The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-09-03
MICE AND A
PUMPKIN
COACH
BY CRAWFORD LUTTRELL

Vs1 iszV. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
"Well, my first day at the office is
over, and l can honestly say that en-.
joyed It," Nan announced to the anx.
iously inquiring two who turned to
welcome her at the sound Of her key
In the lock. She tossed off her smart
black sailor hat and sat down on a
hassock by her mother. II feel so i'm
portant, and although l don't know
much yet, / know that / will learn.
am giving my entire time and thought
to 1t. ] have no silly sentimental ideas
about my boss failing In love with ME.
Fortunately, he Is bald, fat and forty,
and his wife rings up every two or
three hours to tell him something
about the kids or to remind him to go
by the bakers for bread. Why don't
women attend to their own business
as men do?"
"Pshawl" sighed fifteen-year-old
Ruth. 81 hoped that there would be
young man In the Office. good-looking
and rich. and that he would come
around on Sundays and take us all
out riding to the country"
Nan looked up at her and winked.
Perhaps / can find that agreeable
sort Of boss next time l look for
work" Then to her mother: 81 am
glad that things are just as they are.
Personally / don't believe in mixing
business and pleasure and In drawing
weekly pay envelope for time spent
In trying to get husband. Do you,
muddie, dear?"
when the right man comes along
you'll know it, Nan, whether you are
at dance or buying chops at butch
er's, / believe that there Is a fnte
guarding these issues Of life. Perhaps
1t sounds foolish for an old woman
like me to say such things, but 1t is
one Of my pet theories, grounded in In
Vulnerable cases of fact that / have
observed"
II don't agree with~you, mother"
said the sophisticated fifteen year-old.
when / grow up am going to pick
out the best-looking, richest man in
town and set about making him fall
in love with me. Getting married is
every woman's first business in life.
Why. already l am encouraging Billy
McMahan. His father owns a plumb
Ing place, know, but he is making
money so fast that In two or three
years from now the daily papers will
quote him about everything, calling
him colonel or general or something.
Blood don't count any more. Why,
nobody but the ten-year census man
ever asks about your grandmother"
"Oh, wisdom In short skirts I"
gasped Nan. 'It's hard to say such
things to mother, Ruthie. You know
1t shocks her."
"You might just as well know how
I feel about such things. OF course,
/ expect to go TO work just as soon
as ! leave high school and help cheer
fully so that you will have most of
your salary to spend on yourself. Nan.
Mother has her little income and may
be by that time prices will take a
tumble and we can manage better than
we do now"
Mrs. Taylor laughed bit shakily.
Then she drew letter from her dress
pocket. 81 have some astonishing
news, girlies. Nan, you can resign
tomorrow"
"Resignl Why?"
"Your father bought some mining
stock many years ago and we just con-
sidered the money lost, but today
while you were at the office and Ruth
was at school strange lawyer called
and told me that-that we are to
have three hundred dollars a month
from the investment. I wanted to ring
both Of you and tell you to run right
home, but saved the news for
happy surprise tonight"
Ruth threw her books on the floor
and began a sort of Indian war dance,
chanting weirdly as she circled the
two. Nan sat there as If she had
been turned into stone.
"Aren't you glad, Nan, dear?" asked
her mother, bending over to touch her.
"Tm just staggered, stunned, but /
am not going to give up my position"
"Why, child, We can live beautiful
ly on what I have and that three hun
dred and send Ruth to college, too"
~ know" said Nan, seriously. ut
nearly killed me to even think of 60
ing into mans office to earn my own
livelihood. All those months that
studied at business college were like a
nightmare to me, but l conquered the
feeling and now / won't give 1t up.
feel capable. l like getting up and
going out every day. l like the hum
of the office, people coming and going,
all of II. 1t fascinates me-"
"TlI bet there is man in that Of
fee that you like" exploded Ruth
suddenly.
Nobody but Mr.. Henderson. and he
doesn't look as II he had ever been
young enough to think Of romance"
explained Nan haughtily.
81 thought you said the firm was
Henderson & Henderson, daughter !"