The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-13
Mr.. DOOLING
BY ELIZABETH SMITH.

rated her sanctum from the counting
room, she could plainly hear Paymas-
ter Truesdale and Mr. DOoling, the
bookkeeper, Strengthening out the pay
roll. There was also an occasional
word from the travelling man, Mr..
Bangs.
"Oh, dear !" unused Mary, signing. as
she caught a glimpse Of herself In the
large mirror over Mr.. RObey's desk
across the room. I'm surely getting
old, yet I'd do 1t over again just the
same. Anyway, mother had every COM
fort while she lived, If we did live in
two rooms. There1l always be COM
fort for me In the remembrance Of
that. No, have no regrets, but can't
deny that / am very lonesome"
Mary was getting old. She had just
ripened into full wOmanhOOd with no
more plumpness than that which be-
longs to the well-rounded curves Of
| twenty-eight. Always attractive, with
her perfectly matured grace and poise,
she was now positively beautiful.
And so the young men in the count
ing room must have thought, for all
of them had proposed during her years
at the plant. On being refused, they
had one by one found life partner
elsewhere.
NO" Mary had told them. "While
| mother lives my sole duty is to care
| for her" And she had cared for her
most tenderly until the end, which was
| now a year back.
Miss Greeley" called Truesdale
through the partition windows, have
you heard whether we're to have time
off to see the president? I believe he
| Is to land at eleven at Commonwealth
pier"
"Yes," smiled Mary sweetly. But /
hear Mr.. RObey talking just outside
our door. He has just been to tell the
| department heads. Here he is-heIl
| tell you himself"
The engineer, who enjoyed the same
| princely salary as the general manager,
was, owing to the absence Of the lat
ter, in full charge. He opened the door
| and announced:
"They are going to knock off at II 80.
I advise that you go to the other end
| of the works. You can see the presi-
| dent plainly from the windows there"
"All right, thank you," came from
| Truesdale. But we have little more
to do"
Mr.. RObey, short, stout, austere ap-
pearing little man, with steely cold
blue eyes and a closely trimmed van
| dyke, now busted himself with blue
| print.
What a pity" thought Mary, her
| eyes running casually over him. What
| queer person he is, to be sure-hving
In lovely house with no wife-Only
man for cook and housekeeper. And
| no golf, no tennis, no club, except the
| yacht club, and only speed boats for a
| hobby. Well, he is bachelor at thir
| ty-fve. l suppose he'll always stay
| single"
| "Well, it is II 30" announced that
| gentleman rising, watch in hand. 81
think I'll move down to the other end
of the building"
| When near the office, Mary met Mr..
| Robey who smiled at the coincidence
of their both returning. 81 am going
for a cigar" he explained. Then he
cOurteously opened the door and they
| entered Crossing the soft carpeted
floor they went to their desks for the
| sought-for articles.
/ Mary had picked, up her knitting
| and was rising to go, and Mr.. RObey
had just found his cigars, but sat
| glancing at a blueprint when:
| "Robey is a boob" 1t was Trues-
| dale talking
| Nothing less" agreed Bangs.
| The engineer and his secretary both
held high ideals. Although they abb
horred eavesdropping, their surprise
held them spellbOund.
| "Why, just think of It," expatiated
| Truesdale, as he struck a light for his
cigar. Here is a man thrown into the
daily companionship of the lOveliest
and warmest-hearted girl In all Boston
and he hasn't known enough in all
these years to make love to her. Ugh
i I'm disguised with his blindness?
/ Same here," offered Bangs. He
sees no beauty in anything but con-
founded old engine!''
"If were he" came from DoOling.
81 wouldn't wait minute. I'd say.
Mary, will you marry mer"
/ Slam! went the door.
i AS the young mems footsteps grew
fainter down the corridor. Mr.. RObey
looked up from his blueprint and
Il across the room at Mary, who had
slumped into her chair with her head
bent forward and her eyes resting con-
fusedly on the desk.
Crossing the room the dapper little
man laid one hand very tenderly on
Mary's shoulder; with the other he
took her right hand and raising II
to his lips declared.
cit was pretty queer, Miss Greeley,
but 1t was true. You heard what Dool-
. ing said, I'd say, Mary. will you marry
! meT Now l intended to ask you this,
ask you now. VIII you? Oh. will
you, dear?'