The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-26

idealistic as Galahad, and broke you
on turn of the wheel. Here he was
with nothing to satisfy him except the
knowledge of his business success; and
he was not yet forty
The junior member of his firm came
in noisiiy, bringing a bottle of ancient
vintage and a basket of strawberries
from his own lighthouses. EVERY
thing is going fine down at the office.
We agreed today that you need a nice
vacation and We want you to go right
away. What do you think of it, old
man ?"
Jim glanced once more out of the
window. Something, soft as bird
call, seemed to challenge him: some
thing sweet as the Tilt of half-forgot-
ten love song that vibrates the chords
of the heart, seemed to deny that life
was done for him.
He was still young. eager. bouyant,
and now he had understanding and
judgment.
He whir1ed about to face his young
partner. well, Bill. believe that 1
will go away for little while. have
a feeling that I would like to visit the
old town where l went to college, to
see the old landmarks. to see the boys
and girls grown up into fat and forties.
have been considering it for long
time"
I'm terribly glad and relieved, too, IN
way He smiled, mischievous
twingle in his eyes. I'm be glad to
have you and your good looks out of
the way for while. You know that
advertising agency across the hall
from our office? Well, they have a
new employee, a widow, to write ads
for them.
Everybody in the building has fall
en- for her. She is not exactly beauti-
full but the woman has something,
sort of subtle charm. that makes men
Just naturally gravitatc to her. You
have a feeling that she is thinking
with you, anticipating everything you
say, understanding you
why, Bill. 1 never heard you talk
like this,"
Harlan is worse than 1 am He's
been sending her flowers for week
and books of poetry and everything
like that. She's so darn sensible. You
wouldn't believe a woman could De
like that. Why, she writes stories ana
poems and things for magazines. This
advertising business is just side line.
She says there's SO much money in II
that she just can't turn it down, ana
then she likes to travel, she says, and
meet new people all the time.
Gives her ideas! Believe me, il she
will take me along, I'll pay all the
travelling expenses for both of US the
rest of my life. Old Harlan says that
if we can keep you out of the way for
a while-you know how it is with
WlOOWeTS, Jill. WHen tHSy OO otoi !
outi We are just naturally afraid of
you Bill was laughing. Anyway,
I'm sure glad that you fell for our
idea and that you are leaving town
soon because I'm going to try quick
work on Mrs. Mary
so her name is-Mary?" Jim Won
dered why his heart thumped so hard.
The grippe must have played havoc
with him.
"She's got cute name, Mary Nc
Ghee Martin. She signs her stuff
Mary McGhee. Now, most women put
on a lot of superior airs and say that
their stories brought big checks and
everything. but she's different. They
say old Morse pays her a whooping
big price for her ads
Jim fIicked the ashes from his cigar
with a hand that trembled little.
I'll be down to the office in the
morning. he remarked casually, hop
ing that his heart was not pumping all
the blood of his body into his face as
he felt it must be doing from the heat
in his throat and cheeks
I'm not in any great hurry to start
on my little trip. Perhaps it will be
pleasanter to go little later on!" And
something as subtly new and indie
serbia bile as spring magic itself quiv-
cred in his heart.
Copyright, 1920 bv the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)