The Press., 1920-06-17
"Bet I can," laughed Marian as

"Bet I can," laughed Marian as they went into the tearoom.
 He asked her to do the ordering for both of them, and marveled at her business-Iike manner. She quickly selected few nourishing dishes. Tt will be 35 cents for each of us," she told him smilingly.
 '"This is my set up today. You'll make a poor man a good wife, he said, looking at her so steadily that her eyes dropped before the unmis- takable message in his He thought of her blue eyes smiling at him over the filmy lace bonnet with its fluffy blue bows of soft ribbon. There was a little contraction in his throat, a terrific pounding in his young heart. He leaned over, and, careless of the throng in the dimly lighted room. laid his hand over hers. Say, do you think we could manage, together, on fifty week? Do you?"
 "Ohw cried Marian with a quick intaking of breath. 'I could work tool We would make seventy to- gether."
 He caught her hand close at that. "No, I want you to be 100 per cent home maker" he told her quietly. Gee" he breathed reverently, "I wish that I could kiss you while you have that look in your face!"
 Late that afternoon he stopped at the ribbon counter. ''The boss wants you in the office. I'll go along. ] think it's raise.'
 "It makes me ashamed to think that I was Jealous of you because the management made you buyer for my department" she whispered as the elevator carried them to the big office of the rich merchant. "You've beer so good to me-"
 "Not half as good as I am going to be-" he answered, squeezing her hand, the look in his eyes caress. Marian trembled a little with eX- citement as she passed through the mahogany door, Twice before she ha'' been summoned there. On both oc- casiOns she had been thanked for he; interest in the business and had been granted small increase fin salary She was visibly surprised when the white haired old man on the far side of the big flat top desk rose as she entered and offered her his hand.
 q have just heard from-ah-Mr Sheridan here that you expect to re sign the first of the year, Miss Mar tin. He is honest enough to say that you know more about ribbons than he will ever be able to learn. How. ever, am hopeful that you can teacl him a great deal about your stock be fore you leave. I am going to make you buyer for your department at q salary of thirty-five a week, begin ming last Monday"
 Marian looked quickly at Austin | Sheridan. her tender new secret | blazoned on her face for the white | haired boss to see. "I-I don't know | how to thank you--both," she stam mered. catching her quivering lower | lip between her even white teeth. q am very grateful and even when T.
 I do leave, I'll still help Mir. Sheridan with my stock"
 "You bet you will" The boss Jeff his big revolving chair and wen around the desk to pat the aston ished girl on the shoulder. "You'rt going to be a partner worth having Austin wasn't worth five dollars week to me until he fell in love witt you. Now, here's a little surprise
 You're going to he our silent partner You see, Austin is going under an as sumed name here for business reason
 until he learns everything there is t.
 know about managing a departmen
 store. He's my only son and your
 going to be my own dear little daugh ter"
 'I put one over on you that time grille, didn't I?'' laughed the boy hap
 oily. "Even Rigsby can't tell m,
 where to get off. Now, turn you
 back, dad I haven't even kissed he vet"