The Lamar register., 1920-08-11
Just Friends
By l.. ROTHBLUM

i've. Menta'iy she was ii constant de
Hght TO every literary society In town !;
the hope OF every hostess anxious
about table talk" at d dinner; the
mainstay OF Ferry Il Co., with whom
she held very responsible position
ana the boon companion OF Randolph
White.
None ever explained the erratic
temperament of Randolph White bet
ter than he did himself by his opln-
Ions and impulslve actions He had
known Geraldine some five years, dur
ing which period she had learned his
pet idlosyncrasles so well he hardly
realized how dependent he had be
come upon her Tor sympathy and un-
derstanding.
II was a peculiar experience that
led to their friendship At the time
he was selling a device for sealing
letters and had got a tip through
some magazine In which his firm ad.
yertised that Ferry Il Co. Inc, were
going to install some such equip
msnt
Randolph White was not the type
OF salesman TO permit his card, when
he called to demonstrate, to be re-
turned 10 him with q too busy to
see you" announcement He flung
open the swinging gate between the
reception room and the inner office
and. with evidence OF courage more
seeming than felt, knocked at the door
Of the private sanctum which bore ON
Its pane the legend Purchasing
Agent"
Hardly waiting for the Invitation to
enter, he stalked In and somewhat
abashed, halted In his tracks as he
faced the young lady at the desk
Geraldine Blake was charming.
81 beg your pardon" he spoiogized.
may | see the z. Ar
Il am busy right now" came the
response In dulcet evenness OF tone
which somehow carried a cutting
edge.
Randolph White for the nr.t time
In his business experience backed wa
ter and tried to make u graceful exit
from the office As he turned to leave
he was detained by a very reparative
But II you will be seated l shall be
glad to talk TO you In a moment"
Gingerly. because he was nonplused
to find the ogre or a purchasing agent
to be lovely young girl. he placed his
hat beneath the chair on which he
seated himself Vaguely he wondered
II she had reached her majority and
ineonsistently he now hoped she would
detain him more than the moment
promised that he might have the bet
ter opportunity 10 observe this re
markable parsonage.
Randolph White got the order but
he afrerward admitted TO himself that
he had never before been called upon
to exhibit such Intimate knowledge
concerning the product he was sell
ing.
That was fiys years ago. or course
Randolph had TO call many times on
Ferry & Co. Ihe. In order to instruct
their clerks In the proper operation
OF the sealing device: and, finding
with each visit d growing taste for
the society OF the purchasing agent, he
gladly permitted such increased com
patability TO ripen to the point where
he felt privileged to ask her to lunch
con.
II was not long after that an In
yitation to dinner was Forthcoming,
and then naturally the thester; since
NO considerate host has ever asked
the one without the other.
But. strangely, the two had man
aged to keep sentiment out Of their
friendship. as If they feared affection
ate regard might prove u detrimental
factor to the continued harmony of
their companlonship.
NOW. don't see why" remarked
Geraldine one summer Saturday after
noon. as they leisureiy strolled
through park grounds. ''men and
women can't he just friends without
getting foolish about Il, and"-then
hesltating for moment. she contin-
ued. failing In love"
Randolph called. BILLY. Billy" to a
squirrel who scampered on with tail
held high That's just the way feel
about It," he answered. We're pals.
good pals; but our palship." he added.
''is purely platonic."
They sat down on a bench and ate
popcorn out OF the same bag. Ran
dolph went on airing his views to u
sympathetic audience. IF We were to
fall in love with each other and get
married and all that sort OF stufr"-