, one of our most capable clerks
Miss Pierce. this young man is my son
who thought to surprise me with a Wis
1t today-and succeeded admirably"
"Oh, Mr.. Wheeler. l am so sorry"
exclaimed the girl earnestly; ut really
was all my fault, and it's too bad that
your son should have to suffer fol
my stupidity"
"Why. dad" said Ted. II gave poor
Miss Pierce such a push it nearly land
ed her in the middle Of next week"
ayes. r enough" answered his IA
ther, with a twinkle in his usual!
keen, gray eyes. II believe I've heard
the name Peanut in connection with
Miss Pierce" And Ted Wheeler's eyes
began to dance.
ooh, Mr.. Whee!er-that's just a nick
name the girls gave mel never
dreamed that you knew about It,"
well. Junior, I'm going downstairs
TO get the machine and take you
home" said Wheeler. senior. "Ill leave
Miss Pierce here to help you get ready
and I'll be back shortly" And he
left them.
eff you'll tell me where your hat and
GOA are. I'll get them for YOU. Mr.
Wheeler. and the young man pointed
to a closet in the corner Of the office,
Marjorie brought them and silently
helped the Junior Wheeler into his III
ster. He moved obediently as. she
directed. so that she could button It
as he sat in the chair.
you'd make a capital nurse, Miss
Pierce" he commented.
ooh, but Mr.. Wheeler, p%leasa::let me
do something for you while you are at
home. Can't I get you something to
help you pass the time, so you won't