The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-30
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Red Star special
"a MARY MoRlsoM.

sy MARY MORRISON.
Copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure
Newspaper SyndIcate.)
a FTFuL breeze caught the
IN Bayly painted sign that hung
A0Ver the door and set 1t swing.
gently to and fro above John
Eenfy's head. 1t told an indiffer.
world that John Henry OF S1A
|leecker street sold lawn mowers
q superior and eternal excellence,
ra, as 1t swayed back and forth It
semed 10 be the only thing with
TALLY enough TO move in the
hole city.
up and down the sun.baked
reet, torpid in the August heat,
acre was not q sign OF life; It
Fight have been a deserted village.
Not a creature was stirring,
lot even a mouse" murmured John
kenry TO himself. He stepped back
alto the welcome shadow Of the
Doorway and surveyed the shining
ows of grade A lawn mowers that
med the side Of the wall.
Somehow II all reminded John
Henry OF the summer two years
Igo when he had been salesman
or the Red Star Special. Lawn.
hover company and had tried to
EN- q machine TO a pretty girl in a
mall town up In Connecticut,
Whenever John Henry thought OF
Per standing there in tho doorway
bf the little old farmhouse, with
HE sun in her hair and the blue
nv in her eyes, he was conscious
4 little jump In his heart beats.
He closed his eyes and the whole
Gene came back to him., He had
epoken e%loquently OF the way a
Red Star Special worked; he had
shown her how beautifully easy II
vas TO take care Of. She had liz.
attentiyely and he thought
ae had made a sale. Book in hand,
ie stood ready to write down the
rider when the girl suddenly burst
.A lawn mower! l wouldn't buy
i lawn mower, II ! had so much
money that l had to hire a bank to
axe care OF 1t. Look at that one
indef the tree there-works a few
Minutes a day and sleeps all the
est ot the time. Does nothing but
eut grass tom one years end to
mother. hate grass and trees
nd-oh! very much .and-lawn.
wers. II you were selling city
.ayeraents and crowded street
ears or something that really lived,
Nh Agent, I'd buy. But as It is,
m save my money for carfare to
! place where there is no grass
hat needs to be cut"
She had turned on her heel and
sIamtnedFthe door in John Henry's
lace!
He gave q sigh as he remember.
ID the picture she had made in her
pink bingham dress, her sun.
'aened cheeks flushed with anger
lawn mowers and life in general.
He was wondering where she was
now and IL she had ever saved up
enough money for Carfare, when
!. soft exclamation from the door.
made him turn quickly around.
soh! what beauties! What per.
EeEt beauties!" came in tones OF
iushed feryor.
There, but for the Bingham dress
lndsthe angry discomfort, stood the
yffls from Connecticut! Her French
leeled slippers and blue georgette
rock proclaimed her very much Of
he city, citified-but John Henry
sneM her In an instant.
How much are they?" she went
y; while he continued inadequate.
to i pp his brow. II do not know
so@S8atan use one exactly In an
spartfnent-but somehow | think
"a Just love to have one AROUND.
suppose | could use 1t as a sort
y hatrack effect. Painted black.
with q rosebud pattern on the
handle, Il might be quite effective"
She caused a moment in deep
.hodght, and then suddenly in.
don't suppose by any chance
:heBe are Red Star Specialist"
Then for tile first time she
straight at John Henry.
sisecker street outside was begin.
10 wake up, for from a block
,r 20 of came the sottened jangle
& hurdygurdy and a boys voice
singing SO that they could hear the
Fords5 quite plainly:
Asyeranda with some sort OF cling.
ing vine,
And o kitchen where the rambler
roses climb"
soh!" said the girl. ITS you.
w Agent, isn't it,"
Yes,n answered John Henry,
breathlessly. II had Just
,een Wondering whether you ever
saved up enough - carfare, and
hen I looked up and here you
Better than a palace with a giIded
dome
r htloHe-neSt we a q i nome
aae the boys voice outside,
asRrer this time.
When you saw me that day i
Wouldn't even talk civilly to you
bout lawn mowers-though we
isailySdid media new one-just be.
;aGse they stood for the grass and
.rees and country. thought
VAS fed up" She spoke in such
! low tone that John Henry had
d step quite close to catch what
ME was saying.
.Today," she continued, when l
NV your green sign, | would give
] possess TO be running
up and down, up and down"
Here said John Henry, thrust.
M the handle Of his choicest
sfade a into her hand. TRY It,
i often do. And It almost seems