Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-30
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
a. Inns Liability
BY WILLIAM II. COMLEs

"Well--doctor, let me Know tne
worst" Jim Hendricks tried to speaN
jckinsiy, but there was something about
the coldly professional atmosphere OF
the physIcian's Office which precludeu
jocularity And besides. the worst might
be so very bad
As a matetr OF fact, II wasn't. you're
suffering from--well not exactly she'll
shock, but something similar. Quit dear
ing with words and figures. You say
you're, an accountant? Well. get hold
OBJ job where you handle tangible,
material thinss--snd let somebody else
keep the books. Farming. for instance.
a few years spent thus will doubtless
put your nervous system back on the
rails again"
Jim left. deeply dospondent. All the
long appreSntslceshiP gone for for nanshtd; aus1ad
the country. He wondered about shir--
think of being q farmers wife?
ultimately, Jim staked his all on .
the Ncity-and almost lost out. The OPP
portunity had been rather thrust upon
him by the death OF the owner, friend
OF Jlms father, and the subsequent be:
wilderment of the widow, who wanted
TO 70 back to Canada to her own people.
The first thing Jim knew he had pur.
chased the store, lock. barrel and good
will; had put Mrs. Kirkham and three
had promised to keep an. eye on Molly
Kirkham, who was staying on to hn-
fish course in business college.
IL Jiins winter stretched ahead OF
him far differently than he had planned,
It yet promised no idle moments What
with caring for the old trade and try
ing to build up new, penning long let
ters to Shirley. in which he had NOT
yet summoned up sufficient courage to
tell her of his change In occupation,
and keeping an eye upon Molly as agreed
upon. Jim hardly found time to lament
for his lost job.
Molly developed a not unpleasant
habit s of aa arGppns m II ane sort Of
work he had been told TO avoid-and at
times Jim began to think how very
pleasant It would be IL only his letter
girl would break her rule that he was
he might hsye her personal companion
ship as well as the cheerful camaraderie
Of correspondence.
II say, Jimmy" began Molly one eve
tation, what's the idea Of putting the
f Il don't know" said Jim. "wha,
would you say my idea wasf"
head wisely. Now, you know. away out
here a soda fountain In a grocery store
ought to be paying line. Move 1t out
front Let II tickle peoples imagirations
on the way n an and they'll es tSo sS. weas Slips
ped down from her perch and helped
herself to a salted peanut from the jar.
Molly" Jim waylaid her, took her
BY the sh9qlders ana ast gave Sanss ser S yoS
wsT wsEe @0fans as sroEe SSs Of vaguely. He must
hold himself In hand HI, had decided
long ago that he was going to marry n,rcy
girls and hands off!
Yep" said Molly. cheerfully. II was
only a kid and never. would you give
me that much. notice! - She indicated
an infinitesimal amount Of air space
"By the way" she said at the very door
way, III you want to be prosperous. look
prosperous Get telephone and put
1t right up in the front of the store.
And Saturday IN S come arc around and NOV WASH
Now It happened some three weeks
later that in her. meagerly furnished
little room, pretty girl sat chewing
the end of her penholder On the table
before her lay two sheets Of paper--one
blank the other covered with a sprawl
ing perifnanship which had grown very
dear.
At last Jim had told her all the story
Of the last few months and had quite
IOrmally asked neT 10 De MS WIZ Anu
although, of course, there was never. =.
mention of one Molly Kirkham. still the
girl felt that somehow or other. there
was something missing. The spark OF
fire which had lighted his letters and
touched off an answering glow In .hel
heart was gone. Therefore, she chewed
the penholder and pondered her reply.
And because the words leaped up suu-
denly before her eyes I've had tele-
phone installed, Angel, sol r." she slip
ped downstairs to the telephone.
"Yes-yes-Shirley! You're going to
be married ?-to an old friend--Shirley-l
No, of course it's all right Why, Ger
talnly-No, as matter of fact. I'm
rather glad :"
Jim hung up the receiver TO wait for
Molly. When she came, Tell me" II.
said gently. why didn't you write to
me me as Molly, instead OF inventing a
Shirley whom I nearly fell in love witn
instead of with your
II I had" retorted Molly. defensive.
ly what would 1t have meant--a note
from that red-headed Kirkham kid !
had to create new personality But
now did you hnd out we were the same?'
Easy" said Jim. ANY. man who
doesn't know the voice Of the woman !
he loves, however disguised, doesn't de-
serve her. Do you know, little girl when
your mother asked me to keep an eye on |
you I thought you We're the greatest LA
bility that went with the business, But |
I've changed my mind, sweetheart
You're the greatest asset a man could |
have!"
Al