The Owosso times., 1920-12-17

habit wended his way toward tAe
ONCE. When there be was met with .
scene Of excitement. The chief called
him into his once at once.
"Old man. I'm sorry. intended you
to 60 of today, but. thank goodness.
you're here. Tompkins Is laid up
acute indigestion-and that Darling
ton matters got to be settled today.
You're the only man who can handle
Ii. Go ahead, put II over. and you
can have week to rest up In. It's
tough, but 1t can't be helped. Be a
spOrt-we need you now as we never
needed you before"
Davidson hesitated. 1t would be
agony for him to meet her; but he
could not desert the company in Its
| need. He squared his shoulders.
"All right, chief. I'll take it," he
said quietly.
Good man! Tompkins made an ap-
pOintment with her for 10 80; ysp'll
just about have time to get there.
Good luck !"
Davidson left the office and made his
way to the subway. All the way de.rn-
town he mentally steeled himself
against the meeting. In the busy
outer office of the Darlington Company
he waited; then a girl brought him his
card which he had sent in and said,
Miss Darlington will see you now."
He rose and entered the inner of
flee. The slender girl seated at the
big desk at the side of the room did
not look up at first, but he knew that
he had not been mistaken in the voice
that it was indeed his lost love. The
knowledge that she was out of his
reach forever made him sick and
shaky, but he steadied his voice and
said:
Miss Darlington, called to see you
about the matter of the j. ii. Day ac-
count"
At the sound of his voice she
whirled suddenly, cheeks flushed, eyes
shining. Her hands clasped them
selves over her heart. Then the flush
died, and a deadly whlteness took it's
place. "You!" was all she said.
"Yes-too late!" Davidson could
have killed himself the next moment
for uttering those words, but the
strain had been too much. That was
no way to talk to girl who had mar
ried some one else. He tried to re-
vert to business.
about that account" he began,
but he never finished. She had reach
ed her arms to him, and he, forgetting
all else, held her close, kissing her
cheeks, her eyes, her lips and mur-
murlng old half-forgotten pet names in
her ear. In a moment he released her.
his face stern.
"You tempted me-" he said. II
should not have done this. Your
your husband"
"Why, I'm not married"
"Not married?" stupidity.
"No-I went into business when you
when you left and took the name Of
Darlington so that my old friends
wouldn't find me. never wanted to see
anybody else In the world, except
you"
Except mel Why. dear, after what
I said that day"
Her lips stopped the words. In
moment she murmured, "Oh, my dear,
knew when thought it was too late
that we never should have quarreledl
1t was so foolish-and so needlessly
cruel. And oh, but have wanted you
to come back to me. And till you
spoke l didn't know"
".But the card ! sent in"
She showed il to him. He read in
amazement, "W. w. Tompkins." He
had caught it up from the desk when
he left the office and used 1t by mis-
take.
"Poor Tompkins!" he said, between
sigh and a laugh. 81 ought to be
sorry for him, for he's mighty sick-
but | can't help thinking that it was
his sickness that let me find you again.
May ! use the 'phone?"
"Of course" She was mystfied. lie
called his Office.
"Hello! That you, chief? Say, ]
fixed that Darlington matter up"
Good work Everything o. KT
"You bet Everything! And say,
chief-Pm going to ask for a month
off instead of week. I'm going on my