Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-03

Miss Collins was a brunette: Jet black
hair. black eyes and healthy rudy
County Antrim Irish. That type. And
where Muriel was willowy and slen-
der, with pointed chin. Miss COINS
was husky and substantial, with
solid Jaw and kind of a rugged face.
You might call her homely and you
might not. But she was an old maid.
all right. Along in the thirties, |
say She mods at me business-like and
proceeds to slip fresh sheet OF paper
/ into the typewriter.
| She has her chair backed up to the
| window and directly over her desk is
| hung this big mirror.
Now" says Tidba1l, perrin eau
tious across the way from behind the
window casin'. He ought to be show
usual time. And l notice that Miss
| Wasden has her hair done up fancier
than ever today. Wearing new
dress. ! believe, too. Looks rather
stunning. Ell? l wonder what's the
occasion? Maybe she expects There
he comes. All ready, Miss Collins?'
/ Quite, Mr.. Tidball,'' says the new
secretary. cheerful.
Roses says Tidball See? He's
Infringing her roses. And he's wearing
that sappy smile. Now! Can you catch
what he's saying. Miss Collins?"
Perfectly says she, her fingers
sallopin' over the keys. Then she
itarts readin' it off, word by word.
Good morning, Dearie. And how is
title Muriel today? -
''Pah!" explodes Tidball. Little
.s MgFl es Wouldn't that make you
"a few little postes for a good
little GIRL" goes on Miss Collins.
fairly maxim the typewriter jump as
she pounds out the words
The mushy old idiot!' growls Tia-
ball.
But see here" I breaks in. "how
dictaphone rugged UP somewhere,
with wires connectin' the two offices?
That it?'
mo. no." says TidbaI. Miss Col
Inns sees it in the glass. She's lip
reader; used to teach it in deaf and
dumb asylum. Had the deuce of a
time to find her, but did. How about
it. eh?'
It's clever, I'll say says /. your
scheme?"
of course says Tidball. But lis
/ ten. Here's more"
! Sure enough, there was more IT
/ was mushy. all right. Almost enough
: to gum up the type as Mss Collins
pounds 1T out, and l amt sure but
I what l pinked up some behind the
/ ears Just ltstenin toNit. For this was
Muriel's big scene, the one she had
! dressed so careful for. Old Magnus
was a little awkward in gettin' at the
point, had to ask her three or four
! times II she wasn't his sweet little
ducky darling, and finally he came
! right out and told her he wanted her
| to be his boneykins forever
! And while Miss Collins is repeatin'
all this Tidball is groanin and takin'
on like he had tummy ache. "Ofl.
! the old snake-in- the-grass! he growls.
!! Tell me. Miss Collins, what are they
, doing now"
"Huggipg each other. says Miss
/ Collins. calm but snappy.
Then-theh it's all over says It'd
! ball shes lost! Muriers lost"'
so it seems" says :, Miss Collins. rs
Il suppose So" says he, slufnpin'
into a chair with his head in his
hands.
She was reachin' for her hat and
was about to pin it on, when she
turns and looks at him curious. did
it ever occur to you. Mr.. Tidban," she
asks. that you might find substitute
for-your Muriel?" t
| "Eh ~ says he, starin up at her.
I I'm rather tired of knocking
around from one job to another" says
she. How about me?"
t 70 minute ,,.al. Iidbali stares at her
out gaspy. You mean as-as-"
oh; as secretary first" says Miss
Collins. Tive held. some very respon-
sible positions. I'm considered fairly
efficient. You could soon tell. And
after that-well. If you must marry
someone, Mr. Tidball, we could talk
It over III
/ expect it was the jolt ST his life
that Theodore Tidball was gettin'
then, but for bashful man he was
coming through noble Course. he's
blushin' clear back of his ears, but
he has courage enough left to gaze at
her sort of astonished. And in a sec
ond or SO he's givin' her critical but
admirin' look.
Enhancement" says he. Now that's
an idea. Miss Collins. Suppose you
stay for the rest of the day anyway
and -
but this is no place for third par.
ty." Apd leaps through the door,