American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-07-31
THE AREA-WAY
BY EVA GILBERT.

,OD. 1890, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicateo
She was blonde. petite, smart. She
sat lust within an office window, brisk
~ tappIng the keys of typewriter
tapping them all day long, with her
ear to the dictaphone; without even
the respite Of shorthand. Rotten now
the progress of invention had to drive
a pretty girl!-
For she was pretty. In n sweetly ma
ture way, as II she had known some
thing of the depth and breadth Of life.
At least so thought stalwart young
fellow who bent over a draughting
board Just within window across the
area-way.
He had felt that all women were
faIthless because one had been 50; and
1t was like a breath OF springtime TO
glimpse such face. It renewed his
faith In womankind He smiled waniy
as he caught her eye In a heeting
glance--smIled with lips for days IN
used to smiling. He would watch for
her leaving hour, and casually. Well,
he would find a way to meet her.
She was really sweet. Fact! so
conceded the dark.eyed youth Of rath-
er generous proportions. sidewlse. who
was putting up very good speed on
typewriter In another window across
the area-way. She was quite attrac-
tive. but he could give her some points
on lingering. kink Of his own added
TO the latest business college method.
Yes. she was almost pretty, In a gentle.
unassertlng way. But for her perfect
poIse. she would have seemed shy;
(she had glanced out Of the window
while her busy fingers were Keeling on
the lines. and catching Ills gaze. had
turned deliberately away. Well. she
had some spirit! He'd like to work
with her. Just to jolly her along. Come
to think Of II. that's the kind Of girl
that makes good wife-and boarding
house fare does pail. He'd watch her
quitting time and get a closed view OF
her, somewhere on the way TO the
street.
She was positively wonderful! SO
thought the red-haired giant who was
writing figures In great ledgers just
within another window across the area
way. SO nifty and neat. and still SO
bnsInesslike; so dainty and feminine,
and still with such worthwhile air;
as II she could make an awkward
fright OF fellow comfortable, and
really treat him humanlike. She was
glancing his way--just casually, he oh
served--and there was absolutely no
hint Of the fippancy which most young
girls Of the day consider quite de rig
ueur. she almost smiled, vet there
was not the slightest suspicion Of
amusement about Il; just wonderful
friendliness.
What wife girl like that would
make! Suddenly he felt the quick. de-
testable color covering his face and
mounting to his temples; and he
squirmed in his hlgh.desk chair and
ran his fingers through the heavy hair
that he hated, and grinding his teeth
he mutterel: Tin filming some movie
for her entertainment! !"
II might he her sister, thought the
boy In khaki. In the still, breathless
way he always recalled n certain nervy
little English nurse. He was Just with
IN another window across the area way
doing stunts In shOw-card printing
instead m dying! But the sight Of
that sweet girl brought back the MEM
DRY OF the other, whom thousand
poor devils worshiped In the field hos
pitfalls overseas.
She could marry but one Of them
but she had her pick That was one
satisfaction to the others. Maybe here
was another girl like her--a little. He
must get next to the force In her office
and some time perhaps In the distant
future h. might he comfortel. lie
looked mt his watch, struck by sud.
den thought. They quit at i've, too i
Meanwhile he stra ightened his Shout.
ders, smOothed his hair, and very cas-
naIly indeed turned toward the window
the sleeve that bore the one red and
the two gold stripes, and when she
glanced his way he frankly smiled.
At Ave there was action In four Of
fees across the area.way. for the little
blonde typist covered her machine. as
sumed a simple hat and modest fur.
and drew on pair of spOtless gray
gloves. She looked distinguished!
Casually. oh. so very casually, al
sialwart youth. q red. haired giant. a
chap Of rather generous proportions. |
sidewise. and a soldier hoy. Of gallant
bearing happened 10 meet AZ the ele-
vaIors inst ms she reached them.
An odIous, overgrOwn office boy
FROM The floor below alighted from an
ascending car and she locked upon him !
with the Joy ~ possession MS he hailed !
her. This II what he said:
Hello, grandma; how'd you make |
IT."