, 1920-03-18
MICE AND A
PUMPKIN
COACH
By CRAWFORD LUTTRELL

tG. lsZu. Dy h1CCiure NcWbpapcI 6yuuiCato.J
well, my first day at the office is
over, and l can honestly say that i m
joyed it, Nan announced to the anx-
iously inquiring two who turned to
welcome her at the sound of her key
in the lock. She tossed off her smart
black sailor hat and sat down on a
hassock by her mother. Il feel so I'M
portant, and although l don't know
much yet, ! know that l will learn. 1
am giving my entire time and thought
to it. l nave no silly sentimental ideas
about my boss falling In love with me.
Fortunately, he is bald, a and forty,
and his wife rings up every two or
three hours to tell him something
about the kids or to remind him to go
by the bakers for bread. Why don't
women attend to their wi business
as men dol"
"Pshaw" sighed fifteen-year-oId
Ruth. II hoped that there would be
a young man in the office, good-looking
and rich, and that he would come
around on Sundays and take US all
out riding to the country"
Nan looked up at her and winked.
Perhaps i ear find that agreeable
sort of. BOSS next time l look for
work." Then to her mother: 81 am
glad that things are just as they are.
Personally I don't believe in mixing
business and pleasure and in drawing
a weekly pay envelope for time spent
in trying to get a husband. Do you.
muddie, dear?"
when the right man m along
you'll know It, Nan. whether o r
at a dance or buying chops at a butch
er's. 1 believe that there is a fate
guarding these Issues of life. Perhaps
1t sounds foolish for an old woman
like me to say such things, but 1t is
one of my pet theories, grounded in In
Vulnerable cases of fact that ] have
observed"
II don't agree with you, mother"
said the sophisticated ffteen-year-old.
when / grow up ! am going to pick
out the be%st-looking, richest man In
town. and set about making him fall
in love with me. Getting married is
every woman's first business in life.
Why, already ] am encouraging Billy
McMahan. His father owns a plumb
ing place. l know. but he is making
money so fast that in two or three
years from now the daily papers will
quote him about everything, calling
him colonel or general Or something.
Blood don't count any more. Why,
nobody. but the ten-year census man
Eel asks about you grandmother"
"Oh. wisdom In short skirts !"
,acnal Na- sTttz h.,I 81 .,.ol
things to mother, Ruthie. You know
1t shocks her."
You might just as well know how
l feel about such things. OF course.
I expect to go to work just as soon
as ] leave high school and help cheer
fully 81 that o will have most Of
your salary to spend on yourself. Nan.
Mother has her little income and may
be by hat time prices will take a
tumble and we can manage better han
we do now"
Mrs. Taylor laughed n bit shakily.
Then she drew a letter from her dress
pocket. ." have some astonishing
news, girlies. Nan. you can resign
tomorrow"
"Resigni Whyf"
your father bought some mining
stock many years ago and we just Con
sidered the money lost. but today
while you were at the Office and Ruth
was at school a strange lawyer called
and told me that-that we are to
have three hundred dollars a month
from the investment. I wanted to ring
both of you and tell you TO run right
A.n k,A rarrAI fh4 Aev, F~.
happy surprise tonight"
Ruth threw her books on the floor
and began a sort of Indian war dance,
chanting weirdly as she clrcled the
two. Nan sat there as If she had
been turned into stone.
"Aren't you glad. Nan. dear?" asked
her mother. bending over TO touch her.
SIN just staggered. stunned. but l
am not going to give up my position"
"Why, child. we can live beautiful
ly on what ] have and hat three hum
dred and send Ruth to college. too"
81 know" said Nan, seriously. at
nearly killed me to even think of GO
ing into a mans Office to earn my own
livelihood. All those months that /
studied at business college were like a
nightmare to me. but I conquered the
feeling and now l won't give It up. |
feel capable. ! like getting up and
going out every day. like the hum
of the Office, people coming and going,
all of It. 1t fascinates me-"
"TH bet there is a man In that Of
fee that you like" exploded Ruth
suddenly.
Nobody but Mr.. Henderson. and he
doesn't look as IL he had e been
young enough to think Of romance"
explained Nan haughtily.
81 thought you said the arm was
Henderson & Henderson, daughter"
ut Is. He has a brother or a nephew
or somebody who does all OF the out
20 4ox..a h,.oInoan bauautf auan naan